How do ducks do through the winter?

[Chris09]

Mine do fine.. I think my Muscovy ducks like the winter better there never in there barn crazy things...

Chris

 

[Crickett]

I'm glad to read this! I'm in a warmer state, but it's the northern part and sometimes it can get a bit nippy (down to 10 or so). We don't get a lot of snow, but icestorms are the worst, and sometimes the water will freeze up for a day or so. I'm getting a few ideas about watering from my "Yankee" friends, Y'all! Thanks!

 

[Duck Keeper]

I put a metal bucket in the tub, filled it with water, and lugged it outside.

Went through a lot of hay too, since they were all outside in a dog kennel with only tarps to protect them from wind, ice and snow. Didn't lose a single one through the winter; even the goose survived.

I would suggest NOT using a hose, unless you can remove every last drop of water from it (if you can, TELL ME HOW!!) to prevent freezing.

They didn't use their dog house at all!

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Don't you lock the ducks into a closed building at night, like chickens?
I'm just a newbie to ducks...lots of stupid questions.

 

[Duck Keeper]

Nah, make sure they're well protected from predators, and have a shelter. It's not that they'll ACTUALLY USE the shelter, but it helps to have it out there.

Just in case one wimps out.

 

[headred]

Quote:
Hi Katy.....yes, after I saw your location I thought I'd do things your way since you know the same ice and snow! (Lawrence)

DH is believing that maybe they can make it after I've read him all your comments. He is thinking he'll make a straw bale "duck house" so it will be warm, that is if they'll go in! He says he will also cover the whole thing with a tarp. If he gets this constructed I will definitely post pics. Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Even at -35 my ducks insisted on swiming in their water bowl. As soon as they started splashing and fluffing feathers their feathers would freeze and stick to the bowl. Acouple of times I'd find them draging big ol snow/ice clumps around stuck to their tail feathers. I'd bring them inside to thaw the clumps off then put them back outside. Next day their swiming splashing and draging ice clumps again.

 

[ChaosTheory]

I have another silly winter question! If the ducks continue to lay in the winter, what happens if some eggs freeze? Are they still good?

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Usually if they freeze they crack. we always make a firm rule that any cracked eggs were cooked and fed back to the birds. The trick is knowing when ducks are most likely to lay eggs and get them while they are still warm from the birds. Ours seemed to like to lay in the timeframe of one to two hours after sunrise. Collected the eggs as soon as we got the younger kids off to school on the second schoolbus run of the morning.

 

[Duck Keeper]

They freeze. And they crack.

I either throw them away, or thaw them out and give them to the dog.