Ronnie_
Chirping
- Mar 1, 2023
- 76
- 78
- 81
Hi all!
Zone 6B and while we’ve have a few nights at 21-29F so far we haven’t had actual winter weather. Sunday we’re slated for some snow - it will be the ducks First!
Quick question on prep:
Right now the ducks have a 5’x 5’ x 5’ quack shack, that has a foot of bedding (deep litter) mix and pine and straw. Inside the shack is a sterlite bin on its side to provide a more “snuggly” area if they are cold. The house is made from OSB and doesn’t have insulated walls (just copious amounts of bedding and straw) - will this be alright for winter? I was told ducks do well without supplementary heat down below zero. But I worry- I didn’t add foam board as they would be able to peck at it and I was worried they’d ingest it.
Outside they have a 16’ x 12’ run, that is half roofed to provide shelter against rain/snow/sun. And I wrapped thick greenhouse plastic around the perimeter for the bottom 4 feet in height as a wind block. Straw substrate on top of gravel, and plenty of horse food buckets filled with water + 1 waterer on top of a bucket warmer.
Will my 3 ducks do alright for the next few months? They are locked into their house at night, and let out in the morning, and we fill the horse buckets up daily with warm water. I’ve been giving them cracked corn and peas before bed to help keep them warm too.
Just trying to make sure theres nothing else to prep before snow! If we get a polar vortex and it’s becomes brutally cold my emergency plan is a playpen area in my garage. But until something like that, they should be fine as is?
Zone 6B and while we’ve have a few nights at 21-29F so far we haven’t had actual winter weather. Sunday we’re slated for some snow - it will be the ducks First!
Quick question on prep:
Right now the ducks have a 5’x 5’ x 5’ quack shack, that has a foot of bedding (deep litter) mix and pine and straw. Inside the shack is a sterlite bin on its side to provide a more “snuggly” area if they are cold. The house is made from OSB and doesn’t have insulated walls (just copious amounts of bedding and straw) - will this be alright for winter? I was told ducks do well without supplementary heat down below zero. But I worry- I didn’t add foam board as they would be able to peck at it and I was worried they’d ingest it.
Outside they have a 16’ x 12’ run, that is half roofed to provide shelter against rain/snow/sun. And I wrapped thick greenhouse plastic around the perimeter for the bottom 4 feet in height as a wind block. Straw substrate on top of gravel, and plenty of horse food buckets filled with water + 1 waterer on top of a bucket warmer.
Will my 3 ducks do alright for the next few months? They are locked into their house at night, and let out in the morning, and we fill the horse buckets up daily with warm water. I’ve been giving them cracked corn and peas before bed to help keep them warm too.
Just trying to make sure theres nothing else to prep before snow! If we get a polar vortex and it’s becomes brutally cold my emergency plan is a playpen area in my garage. But until something like that, they should be fine as is?
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