Winter is right around the corner!

[BantyChooks]

I have been finding inches of mud on the bottom of the water bucket these days, that is changing it out twice per day! Without a hose to clean it out, its going to be messy and I am not bringing that into the house. Hopefully the ground freezes shorty after turning off the outside water and they won't be able to pick up all the mud. I don't know how its going to work - I'll just have to find a way...I am curious, what is your watering solution?

Let me get pics. It's two 1gal waterers on a pallet with a frame of 2x4s around them and a board over the top covering all but 3". The ducks and chickens can drink but not swim or step in it.

Not having a hose is the worst part. 6gal of water, every day, for a large portion of the year gets rather tiring. Ah well... it's all for the birds anyway.

 

[onaharley]

My back yard is going to be an ice rink if i don't get a grip on cleaning out their water buckets and then the thought of not having a hose... I have tons of mud in each bucket as well, cleaned out 2-3 daily......My back yard hasn't be dry since we go them at the end of May!!
So yes very interested your watering solution!!

 

[chickens really]

Ducks are easy in winter...
I use rubber stock bowls and carry water in a pail...I tip over the bowls and kick out all Ice...I use a bit of water to swoosh out mud and refill...
I make mine warm soup to give them a good feed before they get locked up at night and to insure all their Bellies are full till morning.....

 

[BantyChooks]

Ducks are easy in winter...
I use rubber stock bowls and carry water in a pail...I tip over the bowls and kick out all Ice...I use a bit of water to swoosh out mud and refill...
I make mine warm soup to give them a good feed before they get locked up at night and to insure all their Bellies are full till morning.....

And how perzactly do you magically keep them from getting in the bowls and dumping the water into the bedding?



The issue with mine was that by March all my bowls were frozen into the bedding, couldn't get it out no matter what I tried. A thaw came just in time.

The coop was pretty much an ice slick in the area with water... it was awful. Poor birdies. That was the winter I called it quits on and sold them.

 

[pamelajean]

Let me get pics. It's two 1gal waterers on a pallet with a frame of 2x4s around them and a board over the top covering all but 3". The ducks and chickens can drink but not swim or step in it.

Not having a hose is the worst part. 6gal of water, every day, for a large portion of the year gets rather tiring. Ah well... it's all for the birds anyway.

Yes, this will be the test. If I still love my ducks at the END of the winter, I know I will be a crazy duck lady for real.

 

[BantyChooks]

Yes, this will be the test. If I still love my ducks at the END of the winter, I know I will be a crazy duck lady for real.

Good luck, you'll need it. I have about 3x the amount of ducks I had all prior years so I am a tad apprehensive about this year.

What's your climate like?

 

[chickens really]

And how perzactly do you magically keep them from getting in the bowls and dumping the water into the bedding?



The issue with mine was that by March all my bowls were frozen into the bedding, couldn't get it out no matter what I tried. A thaw came just in time.

The coop was pretty much an ice slick in the area with water... it was awful. Poor birdies. That was the winter I called it quits on and sold them.

Oh my.....I do not keep my water in the Duck house nor their feed....I make the soup before dark and they all eat and Drink...I dump out water and tip rubber stock bowls over....I dump water outside of pen....When Daylight comes or before I go out with my pail I fill here in my house with warm water and fill bowls...Who cares if they jump into bowls?....Ducks will not jump into them if it's too cold but they do enjoy to wash up and oil up feathers...
All I know is what works here for me....Never a skating rink here....

 

[pamelajean]

Good luck, you'll need it. I have about 3x the amount of ducks I had all prior years so I am a tad apprehensive about this year.

What's your climate like?

I am in zone 6 - I am in the valley bottom, so some winters are mild and wet, with little snow, but last year we had a few feet of snow that stuck around all winter...you never know what your going to get. Normal would be hovering around freezing and maybe a week or two at -10-20°C. For the first time ever I am hoping for less snow this winter.

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh my.....I do not keep my water in the Duck house nor their feed....I make the soup before dark and they all eat and Drink...I dump out water and tip rubber stock bowls over....I dump water outside of pen....When Daylight comes or before I go out with my pail I fill here in my house with warm water and fill bowls...Who cares if they jump into bowls?....Ducks will not jump into them if it's too cold but they do enjoy to wash up and oil up feathers...
All I know is what works here for me....Never a skating rink here....

Well, at least it works for you.

 

[J.R.]

I think all of us about to go through our first winter need to come to grips with the fact that we’re going to have to work harder to ensure the welfare of the animals that depend on us! The little hints and tips that are being passed on may work for us...or they may not. Either way it gives us some direction and is much appreciated.