Urban Waddler
Songster
So, I’ve asked these questions in the past, but I’m asking again because I’m still paranoid. This is my first winter with two Peking ducks. I have read so many things about how to keep ducks warm and healthy in winter but there are so many vague explanations. I’ve been monitoring the situation closely and learning as I go, but I am leaving town for two weeks from mid to late January, and that can be a very cold time in Minnesota. I have two great folks staying at the house to care for my ducks, but I need to feel more secure about the cold before I leave.
1.) insulation. We have a coop a little over four by six feet and about five feet tall at its top (pictured). We put foam board insulation about an inch thick with plywood over it so the ducks wouldn’t eat it. But I worry my measurements weren’t perfect and there are spots without insulation. I have also hung some moving blankets along the walls to provide more warmth. But everyone says insulation is key, so what does that really mean?
2.) draft free but with proper ventilation. We have only one window with hardware cloth open for the winter (we closed off the others) and it’s about four feet from the floor of the coop and about 3.5 by four inches. We also have a run door that opens from the coop that is open during the day with a hanging flap to keep elements out as they come and go. Is this enough insulation? And even with weather stripping, how draft free are we talking? I make sure wet bedding is taken out each night and dry bedding is added. I attached a pic of the inside of the coop from our duck cam, but that’s from before we had blankets up.
3.) Heat. Right now we just have one radiant heat panel on a wall, and one sweater heater (another radiant heat source) hanging from the ceiling along another wall. It only gives off a slight amount of heat when you are literally right next to it. Is this enough??? We get into the negatives here. So far their water hasn’t frozen, but i change it every morning and night. It has gotten down to the teens but not below zero yet.
I realize most people are vehemently against heat lamps, but what if I were to put a 100w ceramic infrared heat emitter bulb inside one of those heavy duty glass enforced plastic fixtures with ceramic/metal socket (picture below). I know ceramic is supposed to not shatter and these fixtures get great reviews. But is the risk that some shavings or hay gets up into the cage still high enough to outweigh the benefit? I feel like maybe the 100 watt ceramic bulb (vs 250) along with the cage fixture should be safer, but very curious to see what folks think, as I definitely don’t want a fire.
4.) when to stop letting them outside or in the run?
My ducks love going outside in the cold, and I have to make them come in and thaw when they get icicles all over their feathers. I have plenty of windproof areas to hang out in their run (a little igloo dog house filled with hay, wooden boxes and the like) but often I find them sitting out in the elements and I force them to a warmer spot.
I know that the people watching my ducks will take the job seriously, but I also know they won’t be paranoid worriers like me, always checking the thermometer and snuggling them when they are cold. I thought of putting an indoor cage up for evenings, but I worry this could hinder their ability to acclimate to the extreme weather outside, and I couldn’t keep them caged all day, as they love to jump and run and play.
Any advice would be so so appreciated. I’ve read books, articles, other posts, but I just keep seeing vague things like “insulate,” “draft free,” and the like. I need specifics.
Thank you!!!!
1.) insulation. We have a coop a little over four by six feet and about five feet tall at its top (pictured). We put foam board insulation about an inch thick with plywood over it so the ducks wouldn’t eat it. But I worry my measurements weren’t perfect and there are spots without insulation. I have also hung some moving blankets along the walls to provide more warmth. But everyone says insulation is key, so what does that really mean?
2.) draft free but with proper ventilation. We have only one window with hardware cloth open for the winter (we closed off the others) and it’s about four feet from the floor of the coop and about 3.5 by four inches. We also have a run door that opens from the coop that is open during the day with a hanging flap to keep elements out as they come and go. Is this enough insulation? And even with weather stripping, how draft free are we talking? I make sure wet bedding is taken out each night and dry bedding is added. I attached a pic of the inside of the coop from our duck cam, but that’s from before we had blankets up.
3.) Heat. Right now we just have one radiant heat panel on a wall, and one sweater heater (another radiant heat source) hanging from the ceiling along another wall. It only gives off a slight amount of heat when you are literally right next to it. Is this enough??? We get into the negatives here. So far their water hasn’t frozen, but i change it every morning and night. It has gotten down to the teens but not below zero yet.
I realize most people are vehemently against heat lamps, but what if I were to put a 100w ceramic infrared heat emitter bulb inside one of those heavy duty glass enforced plastic fixtures with ceramic/metal socket (picture below). I know ceramic is supposed to not shatter and these fixtures get great reviews. But is the risk that some shavings or hay gets up into the cage still high enough to outweigh the benefit? I feel like maybe the 100 watt ceramic bulb (vs 250) along with the cage fixture should be safer, but very curious to see what folks think, as I definitely don’t want a fire.
4.) when to stop letting them outside or in the run?
My ducks love going outside in the cold, and I have to make them come in and thaw when they get icicles all over their feathers. I have plenty of windproof areas to hang out in their run (a little igloo dog house filled with hay, wooden boxes and the like) but often I find them sitting out in the elements and I force them to a warmer spot.
I know that the people watching my ducks will take the job seriously, but I also know they won’t be paranoid worriers like me, always checking the thermometer and snuggling them when they are cold. I thought of putting an indoor cage up for evenings, but I worry this could hinder their ability to acclimate to the extreme weather outside, and I couldn’t keep them caged all day, as they love to jump and run and play.
Any advice would be so so appreciated. I’ve read books, articles, other posts, but I just keep seeing vague things like “insulate,” “draft free,” and the like. I need specifics.
Thank you!!!!
