Can my ducks handle -4 degrees F ?? I’m worried!

[Mama Mills]

Hello! I live in northern Colorado and have three gorgeous lady ducks whom we got last spring, this is their first winter. I just saw the temp is supposed to get very low next weekend and I’m worried about our girls. They sleep in a Nestera duck house (only ventilation is up top - no major drafts) with lots of hemp and straw, no food or water. We’ve had single digits but not negatives and I’m feeling very concerned. Should I get a seedling mat or something else to put in their house? Any advice on ensuring their comfort and safety is appreciated. Thank you in advance

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Likely but what species are they?
Are they Buffs?

 

[KathiQuacks]

Ducks can tolerate shockingly low temperatures with good shelter. If they have bedding and protection from wind & rain, they’ll be alright

 

[Canadian Wind]

Mine survive just fine in much lower temps, and I daresay my coops are nowhere near as draft-free as yours (really gotta fix those doors!). In fact, they went through a two-day period of the temps dropping to around -50 (C or F are about the same at this point!) better than I did!

I make sure they have dry bedding (shavings and/or straw) and scatter some on the ground too to keep their feet from getting too cold when outside. If it's bitterly cold out, I only let them out for a short while to eat and drink and they go back in early, otherwise they have access to their coops and additional shelter if they want it.

 

[Mama Mills]

Likely but what species are they?
Are they Buffs?

Two silver sppleyard

 

[Mama Mills]

And one saxony

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I have two seedling mats under dishpans filled with shavings and hay (my duck nesting boxes). I have them to prevent frozen eggs but if it makes you worry less, they do work. If you do use them, I would not cover all the space so they have a choice. Also, they get pretty warm so you don’t want them laying directly on them.

 

[Mama Mills]

I have two seedling mats under dishpans filled with shavings and hay (my duck nesting boxes). I have them to prevent frozen eggs but if it makes you worry less, they do work. If you do use them, I would not cover all the space so they have a choice. Also, they get pretty warm so you don’t want them laying directly on them.

Thank you. We ended up using a seedling mat under some hay and hemp shavings and I feel much better knowing it’s in there tonight is our first night in the negatives hopefully they are cozy!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't know if this will ease your mind. It has been as low as negative 19F at my house. After over 40 breeds of chickens, I never had a hen becoming ill from the cold. Large combed roosters tend to get frost bitten in below zero temps. I never took special precautions. I kept windows wide open all winter. I even had a building with a smaller window where I kept a box fan on the windowsill blowing the cold air in toward the roost year-round. Most species of ducks are more cold hardy than chickens.
What I'd like to relay is that plenty of fresh air does more to keep chickens healthy than warmth.
I think some of my healthiest birds were those that opted to sleep in trees rather than in a coop. That is even in winter through rain, snow and strong winds.

 

[FNF]

I’ve been worrying about this too - it’s 2-7 degrees F the next few nights. I’ve been reassured on this forum that ducks are cold hardy so I think we’re ok (meaning me, my mind is more at ease that they’ll be ok) but I’ve not heard of a seedling mat, let alone using it for ducks! Is that something that can be safely put under shavings and straw? I have a lot of bedding in their little house and they have straw in the run but good to know if we get any colder!