Preparing ducks for winter

[llombardo]

They make heaters that can heat thousands of gallons of water to tropical temperatures, so heating to a few degrees above freezing should be pretty possible.

Everything I'm seeing for ponds runs along the line of de-icers. I don't want just a hole in the water, I want it to be completely unfrozen. So an aquarium heater might be what I'm looking for.

 

[snow5164]

Everything I'm seeing for ponds runs along the line of de-icers. I don't want just a hole in the water, I want it to be completely unfrozen. So an aquarium heater might be what I'm looking for.

The thing about aquarium heaters is the tank is inside a heated house , I really doubt that will be what you need .

Now a de icer doesn’t just make a small hole in the ice, it keeps the water at a temperature that for us even in the -30’s Celsius we have to chip a thin layer of ice twice a day .... now this water is also a 55 gallon drum.Thats a lot of water!!

Feed stores are equipped with things to keep water thawed for livestock, that can be life and death , that’s where I’d start .

I know we will all be fine ,but this is all new to us . Good thing these ducky’s have down jackets on

 

[Knighstar679]

I know my older ones like being out in cold rain during thunder storms. We had to have an argument one night about going inside the duck house out of the rain. They all tried to go back in their pool. Crazy things

 

[PirateGirl]

I know my older ones like being out in cold rain during thunder storms. We had to have an argument one night about going inside the duck house out of the rain. They all tried to go back in their pool. Crazy things

They certainly have no concept of staying out of the pool when there is lightening

 

[llombardo]

They certainly have no concept of staying out of the pool when there is lightening

Right? I'm yelling and screaming at them to get in the house and they are quacking and playing. They have stayed out in some heavy downpours. I sit in the window watching and praying.

 

[Knighstar679]

Downpours I don’t mind it’s the heavy storms with lightning that I worry about.

 

[PirateGirl]

Downpours I don’t mind it’s the heavy storms with lightning that I worry about.

My chickens eat hail like it's candy, one of these days one of them (and I'm pretty sure I know which one) is going to be knocked dead.

 

[Knighstar679]

My chickens eat hail like it's candy, one of these days one of them (and I'm pretty sure I know which one) is going to be knocked dead.

 

[Blue Crow]

I don't change too much either. I use straw in winter for extra insulation. Wrap my runs in vapour barrier plastic to block out wind. Feed is the same actually although a couple of times a week I add in scratch or wild bird seed. Feed more veggies and toss in some hay.
Haul fresh water in pails twice daily.

will the durks eat the hay or just play in it?

 

[chickens really]

will the durks eat the hay or just play in it?

Mine actually eat it. My Hay is alfalfa/Timothy and grass mix.