TEMP VS WINDCHILL

[Breathingwebfarms]

Hello All.

Worried about my ducks feet!

Woke up to see we had a sudden snow storm come in and temperatures dropped to 28 degrees and with windchill my weather app says it "feels like 17". Theres a few inches of snow outside. The ducks are in a mobile tractor. I read that ducks are ok to about 20 degrees. Wondering if I should be worried about their feet right now? They are moving into a greenhouse this weekend, and the weather is going back to 45 degrees today and there isn't a frost forecasted for the next week.

Thanks!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

my ducks didn’t even want to be outside yesterday when it was 40° lol, as soon as it started snowing i brought them all in and gave them some “oatmeal”

mine sleep indoors though so they aren’t used to cold weather

 

[Breathingwebfarms]

Thanks for the reply. I’m wondering how to tell if they have frostbite they look OK but I’m not sure

 

[Breathingwebfarms]

This is one of their feet

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

This is one of their feet

if they are tucking their feet like that they are cold

 

[Breathingwebfarms]

Yes I understand that they are cold. The reason for my posting is to get a better idea if I need to take drastic measures right now or just wait it out because like I said the temperatures going to raise back up to 40 today and sustain well above frost for at least the next week.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Yes I understand that they are cold. The reason for my posting is to get a better idea if I need to take drastic measures right now or just wait it out because like I said the temperatures going to raise back up to 40 today and sustain well above frost for at least the next week.

maybe bring them in until it warms up

 

[Isaac 0]

The cold is not the problem, it's the snow on their feet, which causes them to tuck their feet up close to their body. I have had ducks out in -40 degrees with no problems. 40F is nothing to them.

Ducks do not need to be inside, just provide them with a well-ventilated area, thawed water, protection from the elements, and on a soft substrate like straw.

 

[KaleIAm]

I coddle my ducks. They are my precious pets and I adore them. But I wouldn't worry about leaving them outside in temperatures that you are describing. My ducks have access to a dry space with plenty of dry straw they can nestle down in.

 

[corriemartin]

We had a snow last week, and it got down to 24F, and as soon as I broke the ice in their swimming tank, that's where they were. Took their naps in the snow, and then went foraging.....