How can ducks survive in winter

But this past year, many waterfowl that attempted to overwinter on the Great Lakes found themselves locked out of essentially all foraging areas by late February due to the unrelenting winter, resulting in the loss of many birds to starvation. This is not the first time waterfowl populations have experienced extremely cold winters, and it certainly will not be the last. It is striking how similar the observations from are to those recorded during previous severe winters, including those of , , , , and , to name a few.

Although these events seldom have significant impacts on overall waterfowl populations, exceptions do exist, such as the winter of , when more than 60 percent of the Atlantic brant population was thought to have perished while bays and estuaries along the East Coast were locked in ice.

Fortunately, as long as waterfowl have sufficient habitat in traditional wintering areas across North America, the risks posed to the birds by any single winter weather event are small. Indeed, this reality highlights the importance of robust conservation efforts on the wintering grounds, which help ensure that waterfowl survive the winter and return north the following spring in good breeding condition.

Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, Dr. Ducks Unlimited project combatting Mississippi River flooding, protecting citizens and wetlands alike. Conservation : Waterfowl Research. It differs from how mammals keep their body temperature about the same throughout the body. In ducks, veins that take blood from the extremities back to the heart, surround the arteries that take blood from the heart and pump it away to the extremities. As the warm blood comes from the heart, it goes through the body and to the extremities, particularly the legs, and encounters veins.

Unlike chickens who are generally comfortable at temperatures 45 degrees and above, ducks are just fine down to temperatures around 20 degrees F. Below that however, they can suffer frostbite on their feet which could lead to amputation or lost limbs. However, there are a couple of things you can do for your ducks to help prevent the frostbite and make them comfortable in the freezing cold. Ours really seem to enjoy sitting in the snow, but you might notice that they pull their feet up off the ground and tuck them into their feathers and against their bodies for warmth.

Simply take some boiling water to your duck coop a couple of times a day and add it to any frozen water to help thaw it out. Be careful if you choose to use this method so as to not burn yourself or your ducks. Most people who keep ducks allow them to free-range so they can forage for their own food. This becomes a problem in the winter when the grass is frozen the bugs are gone. This means the ducks will need to have their food supplied by their owner.

Duck feed should always be available for your ducks and it often helps to supplement their feed with calcium in the winter to promote healthy feather growth. Giving your ducks a carbohydrate-heavy snack, such as cracked corn, before you lock them in their coop for the night can also help to keep them warm as their bodies burn energy digesting it.

That makes treats a great way to help your ducks through the winter. Ducks need extra protein and calcium in the winter and a few carbohydrates can help them stay warm at night. Calcium supplements are sold at most farm and pet stores but you can also give your ducks calcium by feeding them crumbled eggshells.

Normally ducks get all the protein they need from their feed and bugs they find in your garden. But bugs can be hard to find once it gets cold outside and the ducks need more protein than usual in the winter because it gives them the energy to stay warm. Luckily for the ducks, you can buy bugs at the store. Most pet stores sell live crickets and sometimes mealworms which are packed full of protein. Your duck may also enjoy some plain yogurt or eggs for that extra protein boost.

As mentioned before, a small treat of carbohydrate-rich foods before putting your ducks in for the night can help keep them warm through the night. A few duck friendly carbs are oats, potatoes, crackers, and pasta. Just as there is good food for ducks there is also bad food. Bread, spinach, onions, avocados, and many other foods can cause severe issues with ducks digestive systems.

Even if the water is frozen in some places, the duck will still be able to swim without any issues. An interesting fact about ducks is that they have a highly specialized circulatory system in their feet.

The arteries carrying blood to their feet are very close to the veins that carry the blood back to their heart. Because of this, ducks can happily swim in cold water. Ducks lay eggs year-round and mostly do so at night.

These eggs should be collected when you let your ducks out in the morning. If you wait the eggs might freeze and crack their own shells. It is possible to salvage frozen eggs though. To thaw the frozen eggs simply place them in a bowl in the refrigerator and wait overnight. The eggs may have a grainy texture to them after freezing and thawing.