winter water?

[peteyfoozer]

oh wow! I think we might actually have one of those for the chickens…I always hated it because it kept coming off of the base. I'll have him look, that would be a perfect solution, thank you, Goin Quackers!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 3 Khaki Cambells, 2 Ruens and an Indian Runner, plus an Indian Runner Drake that thinks he is quite the man about town. I got them as ducklings in early April so maybe they won't then. I'll let TheMan know how tricky they are and hopefully ill look hard now and then. Thanks for all the info

I read your blog and saw your ducks, very pretty ducks. . I hope things get better for you, to live on that much acreage wow.

 

[peteyfoozer]

thanks! Yeah, it's pretty crazy to think about how big this place really is. As far as we can see in any direction, it's still the same ranch. Our closest neighbors, outside of the other ranchhands and the family here, are over 20 miles away. It's 4 hours to where we go grocery shopping so we make the trip every 3 months and combine it with errands, Dr appts and picking up livestock feed. We are just ranch hands here, but the family that owns the ranch are really awesome people. We are really blessed to live here. It's an opportunity and a way of life that few get to experience

 

[Miss Lydia]

thanks! Yeah, it's pretty crazy to think about how big this place really is. As far as we can see in any direction, it's still the same ranch. Our closest neighbors, outside of the other ranchhands and the family here, are over 20 miles away. It's 4 hours to where we go grocery shopping so we make the trip every 3 months and combine it with errands, Dr appts and picking up livestock feed. We are just ranch hands here, but the family that owns the ranch are really awesome people. We are really blessed to live here. It's an opportunity and a way of life that few get to experience

Sounds wonderful, is it a cattle ranch? I could live like that but not dh he has to be close to everything even though we live rural town is only 15 mins away.

 

[peteyfoozer]

It is a working cattle ranch, and everything is done the old fashioned way, on horseback and branding is done out on the range, and a lot of the veternary work has to be done, by roping the cattle head and heels and stretching them so they can be doctored, miles from headquarters. There have been a few feature articles done on the ranch in Western Horseman and a few other horse and cowboy type publications. Everything here is pretty old, the buildings, etc. and there is a wagon in front of our house that actually used to be used to make the 2 week, 1-way trip to Winnemucca once a year, for supplies. It's a century ranch and even though the family that owns it now were not the original owners, there were 4 generations on the ranch when we moved here. It's awesome.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is a working cattle ranch, and everything is done the old fashioned way, on horseback and branding is done out on the range, and a lot of the veternary work has to be done, by roping the cattle head and heels and stretching them so they can be doctored, miles from headquarters. There have been a few feature articles done on the ranch in Western Horseman and a few other horse and cowboy type publications. Everything here is pretty old, the buildings, etc. and there is a wagon in front of our house that actually used to be used to make the 2 week, 1-way trip to Winnemucca once a year, for supplies. It's a century ranch and even though the family that owns it now were not the original owners, there were 4 generations on the ranch when we moved here. It's awesome.

So cool, Have ya'll been there a long time? Just sounds so interesting. So these cattle are grass fed?

 

[igapo]

Heated bucket? that is one option, another is those livestock rubber pails? they take to being beat to bits, so you hammer the ice out and refill. Now this little design off this blog i found kept water open till about -10C.. surprised me too lol

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html

Biggest issue is watching ducks don't get into stuff and iced up, it happened to me last year with some scovies and then a call kinda iced herself into a small pan... the mallard derived are more water/winter hardy though IMO>

Can you elaborate on the part about keeping the water open when so cold? I can't see how this is possible. I went to the blog link, but I didn't see anything about the low cold temps. Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you elaborate on the part about keeping the water open when so cold? I can't see how this is possible. I went to the blog link, but I didn't see anything about the low cold temps. Thanks

Heated buckets are the way to go can't say enough about them, they run on a thermostat so only come on when temps dip below 35 and it is so nice not have to carry water out several rimes a day and beat the ice open. Only thing I rec is you go with them is using a heavy gauge at least 12. Mines are all outside too. none inside to keep the mess down.