Ducks and cold temps

[FNF]

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.

Thanks for this - it's amazing how hardy they are in those temperatures! I do have a good run for them - I put dry straw down in the winter and change it out frequently, and there are either plastic panels or plastic wrap on the sides of the run to protect it from the wind. Remarkably they don't often choose to go in there even though there is food and water and shelter! But they can. Good note on the ventilation - that's always my worry. There's not much in the way of insulation other than the reflective stuff I put between the hardware cloth and the plastic in the window frames, and of course the bedding/litter (straw and pine shavings). There is ventilation in the auto door and also above them where the roof/lid meets the house. They get fresh water in the morning and as needed during the day and I scoop the ice out of their pond, the little crazies. Good reminder about the down jackets!!

 

[DukesDucks]

Once it gets really cold, my ducks don't get their kiddie pool. I do use large water containers that are deep enough for them to dunk their heads. My first year, I had left them the pool but ended up with ice coating their wings.

 

[FNF]

Snowy conditions have arrived. The ducks, despite having icy crystals on their feathers as the snow turns to sleet, are enjoying themselves immensely. They can go inside for dry straw, food, and water anytime but thus far prefer to eat snow and grass from the trails I shoveled for them.

 

[FNF]

Going to put our duck house to the test next week, three or four nights of 1-7 degrees. Hoping we get a reprieve from this bitter cold soon. We still have snow on the ground and possibly another few inches on Sunday. Hope that is not the case! So far the ladies are faring well. The chickens have their little radiant heater which seems to be just enough to be comfy but not a shocking difference. The ducks snuggle into their shavings and enjoy the straw in the run during the day. I have some chopped straw I'm going to put under the shavings this weekend before the really cold nights hit.

 

[DHaines]

I'm super happy that this thread exists! This is my first winter with ducks, and even though I have read multiple articles and threads saying that ducks can handle cold weather, I still find myself looking for some reassuring words when it gets so cold that you feel it in your fingers and toes, and your beard freezes just from breathing. For those still wondering, my ducks have already been through many days of -20 to -28 C (-4 to -19 F ?), and appear to be quite happy. I check on them a bit more often on days like this.

They have an uninsulated coop that is tall enough for me to walk in. We use the deep litter method (Aside from the regular, I put down additional fresh straw on really cold days like today. -26). They have a number of rubber containers for water (which I refresh regularly, on the really cold days the water can freeze pretty quickly). I have started putting wood chips all over the ground around their water containers, because earlier in December, 2024, one of my Saxonies laid down beside a water container, and then had some of her feathers freeze to the ground because of excess water! I was worried for a bit, but was able to free her with warm water, and she is doing great! Since then I have started putting wood chips around the water trays, and I have not had this problem again (I have to do this regularly, because the ducks spread water everywhere, and then it freezes, and recreates those same icy conditions in which her feathers froze to the ground). When there is fresh snow, this is less of a problem, and they appear to really enjoy the fresh snow.

On really cold days, like today, my ducks spend more time in the coop, but still go out to eat, drink, wash themselves, and sometimes bed down in the packed snow. This morning, when I went out, it was around -28 C (it was colder during the night, and seemed totally fine). As soon as I opened the coop, the ducks happily waddled out. They didn’t stay out too long, and seemed unworried by the cold. I have noticed that on cold days like this, they bed down more often, and stay inside more, but, so far, are doing just fine.

 

[FNF]

I'm super happy that this thread exists! This is my first winter with ducks, and even though I have read multiple articles and threads saying that ducks can handle cold weather, I still find myself looking for some reassuring words when it gets so cold that you feel it in your fingers and toes, and your beard freezes just from breathing. For those still wondering, my ducks have already been through many days of -20 to -28 C (-4 to -19 F ?), and appear to be quite happy. I check on them a bit more often on days like this.

They have an uninsulated coop that is tall enough for me to walk in. We use the deep litter method (Aside from the regular, I put down additional fresh straw on really cold days like today. -26). They have a number of rubber containers for water (which I refresh regularly, on the really cold days the water can freeze pretty quickly). I have started putting wood chips all over the ground around their water containers, because earlier in December, 2024, one of my Saxonies laid down beside a water container, and then had some of her feathers freeze to the ground because of excess water! I was worried for a bit, but was able to free her with warm water, and she is doing great! Since then I have started putting wood chips around the water trays, and I have not had this problem again (I have to do this regularly, because the ducks spread water everywhere, and then it freezes, and recreates those same icy conditions in which her feathers froze to the ground). When there is fresh snow, this is less of a problem, and they appear to really enjoy the fresh snow.

On really cold days, like today, my ducks spend more time in the coop, but still go out to eat, drink, wash themselves, and sometimes bed down in the packed snow. This morning, when I went out, it was around -28 C (it was colder during the night, and seemed totally fine). As soon as I opened the coop, the ducks happily waddled out. They didn’t stay out too long, and seemed unworried by the cold. I have noticed that on cold days like this, they bed down more often, and stay inside more, but, so far, are doing just fine.

I know! I’m so thankful for people who have been doing this longer and in harsher climates! It’s a high of 15 F today and 2 or something overnight, and more of this the next three days. They come out of their run for a few minutes and then seem happy to go back into the straw and out of the wind during the day. They do the little stutter step and sit on their feet in the icy snow but it doesn’t stop them!

 

[FNF]

Overnight was 6 degrees F...it's currently 10 with a high of 20. I think we have two more very cold nights (1-5 F) and days (15-20 F) and then a reprieve (20s overnight, 30s during the day - it will feel balmy!). So far, we're hanging in there. The ducks are opting to stay in their run more than usual and I'm happy to see it - there's straw and food and water and no wind! They have gone outside a little, squatted down on their little feet, and then gone back in haha. Stay cozy girls....

 

[sarahgray18]

I totally understand your concerns! This is my first winter with ducks. I live in Ontario, Canada and we had a cold snap start this weekend, which is still going on (-22 C/-7 F today).

Despite having multiple areas to escape the wind chill and have some nice warm bedding (deep litter method), they all chose to lay directly in the snow pretty much any chance they got since Saturday.

Today, I went to refresh their water bowls (which are just large enough for them to dunk their heads into) and then proceeded to watch them ALL try to take a bath in the water bowl like it was a pool. They then got the water zoomies and ran around like psychos for 10 minutes. Still don't know if I feel more or less worried after that lol

 

[DHaines]

One last comment here, on the cold weather. All last night, and this morning, it was -30 C to -31C (-24 F), and when I went out this morning, to refresh their water (still -31C), they came barreling out of their coop as happy as any other day! Every one of them was happy and healthy, and not one complained about the cold.
This evening, it is half as cold as last night, and they were happy outside lying in the snow.

 

[FNF]

One last comment here, on the cold weather. All last night, and this morning, it was -30 C to -31C (-24 F), and when I went out this morning, to refresh their water (still -31C), they came barreling out of their coop as happy as any other day! Every one of them was happy and healthy, and not one complained about the cold.
This evening, it is half as cold as last night, and they were happy outside lying in the snow.

Much nicer day today - still only 20 deg F but sunny and not windy so the ducks are happy with that. They made it through 3 degrees overnight with flying colors - which is a big relief. Tonight’s 10 degrees will feel nice. Warming up *slightly* for a few days - I’ll take it!!