Can grown ducks take -30 wind chill?

[xfilesnumber1fan]

It is going to be -30 over night here This is my first winter with ducks..They are in a large wire cage in the garage with straw bedding no water or feed as theay ate and drank all today out side I have 6 bales of straw around the cage and a blanket to cover the top and one that covers half the front of the cage and a 250 watt brood lamp on the other half..Will they be ok? How do ducks survive when they dont have help? Its -30 here? Thanks

 

[Wifezilla]

First of all....WOW! Now I remember why I left Wisconsin. I do NOT miss weather like that.

What you described SOUNDS ok, but do you have a picture?

 

[al6517]

Yes that is plenty good just make sure it is not to warm for them, they develop their down feathers when it is cold, and if it is too warm they don't get as thick and insulating. when I go duck hunting the ducks fly best when it is very cold, they sit sometimes on our pond when it is super cold and freezing rain and blowing wind, they seem to like it.

AL

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

No..But I can go take some pics?

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

My ducks are totally spoiled..It wasnt to cold this morning around 30, tonight is the problem some horrible cold wind and weather came it dropped 20 degrees in 1 hr,My ducks would not stand up,had their feet pulled up and noses tucked in...Sometimes I have to pick them up and carry them because they wont walk! LOL 4 are mallards 1 is a white crested / 1 is a white layer I think they are mixed also they did not turn out color wise as they guy who sold them to me stated! How do I put pics on here???

 

[thecochincoop]

I think they should be fine. I have 2 BEI's and a white call and they will NOT go inside for anything. I built them a small shelter and they refuse to use it. It will get below zero and windy and they sit outside and play in the water. I don't think that cold bothers them at all.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

They relish it!!
Some of my fondest memorys of my migratory waterfowl was watching them go berzerk when we got cold weather.
They would eat the blame ice cycles off the misters in the aviary.
Now I am in south Georgia, 10-20 is coooooollllddddd here.
But I have a lot of duck friends in Minnesota, and they never have trouble with theirs.
If you feel the need, it wont hurt to give them the OPTION of warm over cold, but as mentioned above, dont keep them from getting a good heavy down coat by having them constantly heated, or it could possibly bite you in the end.
In short, good ol ducks and geese are built for it!

Good luck
Aubrey

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
Might not hurt to have a waterer for them?
Do you have a heating pad you could set them on?
Just thinkin'...
christina

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

good thinking!
The only real vulnerable spot on them will be their feet.

 

[jvls1942]

ducks and geese are well equiped for cold.. they tuck their head under their wing and pull their feet up into their down underwings and they are all set..

I have had geese sit like this for two days without moving..

to the person who carried them because they would not walk.. would you take your feet out of a nice warm quilt and stick them into a snow bank?

and as for playing in water.. any water is at least 31 degrees.. that is a lot warmer than minus 10 degrees.. if you want to warm up your birds, give them a bath,,

at minus 22 degrees the water will bead up on their backs, freeze and run off like BB's, ..

do not be surprised if your ducks shunn the 250 watt heated coop.
It really might be too warm for them.. I am not saying don't give them the choice..