winter, water and ducks!?!?!? I'll take all the advice I can get!

[Klatimer]

What are some things you guys do for your ducks:
1. how do you keep the water from freezing? (we bought more rubber bowls)
2. how do you keep your coop from not being a wet muddy mess?
3. how do you keep the ducks out of the bowls?
4. how do you keep the coop dry?

We have winterize the coop because the temps are getting down to freezing already. We had our first bit of snow a few days ago. I took their pools out of their coop and if they could cuss, I DEFINITELY would have had some explicit words said to me! I covered the side of the coop that had rocks and covered it with straw so their feet down freeze. This is our first winter together. The more advice the BETTER!

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you have power to your coop heated buckets are awesome I don’t put them inside though they are made to be used in or out. This will keep your coop from being a muddy mess. I also put spent shaving down outside for them to lay on the rain washed the poop out of it, and by next spring use it in my veggies. Once it gets down below freezing and stays mine don’t get a pool I do set up a cement mixing tub for them if the temps get above freeing they are easy to dump at the end of the day. I keep the pop door open during the day and mine will go in and out when it’s cold. I’ve been doing this for over 20 yrs now with all the poultry I’ve had. 20 ducks a goose and 6 chicken now.

 

[Klatimer]

If you have power to your coop heated buckets are awesome I don’t put them inside though they are made to be used in or out. This will keep your coop from being a muddy mess. I also put spent shaving down outside for them to lay on the rain washed the poop out of it, and by next spring use it in my veggies. Once it gets down below freezing and stays mine don’t get a pool I do set up a cement mixing tub for them if the temps get above freeing they are easy to dump at the end of the day. I keep the pop door open during the day and mine will go in and out when it’s cold. I’ve been doing this for over 20 yrs now with all the poultry I’ve had. 20 ducks a goose and 6 chicken now.

How do you keep the run dry? Mine love to get in their water bowl or knock one of them over

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine have fenced property not really a run. They do like to play in their buckets though I put down river rock to help with mud.

 

[Klatimer]

Mine have fenced property not really a run. They do like to play in their buckets though I put down river rock to help with mud.

Oh we have a run, we live in a neighborhood and have an acre of land. But we also have 4 dogs and 2 of which are hunting dogs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 2 dogs but they haven’t access to my birds unless I let them. You could try placing a piece of wood over half their buckets so they can still dunk their heads but can’t as easily splash out their water.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

2 gallon heated rubber buckets each sitting in their own rubber pan is what I use. The buckets are tall enough they don’t jump in to swim and the rubber pan underneath catches any water they throw which helps keep your coop dry. I buy mine from statelinetack.com. They are a little pricey at first, but will last forever. They offer two sizes so I use them for all of my animals on my farm.

 

[Strawberry74]

This will be my second year keeping small pools up year round with a floating tank heater. If you have electricity it's a good way to go. My coop isn't far from my garage so I run a heavy duty extension cord. I don't ever put water inside the coop they're locked in at night and they're fine without food and water. In past years I have also used a rubber tub with fencing over the top as pictured below with a tank heater so they can't get in it. Not that they didn't try!

 

[Klatimer]

This will be my second year keeping small pools up year round with a floating tank heater. If you have electricity it's a good way to go. My coop isn't far from my garage so I run a heavy duty extension cord. I don't ever put water inside the coop they're locked in at night and they're fine without food and water. In past years I have also used a rubber tub with fencing over the top as pictured below with a tank heater so they can't get in it. Not that they didn't try!

View attachment 3995005View attachment 3995006

The pallets are a great idea! I’ve been looking into the water heater. I’m not sure what to go with. The cage over the water is such a great idea! How often do you clean out your water?

 

[Klatimer]

2 gallon heated rubber buckets each sitting in their own rubber pan is what I use. The buckets are tall enough they don’t jump in to swim and the rubber pan underneath catches any water they throw which helps keep your coop dry. I buy mine from statelinetack.com. They are a little pricey at first, but will last forever. They offer two sizes so I use them for all of my animals on my farm.

I definitely will be looking into that! I just want their run to be dry because you know how messy they are when it comes to water! I don’t want them harmed during the winter..