How cold is to cold?

[Going Quackers]

Our ducks (three mallards in two coops attached with a screen between them – so they can see each other without fighting – and an open front door so they can get out to their heated water buckets) have been down to 0 F without any problems. But, it's the usual provisos: make sure they have plenty of food (they will be burning extra calories to keep their body temperatures up), shelter out of the wind, with plenty of dry straw to sleep on. The floor of the coop should be off the ground both for purposes of ventilation, and because the ground can be a pretty big heat sink, even through the straw.

Tonight, however, we're due to get down to -6F, and at that temperature, we break down and bring them into the basement for the evening.

I think you'll find Canadians on this list who will scoff at bringing them in for anything warmer than -15 F (-26 C). But our threshold is usually about 5F, maybe 10F if it's also going to be very windy.

Difference though is what your birds are accustomed too. Mine unfortunately, are stuck here... so must deal with the cold, my calls still swim daily but runners aren't they from a warm place? My scovies are tricky as the temps drop, my mallard derived are way more resilient to super cold, the calls again being the most hardy duck i have ever seen.

Amiga mentioned something i had forgotten i too have a thermometer in my main duck barn, gives me an idea where we stand...

 

[Jlw0903]

How cold is to cold for my runner ducks. They are one yr and 7 mos. I brought my 6 "babies" in to the garage last week as I had some frozen eggs. Oh my word, they are rank now. The tell me when and where they want treats. But I checked the duck hut this morning and it said 22 degrees. That is still to cold in my book. We are to have near zero temps at night and below that wind chill. I know that this summer I have to do something to make their hut warmer. Insulate under that thing good. Husband said to insulate the walls also. How warm do you folks keep your duck housing and how do you keep from frozen eggs.

As long as it is above 0 degrees i dont worry to much about my babies they will be 2 in may so they are a simialr age. I have a water deicer that i use for their pool. If i can keep their water thawed they are okay. Ducks are pretty hardy to be honest. Currently where i live it is -20 with wind chill which is WAY to cold in my book. At 20 degrees they will be okay. Mine are pretty happy if it is 30-60 degrees. They would rather it be cold than hot. I have a wifi thermometer in their hut whixh helps my worry. Their body heat basically keeps their hut 10-15 degrees warmer than outside air (my hut is insulated and basically a predator proof fortress). Maybs this helps with your concerns?
My 6 babies are rouen, black swedish (my least cold resistant breed) and cayugas.
As i said before extra protein (like meal worms or scrambled eggs) will help keep them warm