Cold Weather Ducks

[Bill83]

I am looking for some advice in caring for our ducks in the cold weather. My pen is a Fenced in 12 x 8 with a 4x4 house in the one corner of the pen. Their pen has some water bowl heaters that keep their drinking water from freezing. The house has a hanging heat lamp and stays around 30 degrees. During the cold nights (sub 20f) I shut the ducks in the house for about 6-8 hours without access to water or food.

We are seeing in the forecast its looking like its going to be a week or so of weather where its 8-15 degrees at night and some days where its sub 20. I cant leave the ducks in the 4x4 house all day without food and water while I'm at work.

What are my options to making sure they don't get any forstbite and stay warm ? I thought about stapling shower cutrains to the inside of the coop to keep cold air out and hanging some more heat lamps in the pen?

IF anyone has any ideas/advice to get through these temps I would appreciate it very much.

 

[Eric_W]

They’re very tough when it comes to the cold. Mine I give the choice . They can go in their insulated coop or they can be out in their secure run. Their coop is always open to the run. Mine rarely ever sleep in the coop. It’s been in the teens here in PA. They don’t care. Really the only thing that can frostbite is their feet and when they get cold they sit on them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Don't shut them off from fresh air, food, water, etc.. Most species of ducks can handle quite cold temps. Colder than what you are referring to.

 

[Bill83]

If i have the house heated can I just assume they will use it if they are cold enough ? Or will they just sit out in the cold like a dumb duck ?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you heat the duck house it would be unnecessary, expensive and they may not use it because they aren't cold.

 

[Bill83]

So whats the best suggestion ? you have just told me what not to do, but not what i can do to keep them more comfortable. I could get cheap plywood and just close up the sides of the pen to cut down on the wind.

 

[Eric_W]

It’s your choice whether to heat or not. I personally don’t recommend it. If they have a dry shelter out of the wind that’s really all they need.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I reiterate. Ducks don't get cold like you do. Those temperatures aren't even cold. Don't worry about them.

 

[Bill83]

Alright, I just read they can get frostbite when its sub 20 degrees on their feet so i was worried. Its my first winter with them, Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

So whats the best suggestion ? you have just told me what not to do, but not what i can do to keep them more comfortable. I could get cheap plywood and just close up the sides of the pen to cut down on the wind.

That would help on the sides the wind blows through and keep the south side open. Do you put down bedding in the pen? Also is the top of your pen covered? My Runners will def go back into their house when it’s cold and windy like today my Muscovy will to or hunker down behind things I have out there spectfically for this. They are tough but don’t care for the frigid winds. A few of my Muscovy have gotten frost bite on their fleshy area on their face. No need to heat if they have dry bedding and are out of the wind just as @Eric_W said