Possible start of frostbite

[New duck mommy 2021]

Thank you for the information As I wasn’t sure the ducks would be okay without water at night. I never feed in there but had thought they always need water. I think this will make a big difference in the duck house. I have been changing the straw everyday so they would always have dry stuff.

I am wondering if it just got too wet and there weren't enough dry areas. It could be her foot was extremely cold.
It can get extremely cold here, but it's not extended - just brief spells of bitter cold. I have only put water in the coop and duck house during the day when the weather got down to -70F for a few days. When I had to put it in the coop, I blocked it off with a plank of wood so that they could only stick their head in. However, most of our winter days are not that bitter. I don't house my ducks with food or water at night.
I know there are members here from Canada as well as Alaska (similar weather) with ducks and chickens. Hopefully, they will see this post. I can only think of one name at the moment.
@Alaskan

I had thought

 

[Alaskan]

X2 what has already been said.

Ducks need to be able to dunk their heads once a day, and they need water to drink when they eat....but that is it.

They do not need water at night.

If it gets -30C and similar it would be nice if you set up wind blocks in their run. A single bit of clear-ish plastic will make a huge difference.

I agree that it looks more bruise than frostbite.... but if it is frostbite there isn't anything you can do once they have it.

The colder it gets the more important it is that they don't bathe or splash in the water. You need to keep their waterer small enough so that they don't try to bathe. But yes, they still need to dunk their heads.

Make sure that they have clean dry spots to sit, sun bathe and play in to keep their feet healthy.

I really liked using wood chips/shavings as I found it easier to shovel out of their coop when soiled.

Hay might be easier/better if you want to put a layer in their pen over the ice and snow. (But the hay will also insulate the ice and snow and keep it from melting).

You will need to figure out what works best for you.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

They only need water if feed is also available. Otherwise, just offering it during the day is sufficient.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

X2 what has already been said.

Ducks need to be able to dunk their heads once a day, and they need water to drink when they eat....but that is it.

They do not need water at night.

If it gets -30C and similar it would be nice if you set up wind blocks in their run. A single bit of clear-ish plastic will make a huge difference.

I agree that it looks more bruise than frostbite.... but if it is frostbite there isn't anything you can do once they have it.

The colder it gets the more important it is that they don't bathe or splash in the water. You need to keep their waterer small enough so that they don't try to bathe. But yes, they still need to dunk their heads.

Make sure that they have clean dry spots to sit, sun bathe and play in to keep their feet healthy.

I really liked using wood chips/shavings as I found it easier to shovel out of their coop when soiled.

Hay might be easier/better if you want to put a layer in their pen over the ice and snow. (But the hay will also insulate the ice and snow and keep it from melting).

You will need to figure out what works best for you.

Thank you

 

[Jenbirdee]

wow -70 f ? thats crazy cold!! how are your duckies doing?

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

wow -70 f ? thats crazy cold!! how are your duckies doing?

-30 to -40 c
My ducks are doing great
It must have been a bruise as it was fine the next day
They are living in the warm house
They have their own bedroom in the basement and a pool set up in the laundry room so they get to swim twice a day
Yes they are spoiled
I ended up incubating some of Daisy’s eggs in late November and hatched 4 from her she decided to sit and nest 8 eggs and 3 made it to hatch time but two were not able to external pip and died . Baby 3 for her was in the wrong end and I had to take it to help
Baby ( Hope) as it’s was the last egg of hope for daisy after sitting her whole 4 weeks was born with help after 50 hours. But mom wouldn’t take her so she has been with her older siblings
All 5 babies are doing great
They also have a big pen set up where mom and dad can see them and we have started to interact once a day.

 

[Jenbirdee]

That is fabulous!! I also have a spare room in my basement/lower level which I use for my ducks and geese whenever the weather is too cold or too hot or too stormy. You are brave to set up an indoor pool.. it must be a lot of work to take care of... but we love our feather babies, I understand!

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

That is fabulous!! I also have a spare room in my basement/lower level which I use for my ducks and geese whenever the weather is too cold or too hot or too stormy. You are brave to set up an indoor pool.. it must be a lot of work to take care of... but we love our feather babies, I understand!

I added a drain to the pool and it’s pvc pipe sits over my floor drain
All I do is turn the valve and it drains
I have a hose set up to fill
It’s really easy
Not everyone has that kind of set up they can do so my ducks are lucky
I do have to do separate bath times as it’s to small for so many ducks
I do the two adults together
The 2 drake babies and the 3 hen babies
When I tried all 5 babies once they got bigger they were nipping at each other for space so I started to separate for baths and they stopped