Preparing ducks for winter

[PirateGirl]

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

Hay and Straw are two different things, different parts of different plants. Hay is often used as a feed source for assorted livestock, straw is generally used as bedding as the nutritional part of the plant has already been harvested and used in other products. I use straw as bedding. The ducks make nests in it. When I put fresh straw in the do noodle around in it and I suspect they find some seeds (and maybe bugs) to eat, but it is not a significant source of nutrition.

 

[chickens really]

Sorry if I caused confusion..I also use straw in the winter Only as supplement bedding because it retains heat better.
Hay is feed and a source of entertainment for my Ducks. They do eat it too. Although not the only source of feed I use..

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

From what I have read ducks do not need to bathe, they just need to have water they can stick their heads in which they will use to eat food, rinse nares, and preen with.
My plan for this winter is to have a heated dog bowl for their water needs. On warmer days, I will give them a rubber basin to bathe in.
I will place straw in and around the outside of their house for a little extra insulation.
That is pretty much it. The pool will be put away for the winter and not brought out until it is over.

 

[chickens really]

Mine get to bath on the warm winter days..

 

[PirateGirl]

From what I have read ducks do not need to bathe, they just need to have water they can stick their heads in which they will use to eat food, rinse nares, and preen with.
My plan for this winter is to have a heated dog bowl for their water needs. On warmer days, I will give them a rubber basin to bathe in.
I will place straw in and around the outside of their house for a little extra insulation.
That is pretty much it. The pool will be put away for the winter and not brought out until it is over.

How many ducks do you have? Is a heated dog bowl enough water? Maybe have a secondary bucket that isn't heated and then once that freezes they will still have access to the dog bowl. Also a bowl is quite low to the ground which means it's easy to climb into, I don't know if raising it up will help discourage this behavior or not, ducks are determined to climb in ANY available water.

Also I recommend unplugging the bowl every night to help preserve the heating element because if it is below freezing every night the bowl will be running a lot and the ducks don't need access to the water overnight. Hopefully this way your bowl will last you the winter and beyond. My heated dog bowl was great for the chickens when it worked, but I was disappointed that I didn't even get one winter out of it before it died. I don't know if this is a fluke or because I live somewhere that it is so cold so often that it was just running a lot and burnt out.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

View attachment 1532078 View attachment 1532079 Mine get to bath on the warm winter days..

I'm not cut out for winter. My ducks will just deal with what they get. Plus muscovies aren't as water focused as other breeds.

 

[chickens really]

I'm not cut out for winter. My ducks will just deal with what they get. Plus muscovies aren't as water focused as other breeds.

I allow mine to bath to keep feathers in top condition during the coldest time of the year.

 

[chickens really]

How many ducks do you have? Is a heated dog bowl enough water? Maybe have a secondary bucket that isn't heated and then once that freezes they will still have access to the dog bowl. Also a bowl is quite low to the ground which means it's easy to climb into, I don't know if raising it up will help discourage this behavior or not, ducks are determined to climb in ANY available water.

Also I recommend unplugging the bowl every night to help preserve the heating element because if it is below freezing every night the bowl will be running a lot and the ducks don't need access to the water overnight. Hopefully this way your bowl will last you the winter and beyond. My heated dog bowl was great for the chickens when it worked, but I was disappointed that I didn't even get one winter out of it before it died. I don't know if this is a fluke or because I live somewhere that it is so cold so often that it was just running a lot and burnt out.

Yes...I use rubber livestock bowls that my Calls can't fit into. I haul water each morning and at night I bring warm water..

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

How many ducks do you have? Is a heated dog bowl enough water? Maybe have a secondary bucket that isn't heated and then once that freezes they will still have access to the dog bowl. Also a bowl is quite low to the ground which means it's easy to climb into, I don't know if raising it up will help discourage this behavior or not, ducks are determined to climb in ANY available water.

Also I recommend unplugging the bowl every night to help preserve the heating element because if it is below freezing every night the bowl will be running a lot and the ducks don't need access to the water overnight. Hopefully this way your bowl will last you the winter and beyond. My heated dog bowl was great for the chickens when it worked, but I was disappointed that I didn't even get one winter out of it before it died. I don't know if this is a fluke or because I live somewhere that it is so cold so often that it was just running a lot and burnt out.

I have 4. I am planning to block off part of the bowl so that they can't climb in.
I would think if you unplugged every night, you would also have to bring the bowl inside so that it doesn't refreeze. For the wiring to work so hard to thaw water every day, it would definitely burn out.
I work part time, so am not available to refresh water twice a day or more every day.
I kept hearing bad things about the heated fount I use for the chickens. It was given to me by the previous owner along with the chickens - it worked for him for the season and then me. That is two seasons that it has worked. I am hoping for a 3rd.
If the heated dog bowl doesn't work out, I'm out $15. I will then figure out another option. I might have another dish of water out in a rubber basin that will be blocked off too so that they cannot swim in it. I might have left some things out of my plan.
I will figure out what works for my set up - just like I did for my chickens. I was just throwing out my ideas.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I allow mine to bath to keep feathers in top condition during the coldest time of the year.

I'm glad to hear that it works for you to do that. If there are nice days they will get more water to preen with, just not a pool full of water.