What to do in -40 deg F?

[DoodlesDuckies]

I live in Wisconsin and am used to "cold"...my 6 ducks and 2 geese go outside everyday and in a hut at night. No food or water in hut. I do keep the doors open all day and they choose to stay outside till dark. Temps have been below zero for a while.

This Thursday thru Saturday is going to be bad. Down to -40 deg F. Do I attempt to keep them in their hut? If so...how can I leave food and water without them making a HUGE mess? We have no thaw in sight so letting them make a mess will not be an option as it will be ICE for a LONG time. Any water bowl ideas? Or...just leave them be and let them live their life as they have been??

Thanks

 

[Goosebaby]

I would keep them in. You can put them on less feed but higher protein, higher carb feed, and cracked corn will warm up their metabolism too. My goose bowls are in bus bins to limit spills, a 2 gallon bucket filled only half way with a big rock in it can limit spills and encourage them not to bath in it, you’ll need to refill it more often but you’ll need to do that anyway if it freezes because it isn’t a heated bucket

 

[yarrowhouse]

Wow, that is cold! No answers to offer, just a similar question here in North Carolina where we will have (possibly) a rare 4 days in a row below freezing, including a night before 0.

@DoodlesDuckies what do you do for your poultry in your regular before freezing cold? Our setup is similar - a straw filled hutch overnight, though they like to be out during the day. We do leave a little water in the hutch overnight, on the wall to minimize mess making, just enough to dip their nostrils. It freezes by morning though.

We just have 4 ducks at the moment.

I live in Wisconsin and am used to "cold"...my 6 ducks and 2 geese go outside everyday and in a hut at night. No food or water in hut. I do keep the doors open all day and they choose to stay outside till dark. Temps have been below zero for a while.

This Thursday thru Saturday is going to be bad. Down to -40 deg F. Do I attempt to keep them in their hut? If so...how can I leave food and water without them making a HUGE mess? We have no thaw in sight so letting them make a mess will not be an option as it will be ICE for a LONG time. Any water bowl ideas? Or...just leave them be and let them live their life as they have been??

Thanks

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Wow, that is cold! No answers to offer, just a similar question here in North Carolina where we will have (possibly) a rare 4 days in a row below freezing, including a night before 0.

@DoodlesDuckies what do you do for your poultry in your regular before freezing cold? Our setup is similar - a straw filled hutch overnight, though they like to be out during the day. We do leave a little water in the hutch overnight, on the wall to minimize mess making, just enough to dip their nostrils. It freezes by morning though.

We just have 4 ducks at the moment.

I have straw filled hut for at night. (6ftx12ft-loaded w straw bales and covered sides) During the day they do have plug in water bowls outside. NOT THE BUCKETS! Those darn things freeze at the top ALL THE TIME. I have the bowls. Ducks are fine as long as they have some sort of a wind break. I will take them the rubber tubs when the temps are over 10 deg. They still use them as a hot tub and the warm bowls as hot tubs.

I may have to think about putting the plug in bowls in the hut for a couple days. Get some cracked corn.

 

[gullinkambe]

How're you doing?

When it's cold-cold I make sure the ducks can't step in water. Their feet are after all their most vulnerable spot, and wet feet, well...

It's gonna get cold for me too (not as bad as you, luckily), and I got an old duck that I worry about. I don't think the strong and healthy ones need extra heat in the coop, but I'm gonna put it on for her sake.

I've put water in their coop a few times. A tall bucket within a bowl, and put wood shavings around to soak up the spill. It's not great, but it works for a few days. I think ducks can take air moisture and condensation quite well, at least much better than the chickens...

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

How're you doing?

When it's cold-cold I make sure the ducks can't step in water. Their feet are after all their most vulnerable spot, and wet feet, well...

It's gonna get cold for me too (not as bad as you, luckily), and I got an old duck that I worry about. I don't think the strong and healthy ones need extra heat in the coop, but I'm gonna put it on for her sake.

I've put water in their coop a few times. A tall bucket within a bowl, and put wood shavings around to soak up the spill. It's not great, but it works for a few days. I think ducks can take air moisture and condensation quite well, at least much better than the chickens...

Morning. We are still kicking!! I left everyone in this morning. Last night I put their plug in warmer bowl in the hut and a bowl of food. I put a board and big rock on it so they cannot use it as a hot tub. They were very confused this morning when I checked on them and filled the water bowl and food. They wanted to get out but I think it is just too cold at -25 deg F with wind chills of -30 to -40. It is something I never thought I would do, leave them in. By noon tomorrow we should be in the clear of this. I mean- lets be real, it'll still be below zero but not this bad.

I hope they understand it is for the greater good that they were locked in.

 

[gullinkambe]

Morning. We are still kicking!! I left everyone in this morning. Last night I put their plug in warmer bowl in the hut and a bowl of food. I put a board and big rock on it so they cannot use it as a hot tub. They were very confused this morning when I checked on them and filled the water bowl and food. They wanted to get out but I think it is just too cold at -25 deg F with wind chills of -30 to -40. It is something I never thought I would do, leave them in. By noon tomorrow we should be in the clear of this. I mean- lets be real, it'll still be below zero but not this bad.

I hope they understand it is for the greater good that they were locked in.

Glad you and your ducks are doing ok!

And that it's not gonna be super-cold for long. Temp like that... it's just enduring, isn't it? Nothing thrives. Electronics fail, plastic break, it's just downright uncomfortable.
On the plus side, 0F is going to feel like a mild summer breeze when you're back to it again

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Glad you and your ducks are doing ok!

And that it's not gonna be super-cold for long. Temp like that... it's just enduring, isn't it? Nothing thrives. Electronics fail, plastic break, it's just downright uncomfortable.
On the plus side, 0F is going to feel like a mild summer breeze when you're back to it again

It is really weird how fast you adjust to the cold temps. When I am totally bundled up, just face exposed -10 deg F isn't THAT bad if you are moving and doing something. This morning was a bit harsh- jacket and mittens got crunchy cold. When I opened their hut door it was warmer in there than outside so that's a plus.

I work in the Ag industry and we have been getting a lot of frozen parlors, air gates ect...down. A lot of things suffer in this weather. But its amazing how warm free stall barns can get with just the body heat of cows.

One positive thing....the sun is out finally!!!