Muscovy ducks shivering in cold

[StinkyAcres]

I've heard of soaking so try it and see if it makes a difference in them eating it.

I soaked the corn today. Not sure if I waited long enough; they were still hard and the ducks didn't want it.

Where are you going to set it up?

On a wall in their coop.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you can get them in there they might enjoy it.

 

[StinkyAcres]

If you can get them in there they might enjoy it.

They are in there right now, actually. I think closing them in for a day taught them that it's better to stay inside. I'm just worried it'll get too warm. I found a heat mat that states, "digital thermostat provides temperature control between 40°F to 108°F". The lower end should work to keep it just above freezing in there, right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know nothing about them if you can put the thermoniter in there that would help you to determine where to set it.

 

[DukesDucks]

I have Muscovy ducks in an area that gets very cold, below freezing during the day and much colder at night, for months. My ducks have free choice whether to be in their coop or run during the day. If the sun is shining they are in the run, otherwise they come out for food and water and go back in.
I tarp 2 sides of the run to cut down on wind and snow drift. I use the deep litter method in the coop and add more shaving on top on a regular basis. I also spread shavings in the run to cover snow and icy patches.
I put out slightly warm water each morning, and again early afternoon if the first source has frozen.
I buy bags of frozen corn. I thaw it out with hot water before feeding.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's a good idea to buy frozen corn and warm it in hot water before feeding I always buy dry . My Muscovy don't care for snow and the single digits we're having right now they are spending a lot of time in their house .

 

[StinkyAcres]

I have Muscovy ducks in an area that gets very cold, below freezing during the day and much colder at night, for months. My ducks have free choice whether to be in their coop or run during the day. If the sun is shining they are in the run, otherwise they come out for food and water and go back in.
I tarp 2 sides of the run to cut down on wind and snow drift. I use the deep litter method in the coop and add more shaving on top on a regular basis. I also spread shavings in the run to cover snow and icy patches.
I put out slightly warm water each morning, and again early afternoon if the first source has frozen.
I buy bags of frozen corn. I thaw it out with hot water before feeding.

That's a good idea to buy frozen corn and warm it in hot water before feeding I always buy dry . My Muscovy don't care for snow and the single digits we're having right now they are spending a lot of time in their house .

Mine don't want to come out even if it's sunny. How much normal feed do your Muscovies eat in a day? Mine don't eat much at all and they've been that way ever since I got them. I fill a dog bowl with about 6 cups of feed and some days they barely make a dent in it. Maybe they're cold because they don't eat enough. But they don't seem skinny to me. Should I deworm to rule out parasites?

 

[StinkyAcres]

I'm going to bring them inside the house (unheated basement) tonight because it's supposed to get quite cold for a couple days. It will give me a chance to monitor them more closely....and fix their broken coop door.

 

[Sosalty]

My 3 oh so tame Muscovy have been stubborn about spending nites in their coop as much as I try to get 'em to. A few evenings ago they ignored me and their snacks while floating 10ft from shore. That nite the wind blew rain & sleet, low was 11f degrees. The next am they looked haggered. 1 was shivering and another had frozen ice around her neck. Next nite, (6 degrees) they walked right into their pen with deep straw and after snacking, into their doghouse (where they were raised). It's somewhat wind protected with strawbales, and I've buried a 13-watt pet warmer under their straw. They looked so much happier next am and now they just swim over and walk right in. They seem to be comfortable outside to 15-20f or around 25-30 if windy. These are young 5 & 1/2 month olds. The cold was their catalyst to accept the coop.

[So much the better if you've power out at your coop. The lithium chemistry may not work below 14f; however, the batts generate some heat and if you place the power station in a plastic container, only slightly larger, it'll warm itself and provide power down to -10 or -20']
I use a 'Jackery 240' battery portable power station to power the 13 watt K & H warmer. It's actually drawing 14 watts but still warms for more/less 15hrs over nite. The warmth is slight but negates the ground chill. [In practice the J240 provides 216 watt hrs.] Their Ador2 Turkey door opens 30 min before sunrise and they are out and about in a minute.

https://www.amazon.com/PET-PRODUCTS-Warmer-Gray-Large/dp/B07RBBWJ7N/ref=sr_1_5?crid=17FBXM0UXJKU9&keywords=B+&+H+pet+warmer&qid=1705689577&sprefix=b+&+h+pet+warmer,aps,778&sr=8-5&th=1 and
https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-Power-Station-Generator/dp/B07D29QNMJ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1XYZML6FRBSIE&keywords=jackery+240+power+station&qid=1705690823&sprefix=jackery+240,aps,184&sr=8-3&th=1

These Muscovy are fussy yet happy and wonderful companions. If I could just get 'em to eat peas.

 

[StinkyAcres]

My 3 oh so tame Muscovy have been stubborn about spending nites in their coop as much as I try to get 'em to. A few evenings ago they ignored me and their snacks while floating 10ft from shore. That nite the wind blew rain & sleet, low was 11f degrees. The next am they looked haggered. 1 was shivering and another had frozen ice around her neck. Next nite, (6 degrees) they walked right into their pen with deep straw and after snacking, into their doghouse (where they were raised). It's somewhat wind protected with strawbales, and I've buried a 13-watt pet warmer under their straw. They looked so much happier next am and now they just swim over and walk right in. They seem to be comfortable outside to 15-20f or around 25-30 if windy. These are young 5 & 1/2 month olds. The cold was their catalyst to accept the coop.

[So much the better if you've power out at your coop. The lithium chemistry may not work below 14f; however, the batts generate some heat and if you place the power station in a plastic container, only slightly larger, it'll warm itself and provide power down to -10 or -20']
I use a 'Jackery 240' battery portable power station to power the 13 watt K & H warmer. It's actually drawing 14 watts but still warms for more/less 15hrs over nite. The warmth is slight but negates the ground chill. [In practice the J240 provides 216 watt hrs.] Their Ador2 Turkey door opens 30 min before sunrise and they are out and about in a minute.

https://www.amazon.com/PET-PRODUCTS-Warmer-Gray-Large/dp/B07RBBWJ7N/ref=sr_1_5?crid=17FBXM0UXJKU9&keywords=B+&+H+pet+warmer&qid=1705689577&sprefix=b+&+h+pet+warmer,aps,778&sr=8-5&th=1 and
https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-Power-Station-Generator/dp/B07D29QNMJ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1XYZML6FRBSIE&keywords=jackery+240+power+station&qid=1705690823&sprefix=jackery+240,aps,184&sr=8-3&th=1

These Muscovy are fussy yet happy and wonderful companions. If I could just get 'em to eat peas.

Thanks! I do have power at the coop via an extension cord. How warm does it get inside your coop with that pet warmer under the straw?