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

[JHDucks]

This is our second winter with our girls. After lugging 5 gallon buckets down last year to fill rubber bowls, we tried something different.

We bought 2 gallon food grade plastic buckets with lids. We fill 2 with water twice a day and swap with the buckets that are in their run. (So much more manageable than 5 gallons). We keep plastic buckets inside the big rubber buckets, and there is very little water in the run now, because the rubber bowls contain the spilled water. And they insulate the plastic buckets so they don't freeze. I've also been told we can add straw to the rubber bowls to insulate the water pails even more.

No pool if the hose is frozen, but they've adapted. We also wrap their run in plastic to keep them warm and keep out snow/ice. We've had some single digits and below 0 Temps, and it's much warmer in their setup than outside. We have plenty of ventilation on top.

Our chickens are in with the ducks and they have done fine too. I can send pictures of their water set up if you're interested when I go down later for cleaning/feeding.

 

[FNF]

I fill five gallon buckets with hot water each morning. They sit out in the cold temperatures while I do other chores and when they have reached a nice warm-not-hot temperature I put them in the run for the ducks and let them out of their house. The buckets have holes cut so they can dip their heads but don’t splash too much and can’t get in. They are using their buckets enough during the day and the run is covered for the winter so they haven’t frozen during the day. I don’t put bathing bowls out until it’s above freezing and sunny then they get a fun surprise. Come spring they’ll get their pond back. I’m no expert and I’ve learned a lot in this forum but the buckets are working like a charm. The pic is from summer but there is straw down in the run for winter and plastic panels and wrap on the sides of the run. The house does not have food or water overnight.

 

[JHDucks]

This is our second winter with our girls. After lugging 5 gallon buckets down last year to fill rubber bowls, we tried something different.

We bought 2 gallon food grade plastic buckets with lids. We fill 2 with water twice a day and swap with the buckets that are in their run. (So much more manageable than 5 gallons). We keep plastic buckets inside the big rubber buckets, and there is very little water in the run now, because the rubber bowls contain the spilled water. And they insulate the plastic buckets so they don't freeze. I've also been told we can add straw to the rubber bowls to insulate the water pails even more.

No pool if the hose is frozen, but they've adapted. We also wrap their run in plastic to keep them warm and keep out snow/ice. We've had some single digits and below 0 Temps, and it's much warmer in their setup than outside. We have plenty of ventilation on top.

Our chickens are in with the ducks and they have done fine too. I can send pictures of their water set up if you're interested when I go down later for cleaning/feeding.

 

[Klatimer]

I fill five gallon buckets with hot water each morning. They sit out in the cold temperatures while I do other chores and when they have reached a nice warm-not-hot temperature I put them in the run for the ducks and let them out of their house. The buckets have holes cut so they can dip their heads but don’t splash too much and can’t get in. They are using their buckets enough during the day and the run is covered for the winter so they haven’t frozen during the day. I don’t put bathing bowls out until it’s above freezing and sunny then they get a fun surprise. Come spring they’ll get their pond back. I’m no expert and I’ve learned a lot in this forum but the buckets are working like a charm. The pic is from summer but there is straw down in the run for winter and plastic panels and wrap on the sides of the run. The house does not have food or water overnight.

This forum has been a life saver! Especially for the newbies like us! This is my first winter, and in Ohio it’s 7°F but wind chills between-10 to -25F!!! I’m so scared for them!