How do you Keep ducks in the winter ?

[Going Quackers]

I think ducks are pretty good at judging the water usage ie; swimming, MY only issue i have encountered is the facial flesh on my 'scovies has cracked and bled before, so Vaseline is applied to reduce this.. mind you this should be fun trying to do with 17 this winter..

 

[Going Quackers]

Our first/first time mama stood-up for her babies until they were about 11 weeks old. They're almost 15 now and she still hangs out with them, which is kinda cute. (I can't wait for another hatching -- that first was so exciting!)

I found the same with our last hatch, Lilly was dedicated for much longer than the average, i know our hatch before Dusty was pretty much done by 4wks.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Anyone using 5gal bucket watering gravity system in a freezing climate? Any suggestions on that, or easier to go new?

 

[cskotek]

Anyone using 5gal bucket watering gravity system in a freezing climate? Any suggestions on that, or easier to go new?

I know at TSC they have the 5 gal heated gravity fed ones that you fill the bucket with the dish attached at the bottom starting around 40 dollers. Havent heard anything bad about them.

 

[agronomades]

so its november now [aaaaaaah!] here in quebec and the muscovies are hanging out in the converted tempo. i've got straw bales and a heating lamp in there cos they got into the water tub and i had 3 ducks covered in ice! so no more tubs for them in -7C :/
looks like i'll be getting a heated water bucket soon!

 

[GreenAC]

I've read this post with Great Interest... This is our first year with ducks, One Pekin hen, and One Runner/Mallard mix drake.... they are in a roofless enclosure approx 16'x16' on one end of our pond. (Our Pond is approx 70'x30' about 8' deep) There is a small shelter (old dog house) for them but they rarely if ever use it... they have a small grassy patch... they are in the water almost constantly!! we placed the feeder in the shelter for them to keep the feed somewhat dry... last few nights the water on the ducks end of the pond froze over, with just a small "puddle" that both ducks are happily doing laps in !! they plop up on the ice and tuck their heads under their wings and sleep in the sun... the pond has an aerator but it's in the center of the pond and the water doesn't circulate into the duck pen...so we are going to find a small submersible sump pump to help keep the ducks water open...

Wild Ducks roost, sleep and eat in the water ... All ducks have oil glands that they use to "Waterproof" thier feathers.. we have wild ducks, Mallards, Gadwells and Black Ducks, in the river during the coldest of temps.. I would be concerned about the smaller breeds keeping warm... but the bigger breeds should be fine..

 

[starbird]

This is our first winter with pet ducks. I am curious, why don't their little legs get cold?

 

[GreenAC]

"Ducks, as well as many other birds, have a counter-current heat exchange system between the arteries and veins in their legs. Warm arterial blood flowing to the feet passes close to cold venous blood returning from the feet. The arterial blood warms up the venous blood, dropping in temperature as it does so. This means that the blood that flows through the feet is relatively cool. This keeps the feet supplied with just enough blood to provide tissues with food and oxygen, and just warm enough to avoid frostbite. But by limiting the temperature difference between the feet and the ice, heat loss is greatly reduced."

kindda like a mini heat exchanger....

taken from askanaturalist.com

http://www.dandydesigns.org/id33.html <---- also has more info on ducks and cold weather

 

[starbird]

That is very interesting! No wonder they don't have a problem with it.

Thank you.

 

[jdchickens125]

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.