New Duck Owner, with questions about bedding and food intake

[donnajeanne]

I do have little rascals in the backyard. 9 Acres of woods behind me so I know they're out there. I did loose a bunch 2 years ago, it was terrible, had to have been something small because he got his ?teeth/? up through the bottom of a cage we thought was safe and the little squares were very tiny...maybe 1/2 inch or so...Anyway, never found out what it was but I've been careful ever since,.
My son in law put a 3 sided house in the fenced (but not completly covered coop area...They slept there last night but tonight, I just didn't have a good feeling not sure why/so I picked them up (after I caught them) and put in coop with chickens. they don't like it but they're safe. I just worry about them - I think I read they need water at all times and in the coop there is none. (altho tonight I did put a dishpan with some in it; they'll make a mess and I'll be in trouble, LOL...but I just worry) !

if you can advise me on how to treat them during the winter? I'd be so grateful. Honestly, I hate having any of the birds during the winter becuase I worry the whole time that they're cold. But I know the ducks will really worry me so...tell me what you do?

Thank you

 

[downsm75]

Yes. Ducks come insulated ... I'd put some straw/hay down to help keep them warm

 

[ducklucky]

Don't know if you're talking about your chickens or your ducks. But, if it's chickens, just give the coop a real good cleaning come end of Aug, let it get good and dry and put down plenty of pine shavings or whatever you use. Hay and straw is typically not good floor bedding for chickens, but you need some on hand for their nests, which you should replenish whenever. We have 3" diameter trees that we mounted cut down from the back yard, about waist high, they can jump up and can look out the windows. Heavy floor bedding, and keep adding as needed, provides insulation. Seal up cracks and such with duct tape before Dec, and if you have vents, you can stuff old towels, rags, into about 80 percent so they still get ventilation. A thermometer on the inside will probably make you feel a lot better, they do produce body heat, and you will be surprised how much warmer it is on the inside. We are exposed to a lot of wind, so that is our concern, but it you are sheltered from that, they should be fine. If you can run electric to the coop, a simple light bulb will give sufficient heat, just make sure it is shielded and high enough, only use it when absolutely necessary. Water heater may be a must unless you are diligent, they can go a few hours without. Cracked corn mixed with their food produces body heat, and that's a fact! And they love it.

This probably runs true for ducks as well, but personally, altho some will disagree, don't think pine shavings are the best for ducks, they tend to retain fluid more than straw and hay, but guess you can even mix them up if you want. Like the sand suggestion that some have, going to try that, depends on your flooring. Ducks do come with a down coat! LOL so they should be better off, and they like cold. Drafts are the main concern for ducks, they have to have a place to be out of the wind. Dog kennels are great, if you have a lot of big cardboard boxes around, they work well too and you can replace them as needed, you can cover them with old towels or whatever. Just think about human exposure to cold, how people get "stupid" when they get hypothermia, they will stay out in it because those endorphins or whatever kick in and it's a euphoric feeling. I've had to crawl under the coop and drag "cold stupid" chickens out in Jan. The ducks will hopefully figure it all out, lock them in at night for sure. If you have dogs, again, encourage them to do their duty around the pen, it helps a lot. Our neighbor does not have dogs and has problems with everything from groundhogs to deer, but we never have. It will be our first winter with ducks also, so we can share what works. We are going to use a bunch of old windows that we picked up free and put them around so they get plenty of light, draft free and creates solar heat.

As far as losing your birds to a critter through that small mesh, it could be anything. Racoons are known to pick a chicken apart piece by piece through chicken wire, so sure weasels or whatever could have done the same. There's no way around it, if we live in the country, we're going to lose some birds. You could set some live traps around the perimeter so you can see what you have and take them far, far away. We don't let our birds range if there's snow, simply because the chickens want no parts of it, they won't even set foot in it. Give them all lots of scraps, especially green things, as they can't get to the grass. You will be fine as long as they are protected from weather and predators, and have fresh water. Hope I helped, sorry so long winded, but we've lost too many and experience is the key, do what your gut tells you. There are very expensive red heat lamps if you can afford, they work by air temp and come on as needed but of course cost electricity wise. I always said I was going to put a miniature wood stove in there for them LOL but that is way tooooo much heat. Just use your ingenuity, you seem to have it down pretty well.

 

[donnajeanne]

Oh my goodness...you were SO helpful. Thank you so much , really. (I actually took notes your ideas are so good, lol)
I feel alot better just knowing you've done this and it works.
I'll keep in touch through the winter!!
Thank you, thank you!!

Donna

 

[donnajeanne]

Thank you!!!

 

[ducklucky]

Thank you for thanking me! By no means am I an expert, it has just been experience over the past 14 years...every year we try something new, so will post as we discover...Good luck to you as you design your winter quarters, think about yourself as you do, the most maintenance free, carefree thing you can do. Who wants to run out there in mid-Jan??? NOT ME! Stay in touch and let us know what you come up with. Oh, by the way, had a Pekin with a bumble sore yesterday, she was gimpin', saw the sore, was all set to bring her in and do surgery, but let her enjoy her day out, apparently she popped it open herself while ranging, and looks fine. WHOOOOO! Isn't mother nature wonderful!