Ducks and cold temps

[FNF]

I’ve read a lot of posts about cold temperatures and poultry and waterfowl but I’m still a bit nervous with some impending cold weather here in western VA. Our flock has been through overnight temps in the low teens before but we have a few nights of 2-9 degrees F coming up. Neither coop is insulated but they are draft-free. I have a Cozy Coop warming plate that I can put in the chicken coop so I think they’ll be comfortable plus additional insulation in their litter.

The ducks (6) have a small duck house. I have put some insulation sheets in the windows and a blanket over the metal roof. They have coolers inside with bedding. There’s ventilation but no drafts. If I put even more straw and shavings in there is that enough to keep them comfortable? I don’t leave food and water overnight. This is our second winter with them but colder this year than last. The pictures are the outside and inside of their house. It’s 26 F outside right now. The divider is for my one girl whose wing feathers have been picked previously. I guess I want to make sure I’m not being naive to their hardiness

 

[Jenbirdee]

Your coop and run is beautiful. And cute ducks sleeping in the corners.
I tend to worry about my ducks in the cold as well, but when I do, I think about people in Canada with ducks that seem to do just fine and have much colder temps than I do the lowest it ever got here was 4° F. But with windchill felt like 20 below I have heard that ducks are hearty up till 20 below then they may start to have problems. Anyway, here is another thread that may help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-ducks.1646758/

 

[FNF]

Your coop and run is beautiful. And cute ducks sleeping in the corners.
I tend to worry about my ducks in the cold as well, but when I do, I think about people in Canada with ducks that seem to do just fine and have much colder temps than I do the lowest it ever got here was 4° F. But with windchill felt like 20 below I have heard that ducks are hearty up till 20 below then they may start to have problems. Anyway, here is another thread that may help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-ducks.1646758/

Thanks. It’s so hard to wrap my head around how these little ladies can be so tough in such cold temperatures and that sets me into a worry spiral. Appreciate the fast reply too.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Thanks. It’s so hard to wrap my head around how these little ladies can be so tough in such cold temperatures and that sets me into a worry spiral. Appreciate the fast reply too.

I know, right I worry about my babies too. They’re the cutest, funniest, seemingly defenseless little sweethearts. And we love them.

 

[Callender Girl]

I totally understand your concern. It unnerves me when I see my runner ducks happily pour out of their shelter to lie on the frozen ground -- even as it snows on them.

My waterfowl have shelter from the wind and any precipitation but no insulation in their houses.

Last winter, the actual temperature, not wind chill, hit double digits BELOW zero, and my ducks (and geese) did fine. My chickens much preferred to stay inside their coops -- as do I!

 

[FNF]

I totally understand your concern. It unnerves me when I see my runner ducks happily pour out of their shelter to lie on the frozen ground -- even as it snows on them.

My waterfowl have shelter from the wind and any precipitation but no insulation in their houses.

Last winter, the actual temperature, not wind chill, hit double digits BELOW zero, and my ducks (and geese) did fine. My chickens much preferred to stay inside their coops -- as do I!

I know! They come running out when it's 19 F and instead of nestling into the straw in the run, they go outside and lie on their feet on the frozen ground. And then quack at me accusingly when their pond is blocked off because it's frozen

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Walmart sells an inexpensive remote thermometer that you can put in your coop but read the temperature in your house. It doesn’t help anything but your peace of mind. When you see that the temperature in the coop is much warmer than the outside temperatures, you stop worrying.

You can also add a gallon milk jug filled with hot tap water (cap on, gap left for expansion). It will give off heat as it cools and freezes.

 

[FNF]

Walmart sells an inexpensive remote thermometer that you can put in your coop but read the temperature in your house. It doesn’t help anything but your peace of mind. When you see that the temperature in the coop is much warmer than the outside temperatures, you stop worrying.

You can also add a gallon milk jug filled with hot tap water (cap on, gap left for expansion). It will give off heat as it cools and freezes.

Is the humidity from the freezing water an issue, or not enough to be a problem?

 

[DukesDucks]

I'm in Eastern Ontario where winter means lots of snow and weeks of night time temperatures ranging around -25C/-15F. I have ducks, chickens, peacocks, and guineas. They all do fine. Amazed me the first winter with peacocks, to watch them to strut though the fresh snow fall so they could sun on perches in their run.

IMO the important things are the ability to get out of the wind. Each group has their own coop, none of which have supplementary heat, that they can choose to go into during the day. The runs are covered with tarp. They are locked into coops at night but that is more for predator protection.

I would be careful adding too much insultation because you do not want to create a situation where ventilation increases the humidity level.

I do use the deep litter method which helps keep everyone comfy.

Winter does mean having to provide fresh, thawed water every morning, and some days, have to change it mid day.

Remember that some of the warmest blankets and jackets are down-filled.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Is the humidity from the freezing water an issue, or not enough to be a problem?

The container has a lid, so no.