Pictures of winter waterers & how you handle?

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Hey there Everyone!

Well, after hauling water back and forth and tapping out the ice, etc, I decided to finally use the new electric set up. I really wish I wasn't so technology-inept, and could post pics, but things are what they are. Here's my evaluation after our 1st night.

Two dead mice in the 5 gal bucket! Ewwwwwwwwwww (Guess I need to revisit the mice control thread again!)

On the plus side, the ducks had drank over 1gal, and zero ice. I only wonder tho, using the lidded bucket set up, if the water level will or could drop so far that the ducks can't get to it? Now my darling sweet husband, who doesn't like ducks but helps me anyway, he ran the bucket's cord up a side support post of the pen, where he zip-tied it to safely meet my outdoor plug. This was a tiny bit of an issue because as it was zip tied, there was no way for me to carry the leftover water over to the tree where I normally would dump an old bucket of water.... And had I just topped off the water, well I never would've seen the 2 Ratatouilles. Which would have been fine, except I don't think my ducks would've liked that. Oh. I added a drop (~1/16-1/8 teaspoon) bleach to sanitize.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey there Everyone!
Well, after hauling water back and forth and tapping out the ice, etc, I decided to finally use the new electric set up. I really wish I wasn't so technology-inept, and could post pics, but things are what they are. Here's my evaluation after our 1st night.
Two dead mice in the 5 gal bucket! Ewwwwwwwwwww (Guess I need to revisit the mice control thread again!)
On the plus side, the ducks had drank over 1gal, and zero ice. I only wonder tho, using the lidded bucket set up, if the water level will or could drop so far that the ducks can't get to it? Now my darling sweet husband, who doesn't like ducks but helps me anyway, he ran the bucket's cord up a side support post of the pen, where he zip-tied it to safely meet my outdoor plug. This was a tiny bit of an issue because as it was zip tied, there was no way for me to carry the leftover water over to the tree where I normally would dump an old bucket of water.... And had I just topped off the water, well I never would've seen the 2 Ratatouilles. Which would have been fine, except I don't think my ducks would've liked that. Oh. I added a drop (~1/16-1/8 teaspoon) bleach to sanitize.

Hi Holly same thing happened here first winter i used the 5 gal heated bucket, went out to dump and fill and there was a dead mouse in the bucket, nasty. So now if i don't dump the 5 gal. every night I use one of those dish scrub brushes and run it around inside the bucket to make sure nothing is hiding at the bottom. so far so good. usually on the 5 gal I only have to dump it every other night since my geese are usually the ones that use it, now my 2-2gal ones have to be dumped every night. Them ducks are dirty birds.

 

[Going Quackers]

Mice? the water bucket lol nope never happened here... there are NO Mice around the ducks here, i guess with the 10 of them and the 4 of the chickens they don't stand a chance, heck the ducks went after an adorable bunny last summer so mice would have zero chance ...

ew though lol

 

[Wynette]

Well, DH finally was able to fix my big issue with the "roof" over the waterer being low, and making it cumbersome to remove & replace the bucket. It took all of 2 hinges and a piece of twine from a bale of hay, and a screw. It works beautifully! It's not fancy at all, but does the trick perfectly. I'll get some pics over Christmas (when I'm actually home during daylight hours) and post next week!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, DH finally was able to fix my big issue with the "roof" over the waterer being low, and making it cumbersome to remove & replace the bucket. It took all of 2 hinges and a piece of twine from a bale of hay, and a screw. It works beautifully! It's not fancy at all, but does the trick perfectly. I'll get some pics over Christmas (when I'm actually home during daylight hours) and post next week!

Good job.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Awesome, can't wait for pics!! I went out this am to slushy stuff, mostly water, but def some slush... So now I must ask, what will I see if my electric bucket fails? Our girls locked up tight, they've decided they do not love snow at all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Awesome, can't wait for pics!! I went out this am to slushy stuff, mostly water, but def some slush... So now I must ask, what will I see if my electric bucket fails? Our girls locked up tight, they've decided they do not love snow at all.

Solid ice most likely. one of mine had slushy ice around the top this morning so I checked the plug it was barely in the socket. I've not had one fail yet so can't comment other than if it fails it will most likely act like a regular bucket and be frozen in the morning.

 

[AKnewbie]

With the buckets being kind of deep, how do your ducks actually get water from there at all?

 

[Miss Lydia]

With the buckets being kind of deep, how do your ducks actually get water from there at all?

Are you talking about the 2 gal. heated buckets? I also have a 5 gal one. i used scrap wood and made steps for them so they can get to them, I also have chickens so it works for them too. the 2 gal. they usually don't use the steps that often.

 

[Going Quackers]

Awesome, can't wait for pics!! I went out this am to slushy stuff, mostly water, but def some slush... So now I must ask, what will I see if my electric bucket fails? Our girls locked up tight, they've decided they do not love snow at all.

It would go back to just "being a bucket" but if it's well installed that shouldn't happen. Usually, a plug is loose. They standup well over time, usually lasting years.