Poor cold duckies

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

The mercury showed -6 this morning, i fluffed up the “nest” with a fresh bale, and turned the beasties loose, the Pekins fared the best, then the rouens, the runners were clearly displeased but the Harlequins were downright pitiful 10’ out the door and they hit the ground, wings out, struggling to get their little feet up in their feathers and, the usually silent flock members made the most pathetic little quacks. It was so bad that Willow let me pick her up and carry her to the nest…. Videos tomorrow, its -0 right no, so I expect the same behavior.

 

[CoriM]

Brrr, that sounds awful. We had temps in the teens in WA and my ducks didn't like it!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Burrrrr! That sounds painfully cold

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

They have dry places to be, their hay nest they really like , i toss a scoop of mealworms in there every morning and they weren't too cold to excitedly ferret around in there. They also got fresh shavings in the house. Only thing I wonder about is if the harlequins have something underlying. Willow, the most pitiful had a bad bumblefoot infection this summer. I felt pretty sure we had cured her, it looks and feels good and she walks fine, but i have noticed this winter they both sit when they stop, they are 2-3ish but came to me this summer.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I was talking about it being painfully cold for humans How are Willow's feet and feet bottoms looking now? I hope everyone stays warm. I am such a wuss. Here I've been complaining and whining about 27°

 

[Crazy Maizie]

My runners do the same, run out of the coop excitedly but then immediately hit the ground covering their feet.
I just make sure they have plenty of dry straw to burrow in - in the coop and run. They love freshly laid straw too. They get so excited!

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

I was wrong, it was Violet who was struggling so, she dod better today, but you can see how she struggles to get tucked in. Shes the very darkly colored harlequin.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I was wrong, it was Violet who was struggling so, she dod better today, but you can see how she struggles to get tucked in. Shes the very darkly colored harlequin.

So cute. It's like she's getting her foot situated before closing up the hatch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They sure are complaining about having to walk in that cold snow. lol
My Muscovy and geese have always preferred to be outside even in the most frigid temps. But when my Runners hatched here in 2016 their first winter they would go back inside and snuggle into their shaving for a while especially early morning. They taught my Muscovy to do it. This year my Runners and Buffs still go inside after I let them out but my Muscovy stay out. I guess it hasn't gotten cold enough for them to want to be back inside but week after next we will be in the single digits that may just change their minds.

 

[GranderTheGander]

Runners always look lean to me. Do they dislike the cold more than other ducks because they have less body fat?