What to do for ducks in hot weather

[MallardDuckling]

Lately, where I live has been in the 90s consitantly, except for when we have some storms come through.

My ducks have a little cage, that I fill the bottom with water so they have shade and a place to play in the water. It's attatched to another cage whener they can hang out on the grass. When I see them start to pant, I turn the sprinkler on. They seem to enjoy it.

What do you do for your ducks when it's real hot out?

 

[Amiga]

I bring them into the duckie storm shelter in the walkout basement where they can cool off for a while. If it's just hot, I make sure they have shade, and fresh cool water in the swim pan. I watch them more closely, and give them barely thawed frozen peas. They are not so keen on being spritzed or misted.

 

[PeanutnCashew]

It has been crazy hot! ..I make sure the pool water is cool, couple times a day I add some frozen water bottles that float around with the ducks and they like it and keeps the water from turning warm.
You could always add a fan to create a breeze.

 

[ChicagoDucks]

Ours love to play in the sprinkler when we turn the water way dow-hilarity ensues. At night we pack the waterer in their coop with ice, which I think helps a little. Otherwise, we keep their kiddie pool in the shade and they spend the day playing in it. Their pool is so gross after a hot day

. It is a good thing we put in a 100 gallon rain barrel this spring otherwise they'd be drinking us out of house and home!

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have a blind duck- who cannot see to get into the shade on hot days. Luckily though because she cannot see- she tends to sit in one place for hours- so I put some bottles of ice beside her. The others get regular water changes in the pools- and a hose down. Mine get peas too- thrown in the pool frozen and fruit like watermelon is a great summer treat too. Straight out of the fridge- they love it.

 

[jdywntr]

Make sure to provide shade and a pool will help. It has been hitting triple digits here and mine will sit in the kiddie pool which is under a makeshift shade cloth.
Since we just moved 1 month ago, I'm putting money into securing and expanding the coop so I haven't bought anything for shade yet. The only thing I had on hand were extra sheets. My ducks and goslings are sitting under 800 thread count sheets during the heat of the day. It is very fancy out there, sheets hung from fencing with clothespins.

 

[twinmama]

For the past week I run the sprinkler on low a couple times a day. As soon as they realize I'm turning it on they get excited and come running! For swimming, they just have a small pool right now, but I've been filling it with fresh water each morning, and they spend the hottest hours of the day hanging out in it. I also splash water into their favorite mud puddles in the shade, and they splash around in those off and on. I've been leaving a small patch of grass that I don't mow, and I hose that down for them to lay in. Last night I changed their coop door out for a screen (hardware cloth) one so they can get more air overnight, and I can prop a box fan at the door for them to have a breeze. Temps here all weak have been around 95-100 with a heat index of about 106-110, and they seem to be doing well.

 

[new2ducks]

I'll put frozen peas and corn in their water, they love diving in to eat them. I change their water a few times a day and since I hate to waste it, I water some of my plants and also my compost pile which is right outside their fenced in area...by the way my compost pile has turned into a pumpkin patch because of a pumpkin I put in there last year! It's nice just to toss water on it during the day.I also will just dump the water out onto the ground and they like to lay on the cooler dampness.

 

[MallardDuckling]

I never thought of frozen peas or even water bottles. I've been filling their water bucket and pool with ice cubes, and make sure they're makeshift enclosure is in shade. Even if it means I have to move it when the sun starts to hit them.
Some times they will lay in the sun, but then they start to pant, so I bring out the sprinkler, and it seems to cool them down. Their pool is also fully enclosed, so it's shaded.

 

[Going Quackers]

Make sure they have access to shade, pools to swim in and water that is kept in the shade. Only my mama duck and her 9 babies are penned right now.. and it's well sheltered with two pools.. the rest of the flock free ranges they mainly stay in the cedars along the side of the garage.