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by Galeanda on October 7th, 2009
It depends on how cold and what breeds of ducks you have. They will need some kind of shelter so they can get away from the worst weather and have a dry place to eat. If you are worried about extreme temperatures, I'd say just a lightbulb hanging over their water source, which will need to stay above freezing anyway, is enough. If you have enough ducks and the shelter is well insulated, just their body heat alone could be fine on most winter days.
by Anonymous on September 7th, 2009
A competent/licensed veterinarian who specializes in farm animals should be able to give you the correct advice.
Contact one, today.
+5
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You're reading I have 6 ducks, and live in northeast south dakota, anyone out have suggestions to winter them? I have been told they don't need a heat lamp, and have been told they do.
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Comments
I have 2 cayugas, 2 mallards, and 2 rouens. The wind chill can get to -40 at times in the winter. I can always bring them into the back porch in kennels in extreme weather. We have an old lambing barn where we have cut a hole in the side, and it leads into an old stall. It has no electricity, we would just switch their water several times a day. So they do have shelter. We plan to put extra insulation in there some how, just to be on the safe side. Do you have ducks?
by Baby Blue on October 7th, 2009
I used to have dozens of ducks and geese and hope to get some here now that we're done building the house and more settled. We do have visiting wild ducks and geese. We're in Zone 3 which can get really could even without wind chill. It's been -26 AND windy LOL!!! Most people just keep their stock dry here, especially the ground and make sure there are no drafts. Our ducks were quite hardy, more so than the geese. We had mallards, Swedish blue, cayugas and khakis. They were fine. The little call ducks needed the warm light more than the others and it was a simple thing to run an extension cord to the pens just in case. If they are well acclimated from the start, if they have gone through a proper summer molt, getting ready for winter, they should be fine, as long as they are dry and no drafts.
by Galeanda on October 7th, 2009
Thanks, I will get to work on that, I may have to send pics of them sometime. My rouen females are hilarious. Every morning, they stand by their kennel door for us to let them out, and when they see us, boy do they start quite a ruckus. I want to perhaps get khakis this coming spring. I only started out with 6, this is my first time. I tell you what, they have become my favorite little farm animals.
by Baby Blue on October 7th, 2009
They are real characters. My husband and I love all birds, but especially ducks. He even can talk to wild geese and get them to approach him. It's something to see. I've been wife number two to both a drake and a gander. Sometimes they would sleep on our porch steps waiting for me to come out of the house. What a poopy mess that made LOL!!! They all make great little friends :-)
by Galeanda on October 7th, 2009
They really do make a poop mess, but they are so much fun and worth it. My husband was wary of them but he has grown to like them quite a bit.
by Baby Blue on October 7th, 2009