Freezing weather and ducks?

[Klatimer]

What do you guys do for you ducks when it’s negative degree outside for this tundra we call home?!? We live in Ohio and have 8 ducks. This morning it was -11 degrees and I refused to let the ducks out until later in the day. I refreshed their bedding last night and I give them warm water and a bucket that has a heater. What are other things you do?
Would you put a heater in your duck coop during (ONLY) this weather?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I keep 2 seed starting mats under my 3 nest boxes (large dish pans). They are attached to an automatic Christmas lights timer which goes on at dusk off at dawn. I added the mats to stop frozen eggs but it gives them a little heat (but I am not as cold as you). I also added a remote thermometer from Walmart. When I can see the temperature in their coop is much higher than the air temperature it makes me feel better.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

This morning it was -11 degrees and I refused to let the ducks out until later in the day.

Ugh... -11 °F...

Are the temperatures going to get colder where you live?

And is there wind too...?

What are other things you do?
Would you put a heater in your duck coop during (ONLY) this weather?

No, I would NOT.

Honestly, I don't have temperatures as cold as yours where I live, but if I did, I would not change anything from what I am already doing.

Meaning that I would :
• 1 : ensure that their shelters are sufficiently ventilated - which is especially important in winter so as to prevent moisture and, thus, frostbite;
• 2 : cover the runs with heavy covers - covers that are thick enough to withstand bad weather conditions, so as to primarily protect the ducks from wind, and avoid any risk of rain getting into the runs;
• 3 : put A LOT of clean straw into the coops and the runs - so that the ducks are not in direct contact with the (cold) ground, and can stay warm enough and dry;
• 4 : change the ducks' drinking water more frequently - so as to keep it from freezing too much;
• 5 : NOT LET THE DUCKS HAVE ACCESS TO A POOL (AT LEAST) AT NIGHT - so as to prevent them from dying from hypothermia.

Ducks are cold-hardy, so - if they are protected from wind AND have a bedding that is dry and thick enough -, with such temperatures, they really should not need any more to stay sufficiently warm and be prevented from suffering from frostbite...!

In fact, if it can reassure you : ducks are actually highly resistant to frosbite (compared with us humans), since they have what is called a "rete mirabile".

This "rete mirabile" is, in fact, a natural freezing-protection that keeps your ducks' feet just warm enough to prevent frosbite during cold temperatures.

To be MORE precise, it is a network of closely spaced arteries and veins that acts, essentially, as a specialized counter-current heat exchange system in your ducks' legs : arteries carrying warm blood are directly in contact with veins returning cold blood, which thus cools blood traveling to the feet IN ORDER TO minimize heat loss, while re-warming blood returning to the body... and, as a result, keeping the feet just above freezing.

► I am not telling you that your ducks are thus completely safe from frostbite - especially during prolonged exposure to (extreme) cold...
...but it is a fact they are built for the cold...!

► Regarding the use of HEATERS specifically : given the risks it poses - FROM WHAT I KNOW (for what it's worse) -, I personally really don't recommend it...

(I know : "a lot of people use them"! But that still does NOT mean it is safe, or even a good idea to begin with...)

If you stay at home and can change your ducks' drinking water yourself several time during the days, then I think it would be better to do so rather than using a heater : it may be bothering for you with these temperatures (?), but not only it would prevent you from taking any risk with a heater, but you could also take advantage of that to keep a careful eye on your ducks whenever you go change their water...

As for the use of a heater for the coop itself : in my humble opinion, -11 °F is really not cold enough for it to be a good idea.

In fact, using a heater could make things worse for your ducks : indeed, it could prevent your ducks' body from regulating its internal temperature correctly...
...MEANING here a decreased cold tolerance for your ducks, naturally...
...which, consequently, would then increase the risks of fatal temperature shock if the heater fails, OR if your ducks move from their heated shelter to much colder, freezing conditions...

(Ducks can gradually adjust to very cold temperatures; however, sudden, extreme shifts in temperatures can kill them!)

► Ultimately, you do what you want, and what you think works best.
(I have an opinion - an opinion at least formed after extensive research -, but just to be clear : it really does NOT mean you have to take my words at face value...!)

...Good luck!!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I'm in similar weather pattern as I'm in IN. I have had ducks for over 7 years. Mine are in a run and have a duck coop. The run has wind breaks all around the bottom half. They have lots of straw and I replenish with fresh every week or when needed. I rake it daily to fluff it up. In the coop, I use chopped straw and top it off with regular straw. I keep the coop as clean as possible raking out frozen poos daily and replacing fresh bedding as needed. I use heated dog water bowls and they use a port feeder (just recently switched to a PVC feeder, but it works the same as a port feeder). They have faired well every winter and we've had some very cold weather or wind-chills (similar to what we are experiencing now). I have not had any issues in the winter.
The first winter, I locked them in their coop during the brutal temperature dips, but have since realized that it's not needed. As long as they can get out of the wind, they have food and water, and access to shelter they will be fine. I do lock them in their coop every night except during the warm months.