Watering during the winter--What do you do?

[sourmilknightmares]

I'm getting my ducks ready for their first winter and everything was going well until I thought--what about the pool? I have a kiddie pool in with my ducks for watering and swimming purposes. It's all well and good during the summer but with the winter coming on I'm getting a little concerned. I love my ducks, but lord knows they are not the most intelligent creatures in the world. I live on the coast of North Carolina, so our winters are terribly brutal but we do get some freezing weather. I'm worried I'll come out one morning to feed my ducks and I'll have little duckie-cicles. Are they smart enough to stay out of the water in the cold weather (I doubt it)? Should I take their pool away for the winter months? If yes, then what it the best way to water them during this time? Any suggestions?

 

[katharinad]

You should live up here in the Oregon mountains. Temps at night are already well below freezing. We still have the large kiddie pool going, but have to break up he ice each morning with a stick. They do not care about the ice cold water and do their usual thing each day. We figured we keep on going with the pool until the ice becomes to much of an issue for us. After that they will have to deal with a concrete mixing bin with warm water every other day. I think you will be fine with the kiddie pool until a bad northeaster hits you (I used to live in MD). I would make one change to the kiddie pool thing. Have it outside of their night pen and only allow access to it in the daytime. I have mine is the daytime outdoor run. BTW ducks don't need a pool or swimming water at all. They do need a deep bucket so they can clear out their nostrils.

 

[pringle]

I usally just leave the pool right there it ends up freezing over by december and I dont have to worry.As for giving them water you can invest in one of those heaters you put in a large waterbowl but I usually just give change there water 3 times a day and they seem fine.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I used to go out every morning & break a big hole in the pond so the geese could swim & drink......until the male swam under the ice & drowned.

 

[coopaloop]

I use a 5 gallon bucket. I fill it up every morning in the bath tub. Every other day or so I fill up the kiddie pool. If your ducks are too short to drink from the bucket, put a block of wood next to it for them to stand on. Make sure to empty the bucket or pool at the end of the day cause if you don't it will be a block of ice in the morning and sometimes crack the bucket.