How to keep ducks in winter
Updated on 10.03.2015 By admin
The best accommodation for ducks in winter is dry and insulated barns or barns. Despite the fact that ducks are waterfowl, they tolerate dampness, and even more dirt. In damp and dirty rooms, ducks get dirty and ruffle their plumage. Because of this, the plumage does not retain heat well, and birds can get sick.
An important issue when breeding ducks during the cold season is choosing the right litter. Ducks feel comfortable on thick bedding.
Rice. 1 Ducks on a thick bed
Why? The decomposition of organic matter takes place in it, while a large amount of heat is released, and the ducks are not cold on it. Ducks also love to swim, so by adding bedding to them, the poultry farmer can keep it dry. Moisture will accumulate at the bottom and the top of the litter will remain dry. It is possible to keep birds using mesh or slatted floors, but in countries with cold winters, ducks will be chilly in such rooms.
The following can be used as bedding material: - hay; - sawdust; - peat; - straw.
Peat can be sprinkled on any bedding, as it perfectly absorbs moisture and also neutralizes unpleasant odors. The advantage of hay as bedding is that the ducks peck out tasty leaves from it. Sawdust, not the most ideal bedding option, as they overheat, while releasing gas. And in the room from this, the ducks will practically have nothing to breathe.
During the year, a farmer spends about 16 kg of hay or straw on bedding. Peat or sawdust is consumed less, approximately 11-14kg. When choosing and storing material for bedding, it should be borne in mind that ducks also walk in winter. Therefore, after a walk, their paws should be warm so that they do not freeze.
Lighting of the room is also of great importance for birds. Ducks, like all birds, have very poor eyesight in low light. Because of this, they will not eat. All this will negatively affect the weight and productivity of the duck. Considering this factor, the house should provide its ducks with additional lighting during the cold season, as it gets dark earlier in the winter. The house should be lit for 12-14 hours.
Since ducks are a waterfowl, and they do not mind swimming even in freezing weather. Therefore, if there is any body of water nearby, you can make an ice hole in it, in which the ducks can swim. But when making an ice-hole, its edges should be protected to a depth of approximately 1 meter. This must be done so that the ducks, when diving, could not get stuck under the ice. The edge of the hole must be covered with straw. You can release ducks to swim in frost in calm calm weather without wind, at air temperatures up to -20 degrees. If there is no reservoir nearby where you can make an ice-hole, it is necessary to put up containers with water in the yard, where ducks can wash their feathers.
Rice. 2 Winter swimming ducks
In countries where the climate is warm in winter, ducks can be fed while walking. And in countries with cold climates, ducks need to be fed in a duckhouse. And then let the ducks go for a walk for 2-3 hours. Drinking water for ducks should be placed in such a way that the bird does not have the opportunity to climb into the drinker, or spill water. For drinkers, feeders, any containers are used. It is important that feeders and drinkers should be located so that all ducks have access to them. They must be kept clean. Any leftover food that has not been eaten should be thrown away.
Despite the fact that ducks can live at low temperatures, in a duck house the temperature should be above freezing.