Anyone out there with Pekin ducks in the south Florida area? Or other similar warm climates?

[Clucks2Ducks]

Trying to get some advice and info please from anyone that has raised Pekins in Florida during the hot months. We have two ducks, along with 4 chickens, and they love to be together, but we are worried about the heat. Tonight, we put them on our patio to keep them cooler. They have been sleeping with the chickens in the coop, but tonight is the warmest it has been since we got them. An option will be to further reinforce the run so they stay out overnight. I'll be paranoid of course, because I will worry about predators. Before it got so much hotter, knowing they were stowed away safely in the coop was a little more peace of mind. Thinking about buying outdoor fans too!!
I welcome any warm weather tips. Our pets are our family, and we want to do right for them. The sight of panting Pekins is not our goal. And yes, they have access to water to dip their heads and beaks in, on top of the fount that is kept for the chickens. They also get to swim everyday when they are let out to free range supervised. Thanks in advance for any ideas and help!!

 

[SouthernPride]

I used to live in Ft. Lauderdale and now I'm in N MS and I think the summers are hotter here. Very stagnant and humid. I've never worried about them being too hot. I have run a fan on an occasion at night for them just for my own piece of mind.

 

[Clucks2Ducks]

Did you ever notice them panting? I've been seeing them do this and I am super worried. Maybe my newness is making me over hyper, but seeing as you know this climate so well, we are just at the beginning of the warm weather, and I am really concerned. They were not happy with us when we took them away from the chickens!! Sounds like a fan is on our purchase list! Where do yours sleep at night?

 

[Amiga]

Once they are fully feathered, a large flat-bottomed bowl of water they can stand in may help them cool off. There is always a concern with ducklings drowning unaccompanied in water. But if it is quite shallow for them and easy to step into and out of (based on observation), that is something to consider. I did that for my runners before I moved them into a shelter that stays more moderate in temperature year-round.

Panting can be from heat and from anxiety.

 

[Clucks2Ducks]

Thanks! It's probably a good thing we don't have any real children! We lose enough sleep over ducks, chickens, and dogs!! Will be sure to keep the pans of water around. They luckily are past the drowning stage.