Muscovy ducks in winter - please help

[stillwater]

We have 5 Muscovy and last winter when that blizzard hit they all on there own found shelter in the shed away from our small pond 'so i kept food water ,straw in the shed ..So we decided last fall 2010 with help from neighbors placed A frame shelter next to waterfall on pond bank.' full of straw food halogen light for warmth.Since winter has set in only a few times during day they have walked up to the entrance to eat and will not go in for protection.Before Christmas I found the one female 'bumble bee' frozen solid in pond.'''Very Sad indeed .So I placed bails of straw next to pond with wooded army crates filled with straw and halogen light ..For the last 10 days I could see the male keeping warm some next to light ..Today finally the male 'waddles'and female 'bee' went into the crates to sleep ..Right now its 14* and can see the male next to pond "im going out to move the light and try and move them in shed..

Peace on Earth Good Will to Man @ Women
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Rick

 

[cchase25]

Thanks for this thread, I have exactly the same problem and situation as the original poster, 3 acres (fenced but not tightly) and a big pond. My Muscovies do the exact same thing! This is my first year with them and winter is coming. Right now 2 sleep in the big oak tree and the other 4 on the ground but I am wondering about winter. The answers here really helped! Thanks! Carol in Wisconsin.

 

[vbbgranch]

Right now I'm just trying to get my drake Muscovy to survive winter he won't go into the shelters I have out there for him. I've had to bring him inside twice now when it hit the negatives he had a hen that froze to death so I'm no sure if he's given up and is depressed o what b cause he grew up with her. But I'm trying to get him to live so I can get him another female come spring. And this summe my fiancé and I are building a duck house that all my ducks can go into during the night time and I'm planning on doing solar panel to power the lights. In there so they stay warm when temps reach below zero but there will only be 1 light. So I'm excited for that. If he dies I'm not giving up I'm gonna get more and pray that I get a male and a female. This is Elvis the first day I had to bring him in he was perked up and okay bu now he's just ugh lol I hope he will b okay. https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=f1345ab18eacaa0e01a70be0fb8cd25f&oe=59170983

 

[Miss Lydia]

Right now I'm just trying to get my drake Muscovy to survive winter he won't go into the shelters I have out there for him. I've had to bring him inside twice now when it hit the negatives he had a hen that froze to death so I'm no sure if he's given up and is depressed o what b cause he grew up with her. But I'm trying to get him to live so I can get him another female come spring. And this summe my fiancé and I are building a duck house that all my ducks can go into during the night time and I'm planning on doing solar panel to power the lights. In there so they stay warm when temps reach below zero but there will only be 1 light. So I'm excited for that. If he dies I'm not giving up I'm gonna get more and pray that I get a male and a female. This is Elvis the first day I had to bring him in he was perked up and okay bu now he's just ugh lol I hope he will b okay. https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=f1345ab18eacaa0e01a70be0fb8cd25f&oe=59170983

He def needs to be out of the weather, wind and snow or ice. Is he eating and drinking? add some poultry vitamins to his drinking water TSC carries them and most feed stores. If your shelters don't close up and lock he would be a sitting duck for predators. That is why he won't use them the fear of being cornered with no escape.

He is a beautiful drake I hope he makes it. @vbbgranch

Very sorry you lost one to freezing. Today we're at -1 with wind chill real temp is 17 some of my Muscovy's have not even come outside. They have food and water in their house and seem pretty content just hanging out in there.

 

[vbbgranch]

He def needs to be out of the weather, wind and snow or ice.  Is he eating and drinking? add some poultry vitamins to his drinking water TSC carries them and most feed stores.  If your shelters don't close up and lock he would be a sitting duck for predators.  That is why he won't use them the fear of being cornered with no escape. 

He is a beautiful drake I hope he makes it.  @vbbgranch
 

Very sorry you lost one to freezing.  Today we're at -1 with wind chill real temp is 17 some of my Muscovy's have not even come outside. They have food and water in their house and seem pretty content just hanging out in there. 

thank you i have him inaide right now warming his feet because they are frozen to where he cannot move them and this afternoon it was the final straw so i pu5 him in our enclosed chicken coop where he would be safe along with his three blue swede friends. and loads of straw hes not as frozn but his feet were still frozen so once i get them back to him being able to walk on them he will go back into the enclosed chicken coop so he will stay warm. this has been driving me nuts and his feet have been so frozen ive been afraid he cant get to the food. so hopefully the enclosed area that locks will help for sure next year will be ao much better because im building a 4x8 duck pen for all of my ducks to be in during the winter.

 

[Miss Lydia]

thank you i have him inaide right now warming his feet because they are frozen to where he cannot move them and this afternoon it was the final straw so i pu5 him in our enclosed chicken coop where he would be safe along with his three blue swede friends. and loads of straw hes not as frozn but his feet were still frozen so once i get them back to him being able to walk on them he will go back into the enclosed chicken coop so he will stay warm. this has been driving me nuts and his feet have been so frozen ive been afraid he cant get to the food. so hopefully the enclosed area that locks will help for sure next year will be ao much better because im building a 4x8 duck pen for all of my ducks to be in during the winter.

@vbbgranch How do his feet look this morning? you want to be very careful bring him inside then taking him back out in the frigid temps that is hard on them too. I'd keep him inside till his feet thaw and look normal if they were frozen he may need something on them to protect the skin once they thaw. Do you have bag balm? If frozen he may have frost bite which his feet may turn blk. Keep a close eye on him. And make sure the other ducks aren't picking on him while he is down. Ducks will do that if one is sick or injured.

 

[vbbgranch]

@vbbgranch
   How do his feet look this morning? you  want to be very careful bring him inside then taking him back out in the frigid temps that is hard on them too. I'd keep him inside till his feet thaw and look normal if they were frozen he may need something on them to protect the skin once they thaw. Do you have bag balm? If frozen he may have frost bite which his feet may turn blk. Keep a close eye on him.  And make sure the other ducks aren't picking on him while he is down.  Ducks will do that if one is sick or injured.

hea doing great this morning walking acting normal i think ive been catching his feet before they got too bad, lets hope but it wont stop me from checking on him and making sure hes fine. bit hes walking and eating good this morning.

 

[Miss Lydia]

hea doing great this morning walking acting normal i think ive been catching his feet before they got too bad, lets hope but it wont stop me from checking on him and making sure hes fine. bit hes walking and eating good this morning.

That is great news!!

 

[moving coops]

It is -28 right now and our mascovies still like to come out for small bits! But if it is in the -teens. They are out playing and will sleep outside. Even low -20s. They like playing outside!

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is -28 right now and our mascovies still like to come out for small bits! But if it is in the -teens. They are out playing and will sleep outside. Even low -20s. They like playing outside!

Boy not mine only 2 came out today and they were miserable. I finally carried the drake back inside. It was 6 here this morning but with the wind -. My drake who is going on 6yrs old has had frost bite on his fleshy knob on his face 2X and I don't want that to happen again. I can't imagine seeing my Muscovy's out playing in -20 weather.