heat tolerant ducks

[PunkinPeep]

Hi,

I don't have ducks, but i'm throwing around the idea of getting some. The information i've found on the web is kind of sparse. But i have read that ducks don't take heat very well.

Can you tell me if there are some specific breeds that handle heat better than others?

 

[katharinad]

I would say muscovy. Still you should cool them once the temps hit 90's. I have shade clothes and kiddie pools available. You may want to install a water misting system to reduce the heat. It's different in Texas with the humidity being so high, which makes it even feel hotter then it is.

 

[RavenStorm]

Muscovy ducks are originally from South America, a generally hot region of the world. My books on ducks say that muskies actually do really well in hot areas, and can do well in moderate climates as well but evolved to deal with humidity and heat. They are even supposed to do better than all other duck breeds at thriving without a constant source of swimming water, as long as they have something to drink.

 

[sianara]

From experience I'd say the smaller the duck the better they do in the heat. I have two flocks.

The first flock are seven 6-8 lb ducks. They have a shaded wooded area and a sunny area. They always have plenty of drinking water and 3 dunking/pools. I've been letting the three older ducks into my back yard that has grass and some more shady areas since we've been having this heat wave and they are doing fine. They have a bucket of water they can dunk/preen from and they love to sit in the shade on the grass. From time to time I will spray the grass down so it is cool. They seem to be doing just fine. The younger four are in the main duck yard with the shade/sun and 3 dunking pools. They also seem to be doing fine.

The second flock is basically a pair of bantam australian spotted ducks. Their yard is just as big as the larger ducks but it is bascially a jungle with tons of shady spots for them to hide in. They also having a swimming pool and plenty of drinking water.

We don't have the same type of heat you get in AZ or TX or other SW states, but lately it's been brutal. In the 90's with 90% humidity.

As mentioned, as long as they have plenty of shade, drinking/swimming water they should do fine. On really bad days I will spray their sunny yards so it is cooler on their webbed feet.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Thank you both for responding!

That's great information.

I just started thinking seriously about getting ducks today. But we thought if we got some, we would probably build a small pond. Our property is right next to the woods and several creek beds, which are dry most of the year. My chickens and rabbits take shelter in the coolness of those woods, so i'm hoping that would help ducks too. We could definitely provide a couple of kiddie pools until the pond is done.

I was thinking of getting just a couple and housing them with my chickens. I might even raise a couple ducklings along with a small flock of chicks so they would be friends.

Would my set up work ok?

I'm guessing from what i've read that ducks don't dust bathe like chickens? My chickens stay cool often by dust bathing in the creek bed also.

 

[sianara]

You can house them together but personally, I prefer to house them separately. Ducks are extremely messy which is why I prefer them separate. I worry about the diseases chickens could get from the duck mess (ducks are more resistent to many diseases that take chickens down) also.

It's definitely a personal choice. If you have lots of land where the ducks can "do their own thing" and there is plenty of room for the chickens to roam you'll probably be ok. I only have about a 1/2 acre available to my animals so they are segregated.

Have fun, it's a great time having ducks! (and chickens too)

eta: ducks do not dust bathe but they LOVE to water bathe. I find in the heat my ducks do fine with a small pool (at the least) and plenty of shade on the grassy area.

 

[PunkinPeep]

thanks sianara!

i have better than 1.5 acres, so my animals, except for the bunnies, do kind of what they want during the day. i'm hoping my bunnies can have some run time soon, but they can't really just free range.

i can't believe how excited i am about getting some ducks. i just thought of it this afternoon!

 

[rgn87]

The second flock is basically a pair of bantam australian spotted ducks.

Oh man you have Australian spotted ducks? I have seen pics they are beautiful. Can you post pics of yours? Please​

 

[HottentotTeal]

I live in Houston and got some Hottentot Teals.

They are natives of Africa, so they feel right at home.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Oh, those are pretty! And they have a funny name too!

Thanks for sharing, hottentot. I hadn't heard of them.