Ice on duck feathers

[Mindy C.]

I am a new duck owner and this is my first winter with my 2 girls (Pekin and Rouen). I noticed some ice on their feathers and immediately panicked. Is this normal, should I try and bring them in to melt this? Is it okay to put them back outside after I dry them? They have a shelter outside that has a deep litter of straw and a heat lamp. I thought a night under the heat lamp would help it, but nothing happened. Worried new duck mom.❤❄

 

[chickencheeper]

It’s fine, it’ll melt away and it isn’t doing them any harm

 

[BYC910]

don't take this the wrong way .It's a Duck We had a drake that froze in the pond more than once .He kept going back liked staying in the water . Every morning I would break him out of the ice .He would go eat and go right back. Finally kept him out till the pond froze solid so I didn't have to break him out. Then he slept on the ice . Duck wish craziest duck I ever saw .They'll be fine don't worry . Water is freezing instantly almost in these temperatures .Well here anyway it's colder than normal .

 

[chickens really]

As long as they are Dry on the inside, ice happens on the outer feathers. Your doing great...

 

[3bird]

The only thing to really watch for is if the duck is molting and getting soaked/icy or he or she is having trouble with waterproofing. We've had one duck (Martha) we've been watching closely because she was getting soaked with single digit F temps. Unlike our other ducks, the water was not rolling off her back and she was getting super icy. Yesterday morning she was a mess, but she went into the duckhouse and preened and preened and she looked great by the evening (I've posted some pictures and a video in the thread I started about her feathers).

I would NOT bring a duck into the house if it's very cold outside unless you plan to keep it in the house or there is really a crisis. I would be very worried about significant temperature swings.

We've been so thankful with all the help we have received here at BYC, and I'd encourage you to keep asking questions, post pictures and videos and share your experiences.

 

[Mindy C.]

Thank you all so much! This is very helpful.

 

[purslanegarden]

yep by nature of wanting to be in and around water, there would be water droplets frozen on their feathers in cold weather. if they're healthy, moving around and eating fine, then this shouldn't be any cause for alarm.