Duck feet in the cold

[newbyduckmom]

Are ducks feet in danger of freezing walking around on ice, serious frost and frozen ground? Their feathers seem to be keeping them warm okay in 20 some degrees, but what about their feet?

 

[HollyBird24]

As long as they have a place where they can stand out of the snow (like inside a shelter with straw) they should be fine.

 

[newbyduckmom]

They do, but they never choose to go in there.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I am not exactly sure why ducks do so well in the snow and ice of winter. I give them dry shelters, but they choose to be out in the snow most of the time and I have seen no problems with their feet.

 

[sherylreno]

Watch them when they lay down and you'll see they tuck their feet between their body and wings to keep them warm. We are having temps in the teens at night and all is well with them.

 

[Spud Chicken]

Waterfowl evolved over thousands of years to adapt to the cold. With their feet they are cold to begin with because the supply and return veins in the legs run side by side. So when the warm blood from the body goes into the legs it is cooled by the blood returning to the body. Hence the blood returning to the body is warmed by the blood going to the feet. This allows for a stable body temperature will they are swiming in cold water.

 

[jynxster]

I live in the mountains of southern california. Our day time temps here rite now are 40 to 60 degrees and at night well , to the upper 20's at the coldest. So its been raining a cold rain for three days now, I get up early before work to feed animals. The rain was pouring this morning, I let my two ducks out of the enclosed duck pen into an open air area, where they have a small tupperware sweaterbox as a makeshift little pond, (about 4 in deep by 15in wide by 24 in long) they jumped in and played in the pouring rain chirpped and peeped all the time like kids at a fair. Now I know why I have ducks. I was late for work cause I got so caught up watching them from inside the house drinking my hot coffee. I always worry about them getting cold but from what I read here , they are pretty healthy creatures; and I love them. I have Named them after my two aunts Dixie and Ruby they are sisters born Oct 16th, my dads birthday. Special little girls and will be spoiled as much as I can as all my other creatures. (all animals are Gods gift to people) Late last night there was an add fora pond liner 450 gallons, I called and ran over about half an hour away, the lady sold it to me for 20$ what a great deal, now I just need to figure out how to clean it out and such.
Pics of Ruby (grey and white) and Dixie (blk and white):

 

[Funsizeracing]

Pretty ducks. What breed are they?

As for the cold. We had our first snow last week and temps in the low 20's. Ducks didn't care one bit. They have a dry house with straw where my hen lays, but other than that they don't use it. I put out a heated water bowl so I don't worry about drinking water freezing. Then I felt bad because their pool froze over so I caved and bought a stock tank heater. Spoiled rotten duckies