Can grown ducks take -30 wind chill?

[xfilesnumber1fan]

Like I said in my post only half the cage is getting the 250 watt lamp They have a choice! I will not put water in the cage at night it would be a frozen icy mess!! They spend outside all day eating and drinking a few hours at night isnt going to kill them!

Too all the people who say the ducks relish the cold have not seen my 6 running to the cage to get out of the cold/snow/wind...They hate it..Some mornings are so cold they wont even come out of the garage let alone the cage they just sit there looking and quacking at me...So I put down some newspaper under the water and feed them inside because they wont budge!

 

[al6517]

They are running for the garage because they are getting spoiled, your not allowing them to grow their down, this will probably hurt the birds in the end that's a fact. I hope you have good luck with your duck's

 

[spectrumranch]

It is -25 actual temp here right now. Our ducks & geese have the choice to go inside if they want- but alot are outside in spots where there is a wind break.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

We just got over our cold spell. We had daytime highs of -15 and lows of -30 every night for 2 weeks without adding in windchill.

Be carefull with the water, I had 1 kaki jump in the water dish and his tail feathers froze to the rim in a matter of seconds!

On day 10 of the cold snap I had 1 mallard who just laid down and died. For what ever reason he decided not to go into the coop with the rest of them.

 

[jvls1942]

the ducks have to acclimate gadually as the weather changes.
If they are pampered, they will not acclimate..

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

**edited to remove flaming and for language**

 

[xfilesnumber1fan]

post removed

 

[DuckLady]

The question here is can grown ducks take super cold temps, not to compare them to wild birds who have different tolerances and needs.
There is a difference between pets and wild.
There is also no need to judge another for what they wish to do to keep their pets warm and safe.
Please do offer your thoughts, but it should be done kindly and helpfully.
And if you are asking for advice, it goes without saying you might not like it.
And remember, too, tone is not distinguishable in written form often.
Take the advice here that works for you and do what you feel is right.

I think I covered all the issues in the reports.

Thanks.

 

[pirtykitty]

I have Fred, Hewie and Louise in a raised hutch hubby built.. it has hard ware cloth top and bottom and a roof with shingles. We put it on wheels in the fall.. at one end I have a rubber mat I keep pine wood shavings on. the other end it hardware cloth I keep their swiming water and drinking water on that end.. Food is wired in container to side with the mat.. When it's cold an windy I have 3 sides blocked off with either heavy towels and or old rugs.. They go into this at night.

During the day when it's cold and windy I've noticed they aren't too happy about the wind etc.. they like to come up and sit under car port at back door.. Heck they like to do that when it's nice too . LOL but I notice it more when it's windy ..
I tuck them in around 5:00 pm right now.. They get a handfull of good cat food to help keep them warm, also their oat goats and some mazuri waterfowl maintence and their salad for the night..
The water falls through the hardware cloth and onto the ground. Which usually drys up each day..We move the pen around every so often. The hard thing is watching out where we put it because of the sprinkler system in back yard. I'm not a happy camper when hubby turns it on and their bedding gets all wet. LOL.. If I have notice it's going to come on I run go cover that end..

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

I was the one who said the relish the cold, and I stand by it!
It's my personal opinion from 15 years of keeping over 100 different varieties.
I didnt mean to offend you, but they do. At least mine do.
I too said I live in GA where it dosent get that cold, but the vast majority of my fellow breeder live up north, Minn, Maine, Wisconsin and so on, they too, leave theirs outside . The keep them on water comment, was intended for ponds that will not freeze over easily, not water bowls by no means.
However, if you are more comfortable bringing them in, by all means do so, but you must do it all the time as said, their down layer will not build up to tolerate what the are not use to being exposed too!
Good luck too you, didnt mean to make you mad,
Aubrey