How do you Keep ducks in the winter ?

[Going Quackers]

My husband was encouraging me to thin the flock here for winter and I refused because my thinking was more ducks = better overall. I actually think it seems more complicated to take care of just a few in the winter as opposed to more. Mine are already huddling for warmth and yes they definitely want to be outdoors!

I will agree with you there, despite our hovering freezing temps my duck barn is keeping steady but there are 17 birds in there, i am hoping by having such a size of flock they will fare better this winter not that i had disaster last year but we did have some small ducks get cold, the boys are plenty big enough to keep comfy.

 

[Grassman 52]

Did you lose your birds during the night or day? I have a goose shed that is open that the birds could go in if they wanted two.

 

[Going Quackers]

Did you lose your birds during the night or day? I have a goose shed that is open that the birds could go in if they wanted two.

Daylight, mind you i had been free ranging here for well over a year, we're 98% certain it was the neighbours dog, as magically it's tied up all the time which it never was before and the feathers led right back to the river which leads to their house(the 1yo obviously put up a heck of fight

) ... i lost a 1yo drake and a 3mth old drake both close to my home and horse paddock in less than week.

I still have 2 birds who fly out( a drake/duck pair) not had any issues(knock on wood) since.

 

[Grassman 52]

I think I remember reading about this on another thread - My birds free range (if I can call it that) - we live in the suburbs and have about 3 acres 1.5 is completely fenced. I did lose birds to a predators before my yard was completely fenced we have foxes and raccoon,but since my fence was finished about 2.5 months ago, all has been quiet. My chickens get locked up every night along with the Pekins, but the Muscovy's and geese just don't want to go in the houses. I did build each bird their own house - Chicken coop - Duck house - Goose cottage

Now if they would just use them.

 

[Grassman 52]

I just had a thought - I am trying to get the ducks in their house when its dark outside and of course I am moving them into a dark house - would it help if I had a light on in the duck house? I ran power out to the chicken coop last year so I could run lights on timers to keep the chicken laying and was planning on running power to the duck house when I have time. Maybe I should do it now and see if that helps - I will need the outlets for heated buckets anyway.

 

[Going Quackers]

I turn a light on for mine.. honestly it's more about me than them, i'd kill myself tripping over them in the dark, were totally rural and it's dark pretty early now. Like you i have to have hydro for the buckets in winter anyways might as well have light too.

 

[AKnewbie]

So it's 26F here right now and it's 40F in their house.
Should I herd them back in their house or is it ok for them to be roaming in this cold?

 

[ChristineR]

So it's 26F here right now and it's 40F in their house.
Should I herd them back in their house or is it ok for them to be roaming in this cold?

Is it dry or wet out? Windy? That makes a difference. If it's dry and cold, they should be fine. I worry more when it's cold and wet out or really windy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So it's 26F here right now and it's 40F in their house.
Should I herd them back in their house or is it ok for them to be roaming in this cold?

I'd give them a choice, if the door to their house is open more than likely they go in if they are cold. ever wore anything with down in it?

 

[AKnewbie]

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).