Winter With Ducks?

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I’m in Preston County!

Umpf! Really far away, i am in Kanawha County, close to Charleston.

 

[PirateGirl]

Hmm, so do you ladies remove the bathing pools when temps are below freezing?

When the pool freezes solid I flip it so the ice chunk falls out. I don’t refill it until I have a day off work that is over 35 degrees F. Filling it in winter means hauling buckets since the hose will freeze. I use a smaller “winter pool” than their summer pool. They get to swim maybe once every 3 weeks or so.

 

[Afroggie4u]

I take their pool away when the temp drop and it freezes, mine swim in one of those larger rubber tubs I use for water bowls from TSC and then I flip them over when they freeze and pop the ice out. Dual purpose, water bowl and swimming pool.

 

[Texag87]

Make sure the furnace is working properly!

It was not bad mowing at my parents today. Last week it was over 100 and heat index about 108. Only had to do a couple acres and the tank dam today. Hardly broke a sweat. The ducks enjoyed cold watermelon.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How much are watermelon going for in Texas? 5.99 for small seedless here way too much money. Over the 4th of July they were 3.99 I bought 3. Dh and I and the birds pigged out.

 

[Texag87]

1.91 a half

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Hmm, so do you ladies remove the bathing pools when temps are below freezing?

Well, I might have put it off too long last year... We got an early sizable snow storm, and their summer pool got buried. I didn’t see it again until spring! This year, I vow to do better. I do have two versions of winter pools though. I have a cement mixing tub that they can bathe in on all but the worst days, and a tiny kiddy pool that comes out on those very rare relatively nice winter days (1 or 2 times per winter, we celebrate) and in early spring.

Overall, the hardest things tend to be keeping their water from freezing (I just switch out rubber livestock bowls 2-4 times per day) and disposing of the soiled bedding (as it means tramping through deep snow).

Also, my ducks aren’t as happy with cold temps and they tend to want to stay in the barn when it is 15 degrees F or colder (aka all of January and February). They get bored! I sprinkle mealworms and greens around so they can “forage”.

One nice thing about winter is that their poop freezes, therefore making it easy to clean! This, I very much appreciate.

Oh, one last note. We have relatively few bothersome predators currently as they are all fat and happy. However, the predators get desperate in the winter, making safety a much bigger concern.

 

[thumper650]

I do and when temps get upper 30’s I give them the cement mixing tub. Quick bath and dump before dark.

I use cement mixing tubs in the winter too. They’re cheap, like 13 bucks at Lowe’s and very strong, so they don’t break if they freeze. I don’t put water in their house at night, like someone mentioned. If it’s extremely cold and they’re locked in their house for an extended period I’ll use a chicken waterer in a bowl, so they can have a sip. I have a chicken panel heater, not necessary but keeps my husband quiet!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Well, I might have put it off too long last year... We got an early sizable snow storm, and their summer pool got buried. I didn’t see it again until spring! […]
Oh, one last note. We have relatively few bothersome predators currently as they are all fat and happy. However, the predators get desperate in the winter, making safety a much bigger concern.

Very important point! Thank you very much for mentioning this. Especially during the final weeks of winter all predators go rampant here!

 

[WVduckchick]

from Wood County!

Its so hot now, maybe some duck fun in the snow and ice will cool us down. Never had a problem with my ducks in the winter, except the momma that decided to hatch eggs in March. She lost a few that couldn't keep up, that got too cold.