too cold?

[claudiaosk]

got another question
Its -10°C here this morning. I filled their little tub with cold water as the ice was too thick to break. When they got out of it, their feathers are frozen and I noticed that they crouch down a lot (which they dont do in warmer weather). So, my question "when is cold too cold", or "is there a too cold for ducks?"?
They can go into the unheated greenhouse with lots of unfrozen hey on the ground, so they have the choice. Just wondering whether this crouching down means anything. I read somewhere that they CAN get frostbite...
Thanks guys!

 

[Callender Girl]

I can only tell you from my experience in northern Iowa, where temps last year got to minus 20-something, that all of my runner ducks did okay. Mine often hunker down and sit on their feet when it gets really cold. I remove their pool in the winter and leave them with a heated dog water dish.

I guess if mine had the option of an unheated greenhouse with hay, I would be okay with letting them wander in. Mine live a semi-open shelter, with windbreaks on three sides, and I feel guilty that they are partially exposed to the weather. But, honestly, it seems to bother me more than it bothers them.

 

[claudiaosk]

thanks so much, that makes me feel better!
Perhaps its even better if they dont play too much in the water (it freezes up after a short period of time anyway). Berta usually ends up underneath during their surfboard games and she is frozen stiff outside :-(

They sit outside huddled together, seem to prefer this to going inside the greenhouse.

Agree with you - it prob bothers me more then them

 

[Callender Girl]

Ah, every flock has its Berta, doesn't it?

Sometimes, I will look outside during a snowstorm and be amazed that the runners are sitting OUTSIDE their shelter. Crazy ducks!

 

[claudiaosk]

yes agreed!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Yes, ducks can get frost-bite, but you will never see that happen, because before they get frost-bite you'd be frozen solid!
My ducks have a nice duck-house with three bedrooms, lot's of straw on the floor, cozy nest-boxes, windows to look outside, … but since i have added an outside run they prefer to stay outside for most of the night.
As long as they can get out of the wind and stay dry your ducks will be fine, even at -20°.
Just curious: You are using this weird temperature unit, where are you located?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Ah, every flock has its Berta, doesn't it?

Sometimes, I will look outside during a snowstorm and be amazed that the runners are sitting OUTSIDE their shelter. Crazy ducks!

??? Berta ???
Is that some kind of running gag that i have missed?

 

[claudiaosk]

??? Berta ???
Is that some kind of running gag that i have missed?

who knows, I just know that Berta is my lovely Peking duck that everyone else in the girls flock sits on in the water

 

[claudiaosk]

Yes, ducks can get frost-bite, but you will never see that happen, because before they get frost-bite you'd be frozen solid!
My ducks have a nice duck-house with three bedrooms, lot's of straw on the floor, cozy nest-boxes, windows to look outside, … but since i have added an outside run they prefer to stay outside for most of the night.
As long as they can get out of the wind and stay dry your ducks will be fine, even at -20°.
Just curious: You are using this weird temperature unit, where are you located?

its the weird Icelandic Celsius. -10° in Iceland is 14°F, so probably not toooo bad. The thing was, that Berta got really wet in the water which I had filled the tub with (after taking the ice out) and then, in the -10 °C she got icecrystals on all her feathers and bigger icycles for 2 days that didnt melt even when inside the greenhouse. But she is ok. NOw that I am reducing the nightly water it will also get drier inside. Always learning new stuff ducks ARE tough

 

[Callender Girl]

Glad to hear Berta is okay. All I meant by "every flock has its Berta, is that there's always ONE bird who gets herself into a little more trouble or requires a little more care than the rest. And, for the record, I've always loved those birds the most!