Ice on the ducks backs

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Try heated buckets. I have used them for about 5-6 yrs they are safe and last a long time . They have a thermostat so they don’t run if it gets above 35.

I'm not so sure about using a bucket with my piggy-ducks: They even manage to spoil the water in their water fountain - i mean the water in the reservoir. A bucket will likely look like oatmeal in a few hours. (?)
Searched for heated poultry waterers on-line and the only stuff i found were crappy plastic things which seem to break the moment you unwrap it. Also those plastic things have only 3 Gallons, that will last my ducks 2 days; they have a 5 Gallon Waterer at the moment. Another option would be a metal heater base with a metal Fountain, but i am concerned about durability and rust, also galvanized steel equals Zinc-coating and afaik Zinc is poisonous for Poultry…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

They might not realize how fun it will be with straw till you push them in and lock them in every night till they realize that it is really fun in there!

Oh they know that it's fun and warm in the straw, there are even grains of wheat and rye to pick up, but my duckies are stubborn: If i want them to do something, for sure they will do the opposite (reverse psychology) and if i try it with reverse psychology they use reverse, reverse psychology…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

My ducks get covered in ice during the cold months. Doesn't seem to phase them.

I hate cold! I just hate it! - Maybe i am projecting my discomfort to them. They spent the whole day in the duck-tub, the water there was just above freezing and they'd fun.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ducks don't feel cold like we do. My muscovy bathe all winter and will often have icicles hanging off them. Let your ducks choose. Nature designed them to handle cold.

 

[Cayuga momma]

I'm not so sure about using a bucket with my piggy-ducks: They even manage to spoil the water in their water fountain - i mean the water in the reservoir. A bucket will likely look like oatmeal in a few hours. (?)
Searched for heated poultry waterers on-line and the only stuff i found were crappy plastic things which seem to break the moment you unwrap it. Also those plastic things have only 3 Gallons, that will last my ducks 2 days; they have a 5 Gallon Waterer at the moment. Another option would be a metal heater base with a metal Fountain, but i am concerned about durability and rust, also galvanized steel equals Zinc-coating and afaik Zinc is poisonous for Poultry…

You can get a bird bath bubbler or something to the effect. They circulate the water so it doesn't freeze. They even have solar ones that work well in low sunlight.
It kinda sounds like your saying you only empty their water every few days?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You can get a bird bath bubbler or something to the effect. They circulate the water so it doesn't freeze. They even have solar ones that work well in low sunlight.
It kinda sounds like your saying you only empty their water every few days?

after last night the whole reservoir, five gallons was frozen solid! I did not expect that this large volume of water would freeze in just one night. I don't think a bubbler would have prevented that. And yes, i look at their waterer every day, and if it is still clean, i don't change it.

 

[Raenh]

Ok, it's not below freezing here, but I can see my breathe and my crazys still wanna splish splash I'm takin' a bath before bed! It's not even Saturday night! But on a side note, there is this electric water heater I saw that might work if you can rig it up. Or take those 3 gallon ones, use the heater from them and put it on a 5 gallon that your using.