How do you Keep ducks in the winter ?

[Miss Lydia]

I live in warrington in england. I have 5 hens and one duck there free range except there in a big 9ft x 6ft shed at night which they go in on there own at night. They have a lot of perches and nest boxs hay and shavings on the floor were the duck roosts. My duck wont swim though im not sure wot duck it is I now its a she. She is a big girl white with an orange beak i will post a pic tomorrow. Abit noisy but she does seem happy . Im feeding her corn layers pellets and dried meal worm as a treat. She isnt laying neither are three of the hens but two hens layed yesterday and there the most friendly two. Please any tips or advise will be great. Thanks john.

Sounds like your duck is a Pekin. We love pics though so post when you can. as for laying most ducks are seasonal layers and depending on the age of your duck also, she may not lay till spring. The short day light hours plays a role in both ducks and chickens laying. Most of us like to let our birds lay when it's normal for them to with out extending day light hrs with lights. Giving them a chance to rest thrir bodies for the spring influx of egg laying. Some of my 14 hens have kept up laying during this winter, but most have taken it off. none of my Muscovies have laid an egg since early Oct. Looking forward to seeing pics of your duck.

 

[tbitt]

You know what I use for ducks in winter?


These:

http://www.ruralking.com/pet-suppli...ators-1-1-2-gallon-heated-round-pet-bowl.html

(crap...I see they are on sale now

)



I have a garden shed that we altered to be a duck and chicken coop. It does have electricity but I do not heat it during the winter, nor do I put water in it at night.


Even though my ducks were raised in it, they still needed encouragement to go in at night. They would stay out 24/7 if I let them. The do know the drill and start heading in at night when I come out to put them in.

 

[2Quacks6Clucks]

I have 3 ducks. 2 male and I female. They have a large sheltered area that connects to a smaller enclosed area for freezing temperatures. The larger area has clear tarp coverage so the sun can still shine though. The smaller area is complete an a-frame area of wood. Lots of hay in both. Lots of food, which is there heat source, duck pellets, veggies and some bread (but as a treat, it's not real good for them). Morning and night they are given fresh water in a large heated bowl, enough to dip their nostrils into. They are let out everyday in a very large fenced-in area. Put back in at night for me to sleep without worrying. Protected from weather elements and critters who are looking for food. In northern Michigan we get frigid temps and coyotes who come uninvited.

Their neighbors, 6 chickens, are in an insulated coop with an attached run and there door is open to come or go throughout the day under my call if the weather isn't extremely windy and freezing. They still scratch and find natural grit.

Everyone must be happy, because Sophie the duck and my hens are all laying beautiful eggs!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 3 ducks. 2 male and I female. They have a large sheltered area that connects to a smaller enclosed area for freezing temperatures. The larger area has clear tarp coverage so the sun can still shine though. The smaller area is complete an a-frame area of wood. Lots of hay in both. Lots of food, which is there heat source, duck pellets, veggies and some bread (but as a treat, it's not real good for them). Morning and night they are given fresh water in a large heated bowl, enough to dip their nostrils into. They are let out everyday in a very large fenced-in area. Put back in at night for me to sleep without worrying. Protected from weather elements and critters who are looking for food. In northern Michigan we get frigid temps and coyotes who come uninvited.

Their neighbors, 6 chickens, are in an insulated coop with an attached run and there door is open to come or go throughout the day under my call if the weather isn't extremely windy and freezing. They still scratch and find natural grit.

Everyone must be happy, because Sophie the duck and my hens are all laying beautiful eggs!

 

[neohiobiker]

Where can I find heated buckets?

Tractor supply has a whole range of heated buckets but they can be costly $35. and up. I use a heating element (from tractor supply) that is made to keep large animal water troughs free from ice and place it in a large plastic kiddie pool

 

[tbitt]

Any farm store should have a number of different heated buckets.

Dog
Horse (5 gal)

I have even seen poultry ones.

 

[bravevline]

if what ive heard is true, only the harshest of winter days will stop a Pekin from laying nearly every day. they are prolific layers. they can lay 200-250 eggs each year!

 

[kchiodi]

Just wondering if I have a duckhouse and put shavings in it, what is the easiest way to clean it in the winter. Right now it's summer so they are fine without the shavings.

 

[Amiga]

I used a variation of a deep litter method. A foot and a half of pine shavings with a two-gallon bucket's worth of dry peat moss thoroughly mixed in with it.

Daily pick out the poop on top ( or at least most ), and use a cultivator or stick to turn the bedding. This keeps it aerated. The bits of poop you don't get will just dry up. When the ducks were in their outdoor house (they are now in a walkout basement pen for my convenience and their warmth in winter), the bedding would last for months and months. You do need to sniff for ammonia - if that starts to form in the bedding, you need to remove the section getting ammonia smell and replace with fresh bedding. But the peat moss really helps prevent that, as does spot picking daily, and turning the bedding.

An advantage to the thick bedding is its insulation value.

 

[Gypsy52]

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..