pond de-icer for duck pool?

[Parrotchick]

I've been using a hard plastic kiddie pool about 36" diameter and a hard plastic concrete mixing tub as ponds for my ducks. I dump and rinse them every day and scrub them as needed. They don't seem to poop much in them, but there is of course ample mud in them. I figured that when winter came I could use huge rubber pans from TSC that are a bit smaller in area, though taller, but where I could break up ice.

But to prevent much ice, can I use a floating pond de-icer? Or is one that sets on the bottom, with a cage, better? Any recommendations as to type I should get and possibly where to buy? I know I need ones where the ducks can't touch the heating element. I also see where some shut off if knocked outside the water. I don't know how klutzy the ducks will be or what they'll think of something already in their water. I'm sure they'll have something to say about it. I have no electricity at the duck pen yet, but plan to run a GFI outlet down there in the next few freezing days- brrrr.

This is my first winter with ducks and chickens so any suggestions are much appreciated. I have 3 pekins in one pen, and 2 muscovies in the adjacent pen. My chickens also like to drink out of the pools. Thanks!!!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
A pond aeratior (can't spell, bubbles air through the water) will also work to keep the water open if the temperature isn't too cold. I have also used a heat tape with a thermostat (made to wrap around pipes to keep them from freezing, worked fine in my climate where things freeze at night and usually thaw in the sunlight.

 

[lemoniee]

Or you could go for the old fashioned bash the frozen pond with something hard you can find!! the ducks love the chunks of ice I throw out for them! x

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We use a size 8 1/2 rubber boot as a de-icer.

Once the ice is broken up they will keep it ice free during the day.

Steve in NC

 

[Wildsky]

I have a floating de-icer in the horse tank, it works fine and the ducks go there for a drink or a dip. (I have 6 muscovies) I do also have smaller rubber tubs for them, and they do like to play with the ice

the smaller tubs aren't heated at all and I have to kick out the ice during winter, actually yesterday I couldn't it was well and truely frozen I just added water on top the last couple of inches and they had water to drink till hubby got home to teach that ice a lesson!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
the big old Gander I had used to think it was his job to break the ice in the morning (also NC)he would get quite upset with me if I interferred after he had jumped up and down a few times. I kept a hoe out there and would lean over the fence and crack the ice with the hoe. He was quite good as an icebreaker!

 

[gwennym]

hmmm, I would think that the "smash" method would bust the plastic pool .... I have the same issue with freezing, but hadn't had an opportunity to post lately. I priced some pond de-icers at Rural King last weekend, but for over $30, I opted for the boot method myself.

Gwen