Runner duck molting in 20F temps- what do I do?

[Runner47]

Hello, I have 4 female, 1.5 yr old Runners. They have a run enclosed with hardware cloth and an unheated, attached coop that they are locked in at night for protection. There are two small “windows” near the ceiling of the coop for ventilation, but the rest of the walls and door are solid plywood, so they are protected from the wind. I use wood shavings for bedding, and use the deep litter method, topping the bedding off each morning and night as needed. Two of my ducks have started molting- it’s mid-December, and the lows the next few days are 20F. The two molting have lost their flight feathers, and the pin feathers on one of them are growing in. I feed them Mazuri duck feed, with mealworms, and sometimes a scoop of cracked corn. They also have access to oyster shells. Do they need any additional support if they are molting in very cold weather? They are my pets, so I really want to do everything I can to keep them safe and healthy. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Debbie292d]

20F should be okay as long as they are sheltered out of the wind, but, I love those Cozy Coop radiant heaters. They are safe, put off just warmth, and shut off if they tip over. If they are chilled, they go sit or stand by it.

If you don't have electricity there, I have a giant water bottle I've used in a pinch. I fill it with hot water and wrap it in an old towel and lay it in the hutch. It would get them through a few hours of the night time at least.

 

[Runner47]

20F should be okay as long as they are sheltered out of the wind, but, I love those Cozy Coop radiant heaters. They are safe, put off just warmth, and shut off if they tip over. If they are chilled, they go sit or stand by it.

If you don't have electricity there, I have a giant water bottle I've used in a pinch. I fill it with hot water and wrap it in an old towel and lay it in the hutch. It would get them through a few hours of the night time at least.

Thank you!!! I went out an hour ago and added more dry bedding. They were perky and looked ok, despite their bedraggled feathers. I’ll order a hot water bottle - thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, there’s no power out there. Fingers crossed all will be ok.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I use straw in winter. The ducks love to bed down in it. The only thing about the hot water bottle is that it will eventually freeze and could cause a problem. I don't supplement with heat or water in the coop. I have had them molt at inconvenient times, but they do just fine.

 

[Runner47]

I use straw in winter. The ducks love to bed down in it. The only thing about the hot water bottle is that it will eventually freeze and could cause a problem. I don't supplement with heat or water in the coop. I have had them molt at inconvenient times, but they do just fine.

Thank you!!!

 

[Jenbirdee]

I have a very similar situation. One of my runner ducks is molting right now and it’s been going down in the low 20s at night and it’s very windy some days and I feel bad for her but over the years. I’ve learned that they do just fine without heat or water in the coop at night and what I do also the deep litter method with the shavings when it’s cold over the winter I add a layer of straw over the shavings so they can dig down into it and they love it so that’s what I was gonna say but basically others have already said the same thing lol

 

[Runner47]

I have a very similar situation. One of my runner ducks is molting right now and it’s been going down in the low 20s at night and it’s very windy some days and I feel bad for her but over the years. I’ve learned that they do just fine without heat or water in the coop at night and what I do also the deep litter method with the shavings when it’s cold over the winter I add a layer of straw over the shavings so they can dig down into it and they love it so that’s what I was gonna say but basically others have already said the same thing lol

Thanks so much! They both did alright last night, and it went down to 18. I’ll try the straw- I had read that it can become a frozen mess, but for the coldest nights, I’ll give it a go.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Thanks so much! They both did alright last night, and it went down to 18. I’ll try the straw- I had read that it can become a frozen mess, but for the coldest nights, I’ll give it a go.

do they have water in there overnight? if they do, then yes- a terrible and dangerous frozen mess ( frostbite)
but without water bucket it’s fine

 

[Supercow]

We also have a molting Khaki Campbell and the temps in the night are 30 to 20 f. She's the smallest of the flock, came to us from elsewhere and remained a runt so to speak, but I can see progress with the new set of feathers and she does not behave like the cold bothers her at all. Nine ducks in the house she's in, lots of wheat straw, no food or water inside.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Thanks so much! They both did alright last night, and it went down to 18. I’ll try the straw- I had read that it can become a frozen mess, but for the coldest nights, I’ll give it a go.

As long as you don't have water in the coop, the straw is actually easy to clean out. I do what Jenbirdee does and have shavings then straw on top. Every morning or afternoon (since my muscovies won't come out first thing on a super cold morning), I rake the frozen poos out into the run stir it into the straw in the run. I rake that to keep it fluffy - especially when it snows. If you rake it and stir it a bit, the snow "shakes" off and they still will have a layer to bed down in. If it does become muddy (when temps fluctuate or warm up), I will then clean up the real wet straw and put that out over my garden bed. The straw near the waterers will freeze, but again raking it really keeps the issues from being anything to be concerned about.
I don't use straw all year long though due to rain and it will start to stink.