snow and ducks

[goosedragon]

Quote:
the way hey or snow works is to provide a decent surface to rest their bodies on while they pull their feet up so their bodies cover and warm their feet. check that snow after they have sat there an hour or so their insulation is so good that the snow didn't melt under them.Their feet aren't all that sensitive to cold, how many times have you seen ducks in freezing water happy as could be. Stick your hand in that water and see how long you can stand it!

 

[JosieR]

I stand corrected! The little brats ARE smart enough to stay on the hay!! I am so impressed with them. I bought 2 bales yesterday, only need 1 to cover the area at the bottom of their ramp into their house and an area for food and water and a small space around.

Since I don't have any A frame built for them to hang out in yet, I put a thick layer of hay under the ramp and piled some more hay on the side of it to sort of make one and they're hanging out there. I'm going to buy more hay today and maybe place them in the run attached to their house since they seem to like to spend more time of of the duckhouse than in. At least it will give them a wind break. I'm afraid if I stay it 2 bales high it might blow off and hurt them.

I got an electrolyte mix and I'm adding a little of that to their water and some extra corn to their food.

One of my runners just keeps sitting down, she won't go very far before she plops back on her feet, I'm worried about her. The temp went from 40's one day to teens and holding the next so I think it shocked the poor things! They really like to roam the entire yard and to see them hanging out in one place is a bit sad.

 

[katharinad]

They tend to just lay around when it gets to cold or to hot. Mine only use the hay when it gets extremely cold (under 20 degrees). The a-frame when the wind is bad. Otherwise they are just moving and grooving. You don't even need to put more straw down. Just a wind break, as you are already doing it. Make sure the bales don't fall onto the ducks in windy condition. My bales are about 100 pounds each! I tied them with bale twine to the fence. An old piece of plywood may also work for the wind break. So overall you only need it when it gets extreme.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Then I guess it's silly for me, here in Central California, to worry about temperatures that rarely get ver far below freezing.... We do occasionally get a cold snap of 3 or 4 nights down into the twenties. Plenty of frost about but not many cold freezes.

Thanks!

 

[katharinad]

You are right. Don't bother in Central CA. I would only worry if the daytime is below 20, which doesn't happen in central CA.

Today we were in the mid 30's and my ducks decided to lay in the open A-frame (open on both sides) on the hay. They were not cold and did not need the hay, they just decided that that is where they wanted to nap.

BTW we did stay in West Sacramento when we did a Christmas show in Sacramento. It was at www.sacramentoturnverein.com

 

[JosieR]

It was windy and COLD today, high only around 22. For sure, the worst these poor babies have seen. And the fact that it happened so suddenly is part of the problem I think.

I got more straw today and put a bale on one side of their ramp out and then went around the inside of their run with the other bales. They made their happy noises for the first time in a couple of days when I did that! Of course they were rooting around in the hay then and I take their water out at night so it doesn't freeze and make a mess. Now I'm going to be paranoid that they're going to find something in the hay to eat and with no water, choke. Ugh! I am planning on getting plexiglass to put around the sides but thought I would keep the hay in there as insulation down at their level but I may have to rethink that if I find they are eating things out of they hay.

I also realized my compost bin can help with a good shelter. I'm going to use one side of that and just but a back and side stack of hay and put a piece of plywood in the top and it will give them another place to hang out. It's in the sun so it should at least be a little warmer than the rest of the yard.

katharinad, how often do you give your ducks electrolyte mix?

 

[katharinad]

I think you are doing overkill for the ducks. But don't we all? Love the stinkers.

Electrolytes (vitamins/minerals):
For the first 10 days the only kind of drinking water.
Then once per week until 3 months old.
After that once per month.
When laying eggs for hatching once per week.
When laying eggs for consumption once every 2 weeks.
That is my personal choice and they seems to be thriving well.

Katharina

 

[critterranch]

here is my runner duck house decided to post pics to hard to explain
this is a chicken summer grow out pen converted over to winter duck pen

the blue house is 4x4 the blue stuff is free packageing material my hubby gets from work it is from mailing car parts to dealers mainly bumpers
it comes in 4 x8 pieces usually it is 1/4 inch think blueplastic on one side and white foam like on other is easy to cut with scissors and staple up
underneath the blue stuff is rabbit wire with wooden frame. this was free cage i have used for years for everything rabbits/chicks and ducks

wooden run frame is 4x8 with chicken wire plywood is on north side

roof is old front door we replaced steel with wooden core and srcap plywood

the panel facing south is justed propped up with chairs and single fence post i just put this up as my ducks started laying and dont want eggs in snow bank
they have inner small door i lock at night

the water bucket is one gallon 8 inches deep and 8 inches across this work very well better than i thought it would
fill with fresh warm water 8 am re fill around 12 or 1 pm then dump around 7 pm and bring black bucket in house to wash and remove ice

i started doing vitamens everyday when its really cold below 25 or so
i found the water does not freeze as much i do a smaller dose since i do everyday i only do a half of teaspoon to gallon
i have also started with chickens and goats too i carry 10 gallons or so water each day total for every one
i only use hot water from house and use to melt ice
hot water mixed with snow/ice equals about 45 degree water
no water deicers or heated buckets here

the only hay on ground is what they drag out of their house
right now i only add hay 3x a week and they patty cake it down
it is about 8 inches think have not cleaned on about a month
i want it think for insulation and warmeth of poo

purple pool on right is up for winter storage my ducks
had swimming water up ntil dec 1

 

[Miss Lydia]

they are so cute. My Muscovies seem to mind the snow and ice, I noticed yesterday it was 1 degree in the morning that they would take a few steps then lay down and their feet were red. My gander was doing the same. Maybe the are whimpy but they can stay in their house if they want but they seem to want to be outside. My chickens seemed to be doing better than the ducks

 

[critterranch]

right now temp is 26 f
with 15 mph winds
with a wind chill 0f 14 f

hard to see in pics but we have at least 2 feet of snow
we are on top of big hill out in the open not many trees for wind break
our snow drifts alot

on tuesday it was a snow day high was 14 f with a wind chill of -2 f

ducks loved it