How do you keep your ducks warm?

[SuperDuck]

I guess my answer wouldn’t be the same as everyone else.

I get my boys another blanket and pillow.

 

[JNC]

Yeah, my vet told me to use 4-6 inches to prevent bumblefoot, so I use a lot of straw year around. I put down a good 6 inches in the corner where they sleep, and maybe 4 inches in the rest of the space. I use even more in the winter.

2-3 times a week I scoop out just their sleeping corner and replace it with fresh straw, and once a week I clean out their entire room. They have a huge space, about 10x10 for only 3 ducks. I'm sure I waste a lot of straw, but I'm ok with that if it means my ducks are more comfortable. I use a bale about every two weeks.

I took a photo for you. The floor is linoleum. It's hard to see how high the straw is, but the white trim that goes around is about 6 inches high, and the duck stuffy is about pekin size and where the real ducks sleep.
View attachment 2396660

Wow! Such an adorable duck and amazing duck parent! He looks so comfortable. I have 4 ducks and they have a small space which is why I have to clean it daily. Their place is shed. Thank you for this I will for sure start using more hay! It’s not that bad I get my bales for $5 each

 

[BunnyEberhart]

My response would also be different to everyone else's. My husband built a heater to keep their pond from freezing and it heats the water a little. Not like a hot tub or anything but well above freezing. They have a small pond we built them with a waterfall. And they go into the garage on really cold nights in a special pen. My garage is heated. But the temps here in colorado are kinda crazy. We had 80° weather at lunch time then it was 17° and snowing by midnight. In October. So yeah. Lol

 

[Chicalina]

It is the draught you should shelter them from not the cold. If you have a deep layer of straw then you can just lift off the top 2 inches to clean it and leave the rest

 

[corriemartin]

Or do a deep litter management, and stir it up every couple of days, and add more on the top when it starts to get a little stinky. Evidently (and I wouldn't know because this is my first year with ducks, but as a life-long composter, this makes sense to me), the deep litter will start generating heat as it composts.

 

[Chicalina]

Or do a deep litter management, and stir it up every couple of days, and add more on the top when it starts to get a little stinky. Evidently (and I wouldn't know because this is my first year with ducks, but as a life-long composter, this makes sense to me), the deep litter will start generating heat as it composts.

Composting litter can only be done on a dirt floor and it is designed to be damp. If their coop/hut/shed has a solid wood/concrete/lino floor then deep litter needs to be dry and it won't and should not compost.

Straw isn't the ideal material for deep litter because it does not absorb. It is better for composting litter tbh, because wet droppings fall through it, but it is cheap and insulating so people use it in all areas.

Wood shavings, hemp, other commercial horse bedding materials are better for deep litter imo because they absorb moisture. They can be turned to help dry out. Straw forms a soggy mat and you can't turn it easily, but you can just lift off the top wet matted layer regularly, add more straw on top and leave the underlayer for a few months, depending on how many ducks you have in what size space.

 

[JNC]

Composting litter can only be done on a dirt floor and it is designed to be damp. If their coop/hut/shed has a solid wood/concrete/lino floor then deep litter needs to be dry and it won't and should not compost.

Straw isn't the ideal material for deep litter because it does not absorb. It is better for composting litter tbh, because wet droppings fall through it, but it is cheap and insulating so people use it in all areas.

Wood shavings, hemp, other commercial horse bedding materials are better for deep litter imo because they absorb moisture. They can be turned to help dry out. Straw forms a soggy mat and you can't turn it easily, but you can just lift off the top wet matted layer regularly, add more straw on top and leave the underlayer for a few months, depending on how many ducks you have in what size space.

My ducks have a shed as their house. And their floor is dirt. However I do not let it compost. I have a separate pile for their poopy hay.

 

[JNC]

What will they eat besides their food? They usamlh forage and eat grass and bugs. Will I need to feed them more?

 

[Chicalina]

Is the floor of the actual shed dirt, or is the shed on the dirt but has a wooden floor?

You can give them a handful of cracked corn or some warm porridge just before bedtime as processing the carbs helps to warm them up through the night, but it is not really necessary. Ducks are super hardy!

 

[KaleIAm]

What will they eat besides their food? They usamlh forage and eat grass and bugs. Will I need to feed them more?

I just give my ducks as much of their regular food as they want, and they forage some, too. My ducks actually eat less by choice in winter since they aren't laying eggs.

I've heard of people giving corn or other grains before bedtime, but my vets haven't told me to and so I don't. I assume their Mazuri waterfowl food is formulated accurately for them and I don't want to mess that up by giving a lot of extras. I could be wrong about this. I'll ask at my next appointment, but that isn't for a couple months.