Your duck setups

[WestKnollAmy]

They are saying we are going to get snow Sunday night through Tuesday but that still is nothing compared to your weather. I hate 20 degrees! I certainly could not take a negative number!
I don't mind snow so much here since it comes quick and leaves just as quick. Beautiful but still easy enough to get around in on the farm. I am tolerant of that but when summer comes I hate anything over 80 degrees and we see months of sweltering heat. It ain't paradise but I guess I won't be moving.

Ducks should be okay as long as there isn't any wind or drafts. Bed them in thick shavings or hay and they can do well. Chickens are less hardy since they have combs that can freeze and are up on roosting poles. But even a 100 wt bulb can help with the freezing temps as long as there is fresh air but no drafts (that can be confusing in itself) the chickies will do alright.

I hope all goes well for you. Looking forward to April!

 

[gofasterstripe]

Quote:
Thanks for the words of encouragement- Sounds like we are getting ready for a REAL cold snap -40 so now Dh and I are trying to figure out what we are going to do with the ducks and chickens and of how we can possibly heat them.... This winter is kicking my butt!!!

Oh I hear ya when you say Winter kicks your butt but...Summer kicks my butt. Im from Scotland and its cold, wet and rainy there. The summers here kill me and make me so sick. I feed in the morning while its cool ...or should I say cooler and then feed late. I dont go out in the heat during the day if I can help it or Im sick as a pig. I wish we had fall all year down here in South Carolina.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Hey, I was born and raised here and it still kicks my butt!

I feed the same as you. Early morning, like sunrise and then as late in the day as I can. Unfortunately there are always customers wanting to come in the middle of the day to see the chickens and ducks and I am still out in it. Funny, but as long as my jaws are flapping I am not so hot!

But yeah, I have come in from watering and gotten extremely sick. I try to hose myself off while I am out in the heat but it can be totally unbearable.

 

[zippy3]

Nice set-up TWLR!
I built what we call the duck dome, which I built from Starplates and 2 x 4's. The dome is right up against the garden shed we converted into the duck house. In the summer, I use electric net fencing and move them around the yard, but in the winter, the dome is where they can hang out when it is warm enough. There is a tarp over the dome right now to keep out some of the snow for the winter, but in the summer, I take the tarp off.
I haven't posted pice before, so I will give it a shot.

This pic was taken in the fall. Arnold the goose is full size. The rest of my girls are runner ducks.

This shows the ramp I added to the side of the duck house, which lets them out into the dome.