How do ducks fair in the winter???

[LeannS]

We've had a Pekin for several years & acquired an Indian Runner just this summer. I'm not familiar with the hardiness of Indian Runners. The 2 ducks stay on our pond & will not go voluntarily into a shelter. We have an aerator, so an area about 15' x 6' is free of ice right now. It is currently 16 degrees but 23mph winds make a wind chill of -2. In the past, we've waited until the Pekins no longer had an area to swim, captured them & put them in the shed with our chickens. I'm worried about them tonight but to wrangle them, we'd have to go out in the dark onto the ice of the pond to try to chase them out of the water. What are your thoughts?

In the State of Washington,it can get very cold, below -0 and any temp below 20 degrees makes it uncomfortable for ducks. I have hear too many horror stories about how duck owners have lost their ducks to predator`s .It just takes one time to loose our investment and all the stress that go`s along with it. Ducks are very vulnerable because they are what some say ( a sitting duck.)
Only having ducks for 1 year and trying to learn by other peoples mishaps, I still check in to this site to pick up more tips.
I have a 10ft. X15 ft. night coop and that opens up to a fenced 10 ft X15 ft. out side water station that is covered with rubber mats, their feed is in there also. I hose this down every day if the water hose is available. Summer time is not problem.
and the tubs get changed 2 x a day to keep the ducks cool.
it has aviary netting on top and that area opens up to the pasture area. Two large areas, all covered with aviary netting. We are on two acres that we mow like a lawn to save as bedding and feed.
There is a large canal next to us and they would go there for sure if we did not have them fenced. When the weather is 40 or higher, I have 4 plastic tubs for them to enjoy. Mean while I take clean warm water out to them every few hours so they can keep their bills and head clean. I have gotten all my 11 ducks from several frustrated people that had to give it up because of complaining neighbors or trying to keep a pond filter working right ion their yard.
I have my ducks for the eggs, and if they were loose, I would have a problem collecting eggs.
One of the ducks was kept in with chickens, and had no down feathers since the chicken coop had lice. I would have lost her to the cold last winter, except I had a heat lamp on in the night coop. I had to catch her and use lice products and all that time she still lay`d an egg every day for me. I recognized her big large egg.
Ducks can not dust them self like chickens do.
I really love these ducks and they do get room service since I am home all the time. Just trying to keep them healthy and safe. We do have hawks, coyote, and neighbors dogs that get out accident `ly, I know kitty cats can also get hungry enough to go for them. We also have human hunters that would not know the difference.
A real pond would be a wish come true for a duck, I think I would have a fenced area in the pond to control my investment. I am waiting to hear what others are going to say, because I am still going to learn some thing.

 

[Yooperducker]

This may be a silly question but I am TOTALLY new to ducks, any birds really. I have learned sooo much in the past week since joining. My sincere thanks to all of you who take the time to respond. My concern is winter. I understand closing the ducks in the coop at night. I am in Northern Michigan (Western U.P.) and our daylength is quite short in winter (approx 8 hrs shortest) and quite long in summer (approx 16 hrs in summer). If I put the ducks in their coop at nightfall, they will at times spend a lengthy time until daybreak. Although this occurs incrementally as the days get shorter/longer. What kind of a timeline would you recommend? THey do have a protected run available outside the coop.

Second question (the silly one) If it gets really cold out with the customary high winds we receive and they are out during the day. I imagine the coop is open to them at all times regardless. But with an open door there would not be much heat retention. How do I address this or is it necessary?

My little gals arrive in late March so this will not become an issue until next winter but I want to get my 'ducks in a row' so to speak now. WIll be building the coop as soon as the snow goes late April-May. Any suggestions, ideas, thoughts or reassurances welcome!

 

[Amiga]

This may be a silly question but I am TOTALLY new to ducks, any birds really. I have learned sooo much in the past week since joining. My sincere thanks to all of you who take the time to respond. My concern is winter. I understand closing the ducks in the coop at night. I am in Northern Michigan (Western U.P.) and our daylength is quite short in winter (approx 8 hrs shortest) and quite long in summer (approx 16 hrs in summer). If I put the ducks in their coop at nightfall, they will at times spend a lengthy time until daybreak. Although this occurs incrementally as the days get shorter/longer. What kind of a timeline would you recommend? THey do have a protected run available outside the coop.

Second question (the silly one) If it gets really cold out with the customary high winds we receive and they are out during the day. I imagine the coop is open to them at all times regardless. But with an open door there would not be much heat retention. How do I address this or is it necessary?

My little gals arrive in late March so this will not become an issue until next winter but I want to get my 'ducks in a row' so to speak now. WIll be building the coop as soon as the snow goes late April-May. Any suggestions, ideas, thoughts or reassurances welcome!

Not silly. Good thinking.

Ducks do not always do what is best for themselves. At least, my ducks do not always do what's best for themselves, maybe other flocks are better at that.

My seven year old Runners and Buffs can spend quite some time indoors due to weather. That is why I have a reasonably large indoor night pen. It serves as a storm shelter also.

If it's going to be stormy or very very cold, I recommend closing them into a shelter that will keep them warm enough. For my ducks, based on my experience with them and much observation, that's 40F or warmer. Colder than that at night, they do not thrive.

They do great at 40F during the day time outdoors when they can run around, and especially when it's sunny. But at night, 40F is about as low as we go.

I have made my decisions based on what I see with my ducks. Their level of health, vitality, egg-laying, etc. Books and other people can be very very helpful. Each flock is unique. I also have some ducks more cold-hardy than others. I have decided not to sacrifice the well-being of the less hardy members of the flock - Did I mention my Runners and Buffs are seven years old? Very healthy? Energetic? And still laying eggs in the warmer seasons?

 

[Beccazon]

Ok that is a lot of posts to go through with my crummy intermittent service.

I have 2 runners, 2 rouen and a KC. Just want to know if there is anything specific I can/should do to help their pretty lil feet winter the Michigan temps this coming season. Do their feet risk frostbite like chickens combs? Or are they good to go if they have a bedded interior with a floor off the ground to escape to?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes they will be fine and if you give them access to this cozy home during the day if they get cold outside they will probably use it. My Runners actually taught my Muscovy's it's okay to go in during the day to get out of wind and freezing temps. They would snuggle down for a while then back out. But snow they don't care for. @onaharley lives in Michigan hopefully she can tell you how she cares for her Pekins in winter.

 

[Beccazon]

Yes they will be fine and if you give them access to this cozy home during the day if they get cold outside they will probably use it. My Runners actually taught my Muscovy's it's okay to go in during the day to get out of wind and freezing temps. They would snuggle down for a while then back out. But snow they don't care for. @onaharley lives in Michigan hopefully she can tell you how she cares for her Pekins in winter.

H we definitely get snow! Lol. I am finishing the back wall to their run and roofing that section so they will have a snow free area to pad around in so hopefully that will help. I would hate to be confined in winter (I am a true winter loving MI girl lol). So I don't want unhappy ducks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep it's nice to be able to give the choice go in an chill for a while or come out and do duckie things. They are pretty tough cookies. And having that layer of down really helps. Mine hunker down outside and lay on the feet and legs everything stays toasty I am sure.

 

[chickens really]

Definitely use straw as bedding because it is hollow and will hold in heat. Wind blocks from extreme cold. They can freeze their feet so be watching. My Ducks like snow on warmer days.

 

[Old McRonald]

Are call ducks more at risk because of smaller size compared to full sized ducks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick @Pyxis @shawluvsbirds