If you live in a cold area, caring for farm animals can sometimes be quite a hassle. Fortunately, ducks can survive in cold weather. However, you also need to keep your ducks safe and healthy. Provide a cage and environment that can protect the ducks from cold weather. Give the ducks a feed that can keep them strong in cold weather. Keep the ducks out of the wind when the weather is cold.
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Part 1 of 3: Providing the Right Environment for Ducks
Step 1. Build a large enough cage for the ducks
Ducks should be placed outdoors. When the weather is cold, build a duck coop in your yard. Ducks generally need a cage made of wood. Make sure the cage is large enough to accommodate all the ducks you raise.
- Generally, one duck requires a cage of 0.25 square meters. For example, if you keep four ducks, the duck cage must be at least 1 square meter wide.
- Make sure the duck coop has walls and a ceiling. When the weather is cold, ducks need a closed cage to stay healthy and safe.
Step 2. Keep the duck coop warm
Generally, ducks can regulate their body temperature well when the weather is cold. However, ducks will certainly feel more comfortable if there is a heater in their cage. This stage is very important to do if you keep ducks in a cold area.
- Use a heating lamp to warm the duck coop. However, make sure you keep the lamp out of reach of the ducks. Do not use heaters placed on the floor of the cage as this may cause a fire.
- When raising ducklings in cold weather, use a 250 watt lamp.
Step 3. Choose the right lighting for your duck coop
Cages that have good lighting can support the production of duck eggs. If you want to breed ducks, or want to keep egg production running smoothly, use the right lights to illuminate the coop when the weather is cold.
- Turn on the cage light for 30 minutes in the morning and evening. Turn on the lights 30 minutes before sunrise, and 30 minutes after sunset.
- If you don't want your ducks to lay eggs, there's no need to light up the cage when it's cold.
Step 4. Protect the ducks from the cold surface of the cage floor
The floor of the cage will feel cold when the weather is cold. Cover the floor surface of the duck coop with straw. This can keep the duck feet warm when the weather is cold.
You can also line the duck coop floor with wooden planks to keep it warm
Part 2 of 3: Feeding the Ducks
Step 1. Choose duck feed with sufficient protein content
You have to take good care of your duck's diet to keep it healthy. When the weather is cold, ducks need nutrients to stay healthy and thrive. You can buy duck feed at a pet store or online.
Protein is very important for maintaining the health of ducks. Check the protein content of duck feed. Duck feed should contain at least 16%-18% protein
Step 2. Give the duck vegetables and fruit
Generally, ducks will eat insects to supplement their nutritional intake. Ducks also like to eat grass and other plants. Since insects and grass are hard to find in cold weather, give your ducks extra treats like fruit, vegetables, and corn.
Vegetables that are very good for duck consumption are cabbage, cabbage, and Swiss chard
Step 3. Give the duck a high-fat and high-calorie snack before bed
At night, the weather gets colder. The duck's digestive system will keep it warm. Fatty, high-calorie snacks take a long time to digest, so the duck will stay warm at night.
Beans and corn are good options. Beans are more nutritious than corn, so give duck beans whenever possible
Step 4. Make sure the duck gets enough fluids
Provide a bowl of clean water so that the ducks can drink. When the weather is cold, place a bowl of water in the duck coop to keep the water temperature from getting too cold.
Check the duck's drinking water every time you check the duck coop. If the water is too cold or dirty, immediately replace it with a new one
Part 3 of 3: Keeping Ducks Safe
Step 1. Protect the ducks from gusts of wind
Ducks tolerate cold weather quite well. However, ducks generally do not like the wind. Make sure the ducks are protected from the wind, especially in cold weather. This stage is very important to do so that the duck's health is maintained.
- Hang a tarp in one corner of the duck coop. When the wind blows, the ducks can take cover behind the tarpaulin.
- You can also purchase a wind-free cage for your ducks.
Step 2. Make sure the duck coop is well ventilated
When breathing, ducks will generally produce moist air. This can interfere with the duck's health when the weather is cold. Duck cages should not be completely closed from outside air. Provide ventilation holes in the duck cage. You can attach the mesh to different parts of the cage, or make small windows.
To protect the ducks from cold weather and predators, the vent of the duck coop should be positioned at the top of the cage. Do not make air holes above the floor surface of the duck coop
Step 3. Let the ducks swim when the weather is sunny and warm enough
Ducks love to swim, even when the weather is cold. While most ducks can tolerate cold water, it's best not to let them swim in cold weather. Wait until the weather is clear enough and then provide a pond so the ducks can swim. When the weather is sunny, provide a swimming pool that is deep and wide enough for the ducks to swim and bathe.
