Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[lagrange chicks]

I'm so proud of my son. He wouldn't mind me sharing this. He's in his early 40's and due to some stupid stunt he did when he was 18, he can't hunt with a gun. He's come out by us to practice his skills and became a crack shot with a bow. His good friend lets him hunt his land and told him to let the 6 and 8 pointers walk as there were bigger there.

10! Shawano County

View attachment 3993893

Nice buck, your son did well. Anything with a bow a person can be proud of. I bow hunted probably 25 times behind our house and figured I saw a deer for every 3 or 4 times out.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Hope all is well with hunting and such. We do not hunt but enough of the people around us do.

The snow finally hit us today (30 miles west of Wausau), wish I was home to see how the ducks and geese are taking to the snow. The temps are going to drop after today. I keep telling myself they are built for this. Time to break their little hearts by removing their kiddie pools after work tonight. I just picture muddy pigs with feathers running around for the next few months. I was dreading this time of year. Taking things day by day on the frozen water situation and figuring things out as I go.

Hope everyone is ready for Thanksgiving and stays warm!

 

[jvls1942]

a few facts about ducks and geese
' I always filled a rubber tub for them, daily.
no matter how cold it was.
if it was minus 20F, the water would be plus 33F at least, maybe warmer, depending on how warm it came out of the faucet.
they never refused to take a bath.
the water never actually gets to their skin
their down feathers are too thick.
even without water, they go through the motions of taking a bath. sometimes using snow as the water.
they have an oil gland on their back, right at the base of their tail. they bite it and preen their feathers with it.
all winter long, they will always keep themselves looking clean.
also, they can bathe in muddy water and come out looking clean and refreshed.
they will take turns. usually in the same order each day.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

a few facts about ducks and geese
' I always filled a rubber tub for them, daily.
no matter how cold it was.
if it was minus 20F, the water would be plus 33F at least, maybe warmer, depending on how warm it came out of the faucet.
they never refused to take a bath.
the water never actually gets to their skin
their down feathers are too thick.
even without water, they go through the motions of taking a bath. sometimes using snow as the water.
they have an oil gland on their back, right at the base of their tail. they bite it and preen their feathers with it.
all winter long, they will always keep themselves looking clean.
also, they can bathe in muddy water and come out looking clean and refreshed.
they will take turns. usually in the same order each day.

I have read some of the posts from people (you know, from California or Arizona) claiming the ducks/geese would be frozen solid if you give them water in anything they could climb in. Honestly, some of their advice would scare anyone. I was looking into used hot tubs and heaters they had me so freaked out. I am glad someone found me to lead me to this thread. People that live in this lovely climate of true COLD, not the "OMG its 30 deg and everyone is going to freeze"...those folks have NO idea what COLD is. Not to be rude, but it gets frustrating attempting to get advice and all you get is "you are doing everything wrong" or "crickets...."

Sorry to vent...the cold can be stressful and helpful information is hard to come by on here (not this thread). I appreciate the list of facts about the ducks and geese!!! Thank You.

 

[Amer]

I have read some of the posts from people (you know, from California or Arizona) claiming the ducks/geese would be frozen solid if you give them water in anything they could climb in. Honestly, some of their advice would scare anyone. I was looking into used hot tubs and heaters they had me so freaked out. I am glad someone found me to lead me to this thread. People that live in this lovely climate of true COLD, not the "OMG its 30 deg and everyone is going to freeze"...those folks have NO idea what COLD is. Not to be rude, but it gets frustrating attempting to get advice and all you get is "you are doing everything wrong" or "crickets...."

Sorry to vent...the cold can be stressful and helpful information is hard to come by on here (not this thread). I appreciate the list of facts about the ducks and geese!!! Thank You.

That advice is just silly. The geese and ducks in the wild are on the water during all seasons, the water is actually warmer than the air!

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

That advice is just silly. The geese and ducks in the wild are on the water during all seasons, the water is actually warmer than the air!

I do not have a pond for them and know I have to pull their kiddie pools-other than the odd warm day.

At this point...shelter, water and food is the goal the next few months.

 

[jvls1942]

I actually roared with laughter when I read that the ducks would freeze into a ball.
I used the mortar mixing tubs that I bought at Menards. they are about 2ft x 3ft, except for the one I ran over with the tractor, they are over 10 years old. after the geese were finished with their bathing, there would be about 3" of water left in the tub.I would let it freeze. then just tip the tub upside down and the ice cube would fall out.
that was better than dumping the water because that would just make a sheet of slippery ice.
additionally, the geese had no problem mating in that tiny tub

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

I actually roared with laughter when I read that the ducks would freeze into a ball.
I used the mortar mixing tubs that I bought at Menards. they are about 2ft x 3ft, except for the one I ran over with the tractor, they are over 10 years old. after the geese were finished with their bathing, there would be about 3" of water left in the tub.I would let it freeze. then just tip the tub upside down and the ice cube would fall out.
that was better than dumping the water because that would just make a sheet of slippery ice.
additionally, the geese had no problem mating in that tiny tub

Does this hold true even when it is -30 deg? Or do you just mean 20s and teens for temps?

And when you fill them in the VERY cold are you using warm water or just whatever comes out of the hose? I would be getting water from inside my garage and carry buckets to the tubs. I do have access to warm water.

I know they don't NEED a big tub to bathe in but it is so tough to ignore their duck/goose pouts when they don't have something to play in.

I know I am overthinking this....trust me...I KNOW!

 

[Amer]

Does this hold true even when it is -30 deg? Or do you just mean 20s and teens for temps?

And when you fill them in the VERY cold are you using warm water or just whatever comes out of the hose? I would be getting water from inside my garage and carry buckets to the tubs. I do have access to warm water.

I know they don't NEED a big tub to bathe in but it is so tough to ignore their duck/goose pouts when they don't have something to play in.

I know I am overthinking this....trust me...I KNOW!

Warm water doesn't freeze as quickly so it's better for that reason.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Warm water doesn't freeze as quickly so it's better for that reason.

We could get into the conversation of the Mpemba Effect....where warm water freezes faster than cold....I don't know how true it is but with evaporation and blah blah blah they claim it may be true.

I guess I have all winter to deal with it. LOL