Ducks in Winter in New England Advice appreciated

[IveGoneQuacky]

Hi,

I would love some advice and pointers from those who have faced cold and snowy winters with ducks. This is my first winter and I am nervous about keeping up with my 9 ducks in the cold. did i mention I HATE WINTER

My biggest concern is water. I have a 3 gallon heated waterer. I just ordered a 2 and 3 gallon flexi rubber tub that I would like to put a bird bath heater into. Does anyone have good luck with the super cold winters with the bird bath heaters. If so what brand or wattage do you recommend? Or is there something else that might work for the crazy amount of water my ducks go through?

My BIGGEST QUESTION is access to water. I know this might be a dumb question but what do you do if you dont have a winterized outdoor water source. We have our water access through our garden hoses but with the temps dropping daily I know i need to remove the garden hoses and shut the water off to the outdoors so the pipes dont freeze. There must be a better way than me schlepping 10-15 gallons of water a day over 100 feet away from the house to give them water. So what do others do who dont have barns or outdoor sources? Im sure something exists that I dont know about but I havent had much luck researchiing things online.

Help please. Any other winter things I missed?

right now the ducks are in a 8x6 dog house with a wind board to prevent a draft and they are in a 20x20 kennel run which i plan to use plastic or tarp to cover the northern side of the kennel. Would this be enough to winterize?

Thanks

 

[Amiga]

When it gets ripping cold here in southern New England, I use scrunchy hoses (that empty themselves and then can be put into small buckets and placed indoors). Those are very handy.

And I turn off the inside water valve when it's going to be cold. However, in the morning, I turn the valve back on, and use a small pitcher of very warm water to warm up the pipes to prevent freezing.

@Miss Lydia seems to have a pretty good system. I am sure she's not the only one.

 

[Miss Lydia]

When it gets ripping cold here in southern New England, I use scrunchy hoses (that empty themselves and then can be put into small buckets and placed indoors). Those are very handy.

And I turn off the inside water valve when it's going to be cold. However, in the morning, I turn the valve back on, and use a small pitcher of very warm water to warm up the pipes to prevent freezing.

.

@IveGoneQuacky Welcome to BYC
I pretty much doing what you are I have 2- 2 gal buckets and 1- 5gal for my geese all heated I don't keep their water inside to keep their bedding from getting sloppy. I have put up pools for the year and only on days when it's into low 40's I give them a cement mixing tub they can splash around in and I dump in the evening. I also use the X hose so much better than a reg garden hose, after using drain all the water put into a bucket and bring in to keep from freezing.
I have never used a bird bath heater so can't comment on those. Another thing is the top of your kennel covered in some kind of netting? predators that can climb will take full advantage of an open run. also make sure nothing can dig under, winter predators are looking even more at our flocks as food source since their main food is hiding underground. Also make sure you have at least 2-3 foot from bottom up the sides of your run covered in hardware cloth to keep anything from sticking their arms trough and grabbing hold of one of your ducks and trying to pull it through the fence.
I know this has ventured off the water issue but I always feel better if I say it.