How do you Keep ducks in the winter ?

[Miss Lydia]

LOL. That's true.It's been dry and is now up to 31F.
So I suppose I don't need to worry about them being cold but what about their feet? Will it be in danger of being frostbitten?

(And yes, their coop/run is open when they range).

http://eccentricscientist.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/why-dont-ducks-get-frostbite/

 

[Jhophyde]

The cost of electricity does not bother me; the fire danger from heated waterers does

 

[Miss Lydia]

The cost of electricity does not bother me; the fire danger from heated waterers does

I like heated buckets have you seen them? very safe.

 

[lmatvey]

The heated appliances are usually ok, it is the connections at the outlets and wires to the coop to watch. They do make exterior grade switches and such....

 

[cskotek]

I have a coop for my mandairns and pheasent. Today I got to put straw in there for them to keep out of the wind and keep warm. And i threw the 3 in there so they know its not bad and that its actually going to help lol. And a few hours later I went to see what they where doing. I looked threw the window and saw the pheasent looking at me but no mandies!!! I had to crawl in there and look. They where not in the nesting box, the open cage, or anywhere obvious. I got worried thinking my brother accdeintly let them out! I started shuffleing threw the straw, here they burried into the straw and where laying next to each other. I never seen a duck do this! It was like how my puppy will push itself under the blanket. So I just covered them back up and left them alone. Lol.

I do plan on buying a heated waterer for them, we use the ones for dogs in our dog pens. Never had an issue with them. So I hope this winter all the ducks survive!

I also noticed them doing the "snow swim". That was so unexpected and funny!!!

 

[Jhophyde]

Where can I find heated buckets?

 

[Jhophyde]

Years ago, I had some Muscoveys that we bought from the real EB White. The female, Rita, would always disappear in October then emerge on the last day of October - always cold and blustery - followed by a dabble of babies. They stayed in our unheated barn during the winter with the chickens. The adults never had a problem with their feet, but one year I remember many of the babies got frostbite and lost their feet. We called that duck Stubby, and he was fine - lived for many years.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Where can I find heated buckets?

TSC carries them and maybe your feed store, our does. they run on a thermostat so it isn't running if temps aren't under freezing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Years ago, I had some Muscoveys that we bought from the real EB White. The female, Rita, would always disappear in October then emerge on the last day of October - always cold and blustery - followed by a dabble of babies. They stayed in our unheated barn during the winter with the chickens. The adults never had a problem with their feet, but one year I remember many of the babies got frostbite and lost their feet. We called that duck Stubby, and he was fine - lived for many years.

They walked around on their stumps. poor things.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I saw one on CraigsList but did t move quick enough.