How much heat do ducks need?

[caring4birds]

Our ducks were inside most of their young life, but have since been put outside.

It's starting to really get cold, we're supposed to dip below freezing for the first time tonight. Their house seems to stay warm (they even fog up the windows), but I am concerned about them. I've seen people say they do and don't need heat, but I am not sure.

So what do you think? How cold tolerant are adult ducks? At what point should we add a heat source to the house?

 

[quackingdom]

They should be fine, at least for a while. I've read that they don't need heating except in some of the really northern states, but they do need plenty of ventilation - no matter what.

 

[caring4birds]

We've made sure there is ventilation in the house. We have a small greenhouse type fan in the wall that acts as a cooler in the Summer and a vent when not in use. They sleep in a corner under one of the windows and that's the one that fogs up. I do notice the house is quite a bit warmer than outside when we let them out in the morning. I was thinking about putting a wireless thermometer in there so we can see what the temp is quickly.

 

[Orca5094]

Ducks are very cold hardy and do well during winter so long as they are given proper shelter (including plenty of bedding to snuggle into) and are protected from drafts while inside at night. I do use a heat lamp occasionally, just on the very very cold nights and only to keep their water from freezing (mine have food and water at all times, I know not everyone does that).

 

[caring4birds]

That's a good point. We give ours food and water at all times too. I've been so worried about the ducks themselves I didn't think of their water freezing.

 

[Orca5094]

Yeah, I figured that one out the hard way their first winter. I came out one morning to frozen solid water bowls. Thankfully no one choked on their food overnight! So after that I set up a heat lamp on low just over their water bowls when it gets below a certain temperature outside. Haven't had a problem with them freezing ever since. I'm always nervous about fires from things I've heard happen on this forum, but I am careful and only had to have it on a few times last winter. Most of the time it's just warm enough in there to keep the water from freezing without the extra heat.

Some people use heated water bowls, which also solves the problem.

 

[caring4birds]

We have their water inside the house...I'm really hoping it doesn't get that cold inside the house.

 

[Orca5094]

My bowls are inside their house as well. But if it's -15 outside I know it'll be below freezing even inside their house.

 

[caring4birds]

Wow! We luckily don't get that cold. We might drop below 20 at night in an especially cold winter, but our coldest temps are mostly around 30-40 in the day, and 20-30 at night.