How to help my ducks keep cool?

[Thataussielady]

I currently own 4 ducks and one of them is quite dark in colour, almost black. Recently it has been getting to almost 40 degrees (Celsius) and this duck seems to really be feeling the heat. Even at night when he's in his coop you can see him panting. Even though their pond is in the shade it still heats up and is almost hot to touch. I feel very bad for him and it would be devastating if anything was to happen to him. Could anyone please tell me if there was anything I could try and do to keep my ducks cool in the summer weather!

 

[Amiga]

Is there a cool shed or utility room in your house where you can bring them? I call those days "heat storms" and bring the ducks (I have dark Runners) in during the mid-afternoon. I also change their water, to cool it down.

Shade is very helpful, and air flow (helps keep flies away at least).

 

[Richb353]

Ahoy,
I run into the same problems here in Florida. My duck run was barren of any trees when I fenced it in. Since then I've planted 3 Live Oak trees with more to be planted in the near future. The trees are still somewhat small, but Live Oak grow fairly quickly into decent shade trees. I intend to plant many more trees around the area I plan to dig a pond. I'm hoping that the less direct sunlight that hits the pond water, the less rapidly the algae will grow.

Next I have a 10'x10' pen with a solid Ondura roof, but open sides with 1/2 steel mesh to contain my Welsh and Cayugas. The roof provides the only significant shade the flock currently has, but the mesh sides give them plenty of air flow through their quack shack. The trees provide some shade, but until all 21 can fit in the shade at once, they prefer to relax in the shade of their house.

Rather than a black rubber trough for water, I use a galvanized steel one placed inside their pen in the shade. The metal allows the warm water to cool faster than rubber does. It's hooked up to an automatic waterer, so any refill comes in small amounts rather than filling it up with hot "hose-in-the-sun" water all at once.

In the middle of the Florida summer, I notice the ducks will find a spot in the shade, sleep, pant, and reduce any activity to nothing. They always have water accessible and a few times I have added duck health powders to it. So far I have had no heat casualties.

Good luck,
Rich

 

[StBob]

As well as their pond, which is in the sun in summer where it can get to 40C (100F+), I also put out various smaller water containers I can fill up with cooler water from the water tank during the day. Keep these in the shade and the ducks will always have a cool drink available and somewhere to dip their head and splash themselves to keep cool. If it warms up empty it out and fill up again with cooler water. I guess you could also add ice blocks like they do at the zoo!

 

[Blue Rooster]

When my ducks get to hot I spray them with the hose. They love it! They stand there under the water drinking it while being sprayed.

 

[patolocoeggs]

I hold the water hose high up forming a cascade waterfall. All the ducks come running to stand under it. They have their mouths open while they enjoy playing under it and flapping their wings. I look forward to this playtime during summer months when I'm outside spraying the poop off the flagstone walkways