ducks in the winter. how cold is too cold.

[itsasmallfarm]

hello everyone itsasmallfarm here.

right now i have two ducks, they are in a heated coop (with chickens), and am tempted to move them out into my planned fruit orchard to control weeds, now i really don't want them with my chickens due germs and the moisture they create.

my plan is to build a new shelter, (and maybe add some more ducks and a few geese) now i would like to know how cold is too cold for them, i live in Canada so we get around -40C or -40F, would a non heated shelter be good enough for them with (lots) straw and a few more ducks and geese or what should i do?

thank you

 

[chub_the_chick]

if it is getting to -40F I would provide them with some sort of shelter.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

if it is getting to -40F I would provide them with some sort of shelter.

like would you have to heat it? or is just a shelter off the ground that is wind and weather proof, good enough?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

It is not so much about the temperature, most ducks have a built-in down jacket, there are some duck breeds i would not recommend for extreme cold climates like Pekins or Muscovy but most duck breeds are fine even with -40°. - If they have a shelter with thick warm bedding (straw) into which they can dig a nest and are protected against the wind an precipitation. A dry duck is a warm duck! Still they need access to food and drinking water which can be a challenge in this cold. You may need a heated bucked or waterer.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

It is not so much about the temperature, most ducks have a built-in down jacket, there are some duck breeds i would not recommend for extreme cold climates like Pekins or Muscovy but most duck breeds are fine even with -40°. - If they have a shelter with thick warm bedding (straw) into which they can dig a nest and are protected against the wind an precipitation. A dry duck is a warm duck! Still they need access to food and drinking water which can be a challenge in this cold. You may need a heated bucked or waterer.

thank you, i was thinking of a heated water system, (we use a heated bucket for out goats) would have to put it out of the shelter as ducks do love making a mess lol.

 

[DuckyDonna]

hello everyone itsasmallfarm here.

right now i have two ducks, they are in a heated coop (with chickens), and am tempted to move them out into my planned fruit orchard to control weeds, now i really don't want them with my chickens due germs and the moisture they create.

my plan is to build a new shelter, (and maybe add some more ducks and a few geese) now i would like to know how cold is too cold for them, i live in Canada so we get around -40C or -40F, would a non heated shelter be good enough for them with (lots) straw and a few more ducks and geese or what should i do?

thank you

@Jpat is in Nova Scotia and he can tell you about it, me, not so much! If it ever gets that cold here I'll have to move!

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree, a good shelter, and keep the water out of it. My ducks do pretty well down to -20*F, in their shelter they are out of the wind so do not feel the wind chill.

 

[PirateGirl]

Runners are supposedly not cold hardy, so I sadly have not gotten any.

 

[Jpat]

gets to 0 here noproblem

Mine live in a wood hutch no problem

 

[chickens really]

Hello..I get as cold as you and I provide heat for my Ducks and chickens. Definitely straw and insulated houses are needed. Totally your choice though.