The Quack Shack

[Jenbirdee]

Any wild mallards in the area? ...

Well I haven’t seen any but I actually do have one Drake now in my flock. Mr Pickles

 

[Luv Ducks]

Happy
Mild Weather Monday
to Everybody!​

So it looks like the first weeks of January will be brutal…

I was so Blessed. I just rescued three adult ducks, not sure of their ages, a Muscovy, Rouen and Blue Swedish. I went to TSC with my Son and got another poultry pen, 8 X 8 and that makes number 6 for the 22 ducks. My Son and Hubby put it all together along with Grandsons that are only 7 and 11 during the rain, wind and dark last night. It got finished and because it is 48 degrees out we were able to pound metal into the ground to keep anything from digging under it and also hardware cloth today to finish buckling it up. I loved our weather today and I could not have gotten them at a better time. January is coming and that is usually our coldest month and by this forecast it looks like we will get hit pretty hard. Hopefully they are wrong, lol.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I was so Blessed. I just rescued three adult ducks, not sure of their ages, a Muscovy, Rouen and Blue Swedish. I went to TSC with my Son and got another poultry pen, 8 X 8 and that makes number 6 for the 22 ducks. My Son and Hubby put it all together along with Grandsons that are only 7 and 11 during the rain, wind and dark last night. It got finished and because it is 48 degrees out we were able to pound metal into the ground to keep anything from digging under it and also hardware cloth today to finish buckling it up. I loved our weather today and I could not have gotten them at a better time. January is coming and that is usually our coldest month and by this forecast it looks like we will get hit pretty hard. Hopefully they are wrong, lol.

I hear you! - The forecast for the first two weeks of January looks bad:

What happened to »global warming«?

 

[Luv Ducks]

I hear you! - The forecast for the first two weeks of January looks bad:
View attachment 4017458
What happened to »global warming«?

I always thought global warming was a joke because the weather never went along with it. I was lucky to see those ducks on here a couple of days ago rather than next week. It would have been brutal trying to work outside long enough to put them up and bury the metal stakes to keep them safe as the ground will freeze rather quickly in those temperatures.

 

[Jenbirdee]

until today, I only had one heated water bucket, a 9 quart size that I I’m using for the chickens. Last week when the temp went down low, I had to keep running outside with a kettle of boiling water to unfreeze water, buckets for the ducks and the geese but today I picked up an 18 quart black rubber, heated bucket and set it up for the ducks. It’s just a little bit taller than I want it to be for the ducks though but I didn’t want another 9 quart because there’s 15 ducks and they go through it quickly so I was thinking about digging it down into the ground a bit however I don’t want to damage the cord. I put a few bricks around it. Maybe they’ll stand on them. I haven’t seen them do it yet though
I’m also a little concerned about the metal handle when it’s below freezing out if the ducks neck feathers stick to it? Some of my other buckets I’ve used for many winters have metal handles, but they’re just not as big and thick as this one and since it’s tall, it just looks a little scary therefore trying to come up with ideas to make it safer?

 

[Canadian Wind]

I hear you! - The forecast for the first two weeks of January looks bad:
View attachment 4017458
What happened to »global warming«?

You keep forgetting to tell people that those are CELSIUS.

That isn't bad. Look up the upcoming temps for Ompah, Ontario. I DARE you!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Well I haven’t seen any but I actually do have one Drake now in my flock. Mr Pickles

It seems he found out how to use his 'pickle'...

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Ooh ooh ooh, A new brand name. Twisted Pickles

 

[Luv Ducks]

until today, I only had one heated water bucket, a 9 quart size that I I’m using for the chickens. Last week when the temp went down low, I had to keep running outside with a kettle of boiling water to unfreeze water, buckets for the ducks and the geese but today I picked up an 18 quart black rubber, heated bucket and set it up for the ducks. It’s just a little bit taller than I want it to be for the ducks though but I didn’t want another 9 quart because there’s 15 ducks and they go through it quickly so I was thinking about digging it down into the ground a bit however I don’t want to damage the cord. I put a few bricks around it. Maybe they’ll stand on them. I haven’t seen them do it yet though
I’m also a little concerned about the metal handle when it’s below freezing out if the ducks neck feathers stick to it? Some of my other buckets I’ve used for many winters have metal handles, but they’re just not as big and thick as this one and since it’s tall, it just looks a little scary therefore trying to come up with ideas to make it safer?

Maybe a plank of wood to get in and out with??? My buckets are all different sizes as my ducks are and they are all plastic as they came from either Rural King or Tractor Supply. One quit working so I put a bird fountain heater in it and that is working. One is a heated dog bowl for my short little Call and Black East Indies ducks. The others are mid to tall for the other larger ducks. Good luck with your big one, I have never seen a heated rubber one before.

 

[Luv Ducks]

until today, I only had one heated water bucket, a 9 quart size that I I’m using for the chickens. Last week when the temp went down low, I had to keep running outside with a kettle of boiling water to unfreeze water, buckets for the ducks and the geese but today I picked up an 18 quart black rubber, heated bucket and set it up for the ducks. It’s just a little bit taller than I want it to be for the ducks though but I didn’t want another 9 quart because there’s 15 ducks and they go through it quickly so I was thinking about digging it down into the ground a bit however I don’t want to damage the cord. I put a few bricks around it. Maybe they’ll stand on them. I haven’t seen them do it yet though
I’m also a little concerned about the metal handle when it’s below freezing out if the ducks neck feathers stick to it? Some of my other buckets I’ve used for many winters have metal handles, but they’re just not as big and thick as this one and since it’s tall, it just looks a little scary therefore trying to come up with ideas to make it safer?

Where did you find the big rubber one at and how are you keeping the ducks out of it? My ducks all bathe in their big unheated rubber pans but they will soon be freezing as it is going to get really cold here in Ohio before long. Thanks