Wisconsin Winter, Ducks, and Water

[Skysang]

I am in Wisconsin and new to ducks. This is my first winter with them and I want to make sure they are happy and healthy. I have read some threads on here with regard to ducks, winter, and water. We do not have a pond and have been using a baby pool. Temperatures are currently forecast to be just above freezing (33⁰F - 37⁰F). It sounds as though, once the temperatures are below 32⁰F, it is ok to put the pool away for winter as long as the ducks can dunk their heads in water so they can eat properly. Is this correct? They will be ok without the pool for a few months? Should I pull the pool out on occasion? Thank you.

 

[Callender Girl]

I have runner ducks in North Central Iowa where my winters are likely as cold as yours. I put away baby pools for winter and make sure the ducks have water in insulated dog dishes that are deep enough for them to get their heads dunked. There are multiple dishes so I can rotate thawed and frozen ones, although the ducks pop their heads in the water often enough that it rarely freezes solid.

I used to use heated dog dishes and ran electricity from the house through long, outdoor extension cords. That is, until one year, when one of the plugs fell into some melting snow and began smoking. No harm done, except to my heart!!

I leave the pool -- and their stock tank -- in the garage until spring. I've also used black, rubber dishes that help retain heat to keep the water from freezing -- as long as my little darlings don't tip them over in their enthusiastic glee.

My first winter with ducks I worried about how they would handle the cold. They quickly showed me as they abandoned their warm shelter to lie in falling snow. Best wishes with yours!

 

[Skysang]

I have runner ducks in North Central Iowa where my winters are likely as cold as yours. I put away baby pools for winter and make sure the ducks have water in insulated dog dishes that are deep enough for them to get their heads dunked. There are multiple dishes so I can rotate thawed and frozen ones, although the ducks pop their heads in the water often enough that it rarely freezes solid.

I used to use heated dog dishes and ran electricity from the house through long, outdoor extension cords. That is, until one year, when one of the plugs fell into some melting snow and began smoking. No harm done, except to my heart!!

I leave the pool -- and their stock tank -- in the garage until spring. I've also used black, rubber dishes that help retain heat to keep the water from freezing -- as long as my little darlings don't tip them over in their enthusiastic glee.

My first winter with ducks I worried about how they would handle the cold. They quickly showed me as they abandoned their warm shelter to lie in falling snow. Best wishes with yours!

Thank you! I will be putting up the pool today. We do have deep dishes that their heads fit in and I feel better about them using just those.

 

[Callender Girl]

You're welcome! And, in support of my point, it's 21 degrees this morning. The chickens refuse to leave their coops. The ducks happily ran out of their warm shelter and are lying on the cold ground after dunking their heads in the water dishes.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I watch weather report so I always know what the early morning temperatures here in Maryland will be. If it says 29.f, I know there will only be a thin coat of ice so I don’t put away the baby pools yet . when it gets to 28 or less, I put away the pools in my greenhouse, but I also have a few of the big black rectangular concrete mixing tubs that I keep out in the winter time whenever there is daytime temperatures above freezing I fill those for my ducks and geese , but I dump them out in the evening. I also toss some straw on the ground around them.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

I am in northcentral WI and this is my second winter with 5 ducks and 2 geese. I do not have a pond.

I use rubber tubs and heated dog bowls. Just today tho...it is about 34 deg. I filled their little kiddie pool at lunch. They LOVED it. They also use the rubber tubs and heated dog bowls like hot tubs, even in -30 weather. They get fresh water in AM when I let them out of the huts, at lunch I come home and refresh. I get home after 5 so after I put them in their huts (no food or water) I rinse everything-leave tubs empty and refill in morning. Heated bowls I rinse and refill. Do not let them go dry, it ruins them. I carry 5 gallon buckets out from garage. Today I cheated with the hose for the pool. I just bought another heated dog bowl from Fleet, it was cheap, $23 I think. I run a VERY long extension cord to them.

Ducks and geese are SO hardy in cold temps. They climbed in the tubs and heated bowls in -30 last winter and never seemed unhappy. I give them mealworms and peas too for treats.

Winters do suck and I feel bad for them when its super cold out.

Renee