Anyone else keeping their ducks "All Cooped Up" because it is too cold for them to "Play Outside" wi

[canard]

My ducks have been all cooped up since Sunday afternoon.

They acted like they wanted to go out to play yesterday, but once I turned off the heater & opened the flaps of the tarps covering their coop, the wing fluttering and excited running about abruptly ceased and none of them dared venture out.

Normally, they trip over each other trying to be the first ones out and "fly-run" to their hangout area under the bird netting by the house as soon as they are clear of the coop.

Besides the heater (in a wire cage outside the coop under the tarp-tent but a few feet from touching it), I bring them a very warm bucket of water. I fill it 1/4 to 1/2 full in their coop. They need water with their feed & I leave feed in their coop.

I found if I put full water buckets in the coop, they will just throw it on their backs to "take a shower" so full buckets are only in areas of the yard where ice build up isn't an issue.

I also bring them warmed up peas. I run hot water over frozen peas in a strainer. I let them drip dry & toss them in their straw. The have loads of fun trying to eat them before all the others can.

When they are outside, they often get to fight over kale, spinach or frozen peas thawed in a bucket of hot water (which is warm water by the time they get it.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

My ducks have been all cooped up since Sunday afternoon.

They acted like they wanted to go out to play yesterday, but once I turned off the heater & opened the flaps of the tarps covering their coop, the wing fluttering and excited running about abruptly ceased and none of them dared venture out.

Normally, they trip over each other trying to be the first ones out and "fly-run" to their hangout area under the bird netting by the house as soon as they are clear of the coop.

Besides the heater (in a wire cage outside the coop under the tarp-tent but a few feet from touching it), I bring them a very warm bucket of water. I fill it 1/4 to 1/2 full in their coop. They need water with their feed & I leave feed in their coop.

I found if I put full water buckts in the coop, they will just throw it on their backs to "take a shower" so full buckets are only in areas of the yard where ice build up isn't an issue.

I also bring them warmed up peas. I run hot water over frozen peas in a strainer. I let them drip dry & toss them in their straw. The have loads of fun trying to eat them before all the others can.

When they are outside, they often get to fight over kale, spinach or frozen peas thawed in a bucket of hot water (which is warm water by the time they get it.)

Mine are out in 1* but hunkered down behind the wind breaks I put up, I really like all your idea though to keep them busy and keeps their tummys filled.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Here: Day 2 of My ducks will not leave my barn. Sun came out today so I opened the door, that caused them to huddle under the light. So now we finally know a weather that will keep these ducks inside.

 

[canard]

No man nor "beast" nor "waterfowl" wants to venture out in this weather.

 

[canard]

We put an indoor/outdoor thermometer in their coop so we know the temperature in their "house". We usually just unplug the heater during the day when they r out playing. I don't mess with the thermostat often. Last night, I bumped it up a tad, cuz the wind chill was really hounding their waxed tarps. If it gets warmer out, I dial it down a bit. The temperature in the coop is affected by outside temperature & wind chill.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Nice

 

[canard]

I am glad to see Miss Lydia's ducks are able to weather the cold with the help of the wind breaks she & her husband provided.

It sounds like HollyDuckFarmer's ducks are experiencing the same bitter cold as my ducks & are too smart & too snuggled in to want to brave these temps.

You feel it on any exposed skin the instant you step outside. No getting away with holding wet metal bucket handles without gloves in this weather.

 

[canard]

I don't think my ducks ever *had* to stay in before this winter during the day time.

Thursday = in coop all day & night.
Friday = I let them out. The ducks went a few yards & sat down in protest & refused to venture farther. I put them away.
Saturday & Sunday = lots of outdoor play time, including warm bath water on Sunday. (They take a bath with bucket water flung on their backs any day!)
Monday, today and likely till tomorrow afternoon = all cooped up.

They seem super happy and chattery. A few beg to have their necks or chests pet when I put fresh straw in their coop. *Bitey* always begs to be pet and then tries to "bite" me.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't think my ducks ever *had* to stay in before this winter during the day time.

Thursday = in coop all day & night.
Friday = I let them out. The ducks went a few yards & sat down in protest & refused to venture farther. I put them away.
Saturday & Sunday = lots of outdoor play time, including warm bath water on Sunday. (They take a bath with bucket water flung on their backs any day!)
Monday, today and likely till tomorrow afternoon = all cooped up.

They seem super happy and chattery. A few beg to have their necks or chests pet when I put fresh straw in their coop. *Bitey* always begs to be pet and then tries to "bite" me.

Sneaky lil thing isn't he, what part of the Country are you in?

 

[canard]

The * cold* part!