How do you Keep ducks in the winter ?

[Miss Lydia]

I just got my pair of ducks, no clue what they are, but they are in with the chickens, they chose a nest.. I never make them go in, they went in on their own the very first nite..

@Gypsy52 If you'll post pics we'll help you with breed. That is great they learned so fast.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

@Gypsy52
   If you'll post pics we'll help you with breed.  That is great they learned so fast. 

Yeah give us pics!! I love playing ducky detective

 

[tactilecontact]

My flock of five runners went through their first snow fall here in west Michigan the other day. They seemed fine, but their outer feathers looked slush/ice-covered. It was right around the freezing mark that day, just slightly lower that night. Their house and run are both well-sheltered, insulated, but not heated. Should I be concerned about them becoming ducksicles? Or at the least, be concerned about slush/ice melting and making their bedding damp and cold?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My flock of five runners went through their first snow fall here in west Michigan the other day. They seemed fine, but their outer feathers looked slush/ice-covered. It was right around the freezing mark that day, just slightly lower that night. Their house and run are both well-sheltered, insulated, but not heated. Should I be concerned about them becoming ducksicles? Or at the least, be concerned about slush/ice melting and making their bedding damp and cold?

If their house is insulated and no air blowing in and it is well ventilated also they should be fine. But watch them do they appear to be having problems, shaking acting chilled?If so then instead of using heat which can cause them to not acclimate to temps just keep them out of the ice and snow. Ducks have a nice down jacket on under their feathers and usually do great in cold conditions but Runners don't have the body weight as other ducks standing more upright too I am not sure how they will do in extreme temps. But your not there yet and I am not either. I have Runners. Mine don't seem to mind the lower 20's we've gotten so far they run around like it's spring playing in their water. But My Muscovy's don't like it at those temps. Hopefully others that live in extreme temps and have Runners will advise.

 

[tactilecontact]

Yeah, my ducks were content to frollick with the snow episode we had last week. They didn't floof up their feathers or sit down, they just kept right on foraging in the falling snow. As I mentioned though, they looked slicked over. Won't the ice melt off from them and make their bedding cold and damp at night? That's my biggest concern, I guess. But the house itself is okay, actual insulation in the walls. The outside of their enclosure is walled with straw bales, except for the front, which is covered with window plastic or plexi glass. No electric heat, but we did add a diy passive solar heater.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah, my ducks were content to frollick with the snow episode we had last week. They didn't floof up their feathers or sit down, they just kept right on foraging in the falling snow. As I mentioned though, they looked slicked over. Won't the ice melt off from them and make their bedding cold and damp at night? That's my biggest concern, I guess. But the house itself is okay, actual insulation in the walls. The outside of their enclosure is walled with straw bales, except for the front, which is covered with window plastic or plexi glass. No electric heat, but we did add a diy passive solar heater.

That should keep them snug. Their bedding may get damp but you can probably keep it fluffed up by turning it daily and adding to it as needed. It is just one of the many things that keeps us on our toes as water fowl keepers.

 

[tactilecontact]

I think they kind of learned their lesson already this morning. They were raising their usual quacking hell to be let out. So I let them have at it in the garden, while I fortified their run with a deep layer of fresh straw. By the time I finished about ten minutes later, they were already shifting feet, and Pumpkin had plunked down on the ground and started shivering. They didn't give me any hassle in herding them back indoors. And they're not yelling to be let back out either.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I think they kind of learned their lesson already this morning. They were raising their usual quacking hell to be let out. So I let them have at it in the garden, while I fortified their run with a deep layer of fresh straw. By the time I finished about ten minutes later, they were already shifting feet, and Pumpkin had plunked down on the ground and started shivering. They didn't give me any hassle in herding them back indoors. And they're not yelling to be let back out either.

Great story!

How did you make your passive solar heater? I recently installed some solar lights on my chicken coop and a barn (no power out there) and am pretty happy with them, so your mention of the solar heater piqued my interest.

 

[tactilecontact]

Thanks. Although, I'm sure they wouldn't be happy with our amusement. I'll ask my husband where online he found the plans for the heater and post the link later tonight. It's basically just a 'hot air rises' kind of thing, nothing special. But it's worked to add some additional heat on the sunny days... which we haven't had many of in the last couple of weeks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think they kind of learned their lesson already this morning. They were raising their usual quacking hell to be let out. So I let them have at it in the garden, while I fortified their run with a deep layer of fresh straw. By the time I finished about ten minutes later, they were already shifting feet, and Pumpkin had plunked down on the ground and started shivering. They didn't give me any hassle in herding them back indoors. And they're not yelling to be let back out either.

Aww Bless.