They will try to swim in about anything-mine do anyway. It gets to -30 deg F here and they will sit in their plug in heated dog bowls like it is a hot tub.
This is my hut. They have the run of the yard in summer. At night they are in here. The run is 6x12...the shelter is on the left end....maybe 4x6...other than at night, they love being outside in the open air...
With the straw I just use a farm fork and it comes up like a giant pancake. Especially in the goose hut. Takes like 15 min to clean their hut.
Other than being in the cold, cleaning is easier in winter than summer IMO.
I have the same issue with ducks. Big flat area of frozen poo! I just keep adding straw and on warm days I fork most of it out and replace with new straw. Hoping to do some cleaning this weekend.
I use pine shavings (minimal) and mainly use good dry straw.
I did notice when opening the hut...
It is really weird how fast you adjust to the cold temps. When I am totally bundled up, just face exposed -10 deg F isn't THAT bad if you are moving and doing something. This morning was a bit harsh- jacket and mittens got crunchy cold. When I opened their hut door it was warmer in there than...
Morning. We are still kicking!! I left everyone in this morning. Last night I put their plug in warmer bowl in the hut and a bowl of food. I put a board and big rock on it so they cannot use it as a hot tub. They were very confused this morning when I checked on them and filled the water bowl...
I have straw filled hut for at night. (6ftx12ft-loaded w straw bales and covered sides) During the day they do have plug in water bowls outside. NOT THE BUCKETS! Those darn things freeze at the top ALL THE TIME. I have the bowls. Ducks are fine as long as they have some sort of a wind break. I...
I live in Wisconsin and am used to "cold"...my 6 ducks and 2 geese go outside everyday and in a hut at night. No food or water in hut. I do keep the doors open all day and they choose to stay outside till dark. Temps have been below zero for a while.
This Thursday thru Saturday is going to be...
Morning All! I do not have chickens (kind of thinking I should)..I have a few ducks and 2 geese. Opened the hut doors and they came out today. I left the doors open in case they want to go in out of the wind. They tend to stay outside even in this weather. I have heated bowls for them and those...
Hello All! Pretty sick of winter at this point. Dislike how my birds go into fear mode with me now that I don't spend a lot of time outside with them. I am just waiting for my gander to raise h#ll again with spring SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWLY creeping up. So far everyone is healthy with the temps...
We plan to stay home tonight too. When I get home from work I will be putting the birds to bed and shutting the hut doors. The geese have been bedding with the ducks for some reason. Everyone seems ok with it. :idunno
I have a wild rabbit hanging around the birds now. I shall call it Mr Bun...
I have a wild bunny hanging with the ducks/geese during the day. Nobody seems to mind but I am not sure the duck/goose food is healthy for the bunny. Not that I want to buy rabbit food and guessing that would not be good for the ducks/geese- but I would. Maybe just some hay would be ok to put...
Hello All! Had a good one a few days ago.
Our garage sink drains into a 5 gallon bucket. I fill a 5 gallon bucket from the faucet to carry to the ducks/geese. I started the water and put my shoes on to leave for work...and left for work. :barnie Mind you it is pretty cold here about 0-10 deg...
Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a good Holiday.
Woke up this morning to the huts being drifted in- waist high drifts. I really need to use a snow fence next year. Took me well over an hour to shovel them out and I used the snowblower over the grass for a path. I shoveled last night about...
I had the same issue last year with the bucket type. I just use the dog bowl type- but this weekend around the rim- it did freeze a little but not like the bucket type. I just think the warm part of the bucket is more towards the bottom. :idunno
After this weekend I am just glad they had...
My ducks do not want anything to do with being picked up.
My male goose is a big boy and I have grabbed him a time or two when he isn't being very nice. My female does not let me near her. Not sure I could catch her without a net.
I did have an African Male Goose. He was snuggly as a...
I have had my ducks for 1.5 years. Only one passed suddenly. I have a gander who is like 4 years old. He is a MEAN SOB in spring but he is my favorite so he stays. His wife is 1.5 and is fine- just bossy.
It is very cold here with a ton of snow so the goal for the next few months is fresh...