Solitary confinement or keeping a molting duck out of the rain/wind?

[austroberta]

I'm of the opinion that solitary confinement is really stressful for a duck, but today we are expecting rain/wind/cold so I put my molting duck in the the predator proof duck house with some water/nutridrench, cat food/duck food and a small container of leatherjackets (daddy long legs larvae) earthworms and slugs and closed the door. I don't like the idea of keeping her by her lonesome, but a few days back when we had a light rain, cold and no wind, I saw she was shivering. I put her inside my husband's den, which has a glass patio door, so she could see everything and she was really upset. She's been harassed by the drake in my small flock, so her stress cup is already a bit overflowing.

How do I make the solitary confinement less stressful?

 

[FluffTheDuck]

How I prevented wind in my duck house is by planting big bushes around it. I actually planted hedges.

 

[casportpony]

I've done it with a few and found the usually settle down. Do you have a buddy you can put with her, that will help a lot.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

I don't know how to make solitary confinement less stressful. @Miss Lydia @casportpony @Cayuga momma

 

[FluffTheDuck]

I've done it with a few and found the usually settle down. Do you have a buddy you can put with her, that will help a lot.

Oh, you already answered

 

[chickens really]

Well I never do anything different or add as much extras as you are. You have nothing to worry about. Birds have been molting for thousands of years in all weather. Just a wind break will suffice.

 

[casportpony]

If a bird is in molt and shivering, it's too cold and it needs to be in an enclosure area out of the wind and rain.

 

[austroberta]

Well I never do anything different or add as much extras as you are. You have nothing to worry about. Birds have been molting for thousands of years in all weather. Just a wind break will suffice.

The problem is that I let my ducks free range all day in both my back and front yards and I currently don't have wind breaks/hedges. My fully feathered ducks can be out and about all day without problem since they have feathers to keep them warm. She does have her down and some feathers, but they are very ratty and I have seen that she doesn't tolerate the rain/wind/cold very well as she is shivering. I'd be fine if she would choose a sheltered spot (there are lots in my yards), but she wants to be close to the other ducks and so she heads into areas where they tolerate the cold but she doesn't, as I can see her shiver. I see the shivering as an indication that I need to step in, regardless of what ducks have been doing for centuries.

 

[austroberta]

If a bird is in molt and shivering, it's too cold and it needs to be in an enclosure out of the wind and rain.

That's my inclination.

 

[casportpony]

That's my inclination.

I had two that I just went through this with.