Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HI, I HAVE A QUESTION . I HAVE 5 DUCKS AND WE ARE ALREADY ON OUR 3RD SNOWFALL. MY DUCKS HAVE AN ENCLOSED PEN/ HOUSE THEY GO IN AT NIGHT AND HAVE ACCESS TO GET INTO IT DURING THE DAY. EVERY MORNING I GO OUT AND THERE POND AND WATER IS FROZEN. OF COURSE I GET RID OF THE FROZEN WATER AND REPLACE IT. MY QUESTION IS JUST HOW COLD IS TO COLD FOR THE DUCKS TO BE KEPT OUTSIDE AND WILL THERE PEN/ HOUSE BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM WARM THROUGH THE WINTER. THEY HAVE PLENTY OF HAY THAT IS CHANGED DAILY AND THE DOORS CLOSE FULLY. THIS IS OUR FIRST WINTER WITH THE DUCKS AND IM JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THERE WELL BEING. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL .THANKS, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

One thing I could recommend is putting a light or heating pads in their shelter for extra warmth.

Hey,

How old are the ducks? Old or very young birds will suffer more during very cold weather.
It would help if once or twice a day you could give them warm water to drink, and it's good that your breaking up any ice. If they have plenty of hay or straw, and of course loads of food then they should be fine. Make sure that all the ducks can get enough food. Having 2 or 3 (or as many as possible) food bowls located in different places around their enclosures and bedding area is a good way to ensure all ducks can get food, (as a more dominant duck may prevent others from going to a certain food bowl), the same could be done with water bowls.
Check the ducks as often as possible, keep an eye on their weight (to make sure they are physically strong and well fed).

Heating is a good idea, although only use at times when the weather is worse, as they would benefit from the warmth more.

Have a good xmas!
Mel X

This is my first year with ducks too and I constantly worry about whether they are warm enough. I live in Tennessee though so we don't dip way down often. Still there have been overnight lows in the teens. I always fill their water containers will warmer tap water and change them more frequently as the ice does tend to build up. Also, in their pen I have two heat lamps at one end (their kennel is rectangular). Whenever I check on them, I can always tell if they are chilly as they will be in the end with the lamps and if they are okay, they'll be at the other end.

My ducks also eat more in the colder months as I'm sure there's not as much grasses, bugs, etc. to eat.