what to do when winter comes ducks/chickens.

[goats rule 101]

Sorry I've been busy with school but I do house the chickens and ducks and goats all together. But the duck and chicken feed is outside the pen in my yard which is where they are all the time! They mainly sleep together!

 

[clacka]

I'm new to keeping ducks and am really worried about the winter,I have 2 drake calls and 4 hen calls,there bedding consists of mill saw dust and straw,I've been told as the temp starts to drop add more,but am confused I clean them out twice a week but now do I just start to take the top layer off and add more as I go on

 

[Going Quackers]

I'm new to keeping ducks and am really worried about the winter,I have 2 drake calls and 4 hen calls,there bedding consists of mill saw dust and straw,I've been told as the temp starts to drop add more,but am confused I clean them out twice a week but now do I just start to take the top layer off and add more as I go on

Well, by clean out you mean fully? all the bedding? i am a daily picker lol i clean out wet/soiled bedding daily and will add as needed i only do a full clean out if i find it needed which is usually only a couple times a year, i bed my calls on shavings, i am honestly not a fan of straw for my birds i find it messy and not the best for keeping them clean.

The key with winter is ensuring birds have a place out of the elements, and good food.

 

[clacka]

Tha

...

Well, by clean out you mean fully? all the bedding? i am a daily picker lol i clean out wet/soiled bedding daily and will add as needed i only do a full clean out if i find it needed which is usually only a couple times a year, i bed my calls on shavings, i am honestly not a fan of straw for my birds i find it messy and not the best for keeping them clean.

The key with winter is ensuring birds have a place out of the elements, and good food.


[/quo thanks I will take your advice on board and be a daily picker,and add to the bedding for the winter I was just worried about the ammonia smell for my ducks that's why I done a thorough clean

 

[Geckogrl133]

I'm in mn as well and new to ducks in winter. I'm trying to figure out the water situation for winter because my ducks are spoiled and play in there kiddie pool all day, so I'm wondering how they will preen in the winter without it? I plan to get a heated bowl but wondering if anyone has suggestions on which ones are good to get?

 

[thomasboyle]

I'm in mn as well and new to ducks in winter. I'm trying to figure out the water situation for winter because my ducks are spoiled and play in there kiddie pool all day, so I'm wondering how they will preen in the winter without it? I plan to get a heated bowl but wondering if anyone has suggestions on which ones are good to get?

My ducks are sadly disappointed when I put the kiddie pool away for the winter. They then have to use small 2-3 gallon water bowls that I fill in the morning and empty at night. I use unheated bowls and the water stays unfrozen for a few hours anyway! If it is sunny on a Saturday, I will get out the kiddie pool and fill it up for use that one day. Your ducks will adapt - they can live fine with just a bowl to preen in, but it is a lot more enjoyable to watch them when they have a pool they can actually swim in!

 

[Geckogrl133]

Thomasboyle Do you have the black rubber bowls or plastic ones ?

 

[thomasboyle]

Thomasboyle Do you have the black rubber bowls or plastic ones ?

I used black plastic bowls that I get from Tractor Supply for about $7. I originally bought them as swimming pools for the baby ducks! I went with them because the base is wider than the top, so the ducks can't flip them by putting their weight on the top edge. It also has a rounded top edge, nothing sharp, and has two hand slots for carrying when full. The rubber ones I saw had the top wider than the bottom and seemed less stable. I now use them for preening bowls for the ducks and food scrap bowls for the chickens.