Winter duck behavior

[MallardMama19]

The sun shining outside, even if it's cold, seems to warm them up. All of my animals are outside - or have the option of being outside - if it's 15F or warmer.

The exception is if it's too windy (25 mph or higher winds) or the snow is too deep for them (4" or deeper in the majority of the areas they would be in.

Have fun. Let the duckies have fun.

My ducks were very vocal and would tell me if they wanted in. Or more food. Or if they wanted me to come out and play with them. Lol - they would come knocking at the back door and the front door!

Please post pictures of your duckies!

*****

The ducks should be 4-6 months or OLDER.

The ducks should NOT be molting.

Mama is my hen, Firequaker is my drake.
(We did have 2 other hens, but they took off/went missing at the beginning of October)

 

[thumper650]

I love seeing duck webby prints in snow! Then I come out a few hours later and the snow is all packed down and covered in poop spots!

 

[Duckfarmer1]

It’s also my first winter with ducks..the first part of the week it was 8’ and we had 5” of snow and then an ice storm..they stayed inside..but..it’s a huge barn that we just built for them, the rabbits, goats and pot belly pigs! Buy is it loud! I have 43 ducks! So, yes, lots of straw. I put some wood shavings Dow first and then the hay and today it made the shoveling much easier. Read it on my goat forum. And the shavings were so low far beneath the straw no way the ducks knew they were there. But..today and yesterday they were out and they liked it but came in and out of the barn. They are still drinking a ton..and eating a ton..lol...maybe I have too many..lol. But, I’d say, play it by ear..like they said..you should know by the duck behavior if they are ok outside..and if you are miserable outside then chances are maybe they will only want to be out a short bit. It’s trial and error..not a perfect science..like raising kids.