Overwintering Your Muscovy Flock

Ducks are a bit more hardy than chickens when it comes to the cold–their tightly packed down and waterproof feathers help protect them from the chill. But muscovies, which are originally a tropical and subtropical bird, will need some protection during the coldest times compared to mallard derivatives which are happy to be frolicking in the snow. Here are the steps I take to ensure that they make it through our winter months comfortably. 

 Shelter
Their regular coop, bedded with straw and wood shavings, is enough as long as there is no damp inside of it. While it won’t mold because the temperatures are too low, dampness that is allowed to penetrate the duck’s top feathers will take away their ability to maintain warmth. Therefore, some ventilation is needed, especially since ducks produce a lot more humidity than chickens do.

Muscovies can get frostbite, especially on their caruncles, which is why shelter is more important for them versus mallard type ducks who would often prefer to sleep outdoors.

After having processed two of my flock due to frostbite on their feet this year, make sure that their access to water does not allow them to bathe–this was a costly mistake as those two never fully dried off before we got hit with negative temperatures. They may look a little dirtier, but it’s better than getting frostbite.

Heat
A question that is often asked is whether or not we should provide supplemental heat, and my answer is usually no, for safety reasons.

More than one coop has been burned down due to heaters/heat lamps. Keeping it dry and well ventilated is better for them and less likely to cause fires. Heated air also holds more moisture, and if the power cuts out and the temperature plunges, the water in the air will condensate on and chill the birds, killing them or causing frostbite.

It’s much better to insulate their coop, give them deep bedding, and enclosed nesting areas if you live in an area where you worry about how they will fare in low temperatures.

Bedding
I use straw and wood shavings, and during the winter, with no risk of mold, I use the deep litter method which is to just keep adding new straw on top every so often. Once spring has arrived, we do one large overhaul of everything inside (a bonus as now it is a mix of fertile compost from duck manure and straw which helps maintain moisture.) I will begin doing the deep litter method after a full change of bedding before the first night of freezing temperatures.

This accomplishes a few things. One, I don’t want to be shoveling and changing bedding in snow. That’s just not a terribly pleasant experience, especially if everything has frozen. The other reason is that the slowly decomposing bedding material will provide some heat in the coop.

Don’t worry, it surprisingly doesn’t smell.

Food
I add corn to their regular feed (no more than 10%) to give them a boost of calories so that they can keep warm, since generating heat requires more energy. Since they won’t have as much to forage in the winter, this helps make up for the lack of creepy crawlies and vegetation. I like to build them up so they’re a little chunkier during the fall, so I give them a feeding during the morning as well. You can give them corn right before bed too in order to keep them burning the furnace overnight.

Water
The biggest issue for a lot of poultry keepers is keeping their water from freezing. For muscovies, you still will need to haul water every day as opposed to chickens who don’t drink as much water. It’s slightly more problematic because you’ll have to do it from inside, if you don’t have a spigot coming directly out of the side of your home since your hose may break and your pipes may freeze or burst.

To prevent water from freezing overnight, you have a few options.

• Water heater–many stores sell electric poultry water heaters. Some have it hooked up to a solar panel so it doesn’t use as much electricity.
• Ping Pong balls–one trick is to drop a few ping pong balls which move at the slightest breeze–the movement of the water prevents freezing except in the lowest of temperatures.
• Salt water–placing a closed bottle of salt water within the bucket can help prevent ice formation since saline water has a lower freezing point than fresh.