The Duck Thread

[Spyderk117]

Make sure you are very fire and electricity consious when you introduce a heat lamp. Put everything outside their reach and away from where mice or other pests could mess with it. I've heard horror stories about coops burning. If we didnt get below 0F, i wouldn't have one (we are supposed to hit -20F this week). If you can't avoid mice completely, you can run pvc pretty cheap to protect the wires. Just being the voice of caution.

Okay, I don't have any mice problems.
Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have 1 ancona and 1 muscovy- both females. We don't use heat lamps in the upstate NY winter. We use the deep litter method with straw in the nesting boxes. The coop consists of a rectangular box enclosed with 1/4 inch hardware cloth on all 4 sides with hemlock wood boards all the way around (with a door that can be a window and a second window that can close for ventilation). When it's below 20 F outside- all windows are closed- there's still some gaps so it's not air tight but I sometimes wonder if I should leave a window cracked for air flow but then worry about too cold of drafts. Any thoughts? It's under our sunroom which projects off the back of the house and provides additional overhead coverage from the elements. I refresh the bedding daily so it's dry. We have a heater for their small bathing basin outside the coop area. They usually do fine except for when it gets to be single digits and bad wind chill they look miserable (but I'm not sure that they're as bothered as I tend to think they are). In those cases we bring them inside for a cold shower so they can acclimate to the warmer indoor temp and get some reprieve from the cold.

The main reason I don't use heat in the coop is artificial lighting throwing off their natural laying cycles. My ancona has had egg binding tendencies and I don't want to tax her system by introducing supplemental lighting. She has stopped laying and I am glad- she is an avid layer- 1 per day every day until the days became shorter. Her body needs a break...plus it'll help her conserve energy she needs to stay warm.

Can another experienced duck owner weigh in on what outdoor temperature and weather conditions, with the housing situation I've mentioned above, a duck would need reprieve from the cold?

@Miss Lydia what are signs of near frost bit caruncles on muscovy?

@Mudbillkisses the only part of my drake and females carnucles was the knob right on top of the bill. It swelled some and was red but never turned black. My female got over it fine my drake still has obvious scares but nothing other than that. I really think dunking their heads in the water bucket and the frigid air hitting it may have caused the frost bite.

I wouldn't add supplemental lighting Just make sure they have a place out of the wind and severe cold. They may not want to use it but when it gets into lower teens and singles I make mine go inside early. They have heated buckets and dry food inside for really frigid temps. To keep them from making a totoal wreck of their house i put a board over top of the buckets so they can only get their head inside for a drink not a bath. lol If your house isn't air tight they are probably getting enough air flow. i keep one window on the south side open at the top about 4 inches to let out moisture they create.

 

[NathanZee]

What is their shelter situation?

A large coop, I don't remember the dimensions... It isn't insulated, just plywood walls. I'm going to cover about half of the ventilation shafts for the very cold nights then open them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

A large coop, I don't remember the dimensions... It isn't insulated, just plywood walls. I'm going to cover about half of the ventilation shafts for the very cold nights then open them.

Lets try and remember our water fowl have really nice down on under their feathers. That equips them for cold weather. They just need to be able to get out of the wind and weather if they want.

 

[Julie Birb]

Lets try and remember our water fowl have really nice down on under their feathers. That equips then for cold weather.  They just need to be able to get out of the wind and weather if they want.

Eee. Yes. That is what makes their ADORABLE rumps so soft. Like Samson's.

 

[NathanZee]

Lets try and remember our water fowl have really nice down on under their feathers. That equips them for cold weather. They just need to be able to get out of the wind and weather if they want.

Yeah, I do! It's just I worry about them... they haven't ever experienced 25 below before.

Last year was a very mild winter for Minnesota.

Eee. Yes. That is what makes their ADORABLE rumps so soft. Like Samson's.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah, I do! It's just I worry about them... they haven't ever experienced 25 below before.

Last year was a very mild winter for Minnesota.

This is a first for my Runners/Buffs and my Old English game bantams we're going to be in single digits with the wind chill. I went and put up old towels over their windows to help and I have a sweeter heater going. It doesn't really put out much heat though but if someone wants to stand next to it it may help.

I won't use a heat lamp though just way too many horror stories about fires.

Also mine are going to be getting whole corn and cracked right before bed time to help over night.

 

[NathanZee]

This is a first for my Runners/Buffs and my Old English game bantams we're going to be in single digits with the wind chill. I went and put up old towels over their windows to help and I have a sweeter heater going. It doesn't really put out much heat though but if someone wants to stand next to it it may help.

I won't use a heat lamp though just way too many horror stories about fires.

Also mine are going to be getting whole corn and cracked right before bed time to help over night.

Okay. What's a sweeter heater?

Yeah, you have to be really careful!

We've been giving them a lot of whole corn too, is cracked better?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay. What's a sweeter heater?

Yeah, you have to be really careful!

We've been giving them a lot of whole corn too, is cracked better?

I mix the 2 together since I have tiny bantams. I'll get info on the Sweeter heater.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog...er-Coop-and-Brooder-Heater-4-sizes-p1556.aspx I bought the med size and opted for wall mount.

 

[NathanZee]

I mix the 2 together since I have tiny bantams. I'll get info on the Sweeter heater.

That makes sense. Ok, thanks!