most of our fowl are 100%free range,i caught the chickens and am getting ready to slaughter the ones we will need and teach the ones we will keep to go in the hen house. what about ducks and geese? can they remain outside in the snow,w/ a 3 sided shed? do their feet freeze? i am working on getting chores done before the snow comes,should i add a better shelter to the list? we have really bad winter winds here.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), August 23, 2000

Answers

Holden Caufeild, (Catcher In The Rye) ask the same question. My ducks and geese winter through fine when I lived in NY without structural shelter, they got plenty of cracked corn and water, I would break the ice for them in the pond. the put their heads under their wings, etc.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), August 23, 2000.

Hi Renee,

We've had some ducks for years. They stick around 'cause they know where the food is. A 3-sided shed sounds fine if the opening is facing East. Most storm systems come from a westerly direction. Make sure there's some dry straw for their feet and they'll do just fine. When the wind really howls, I stack up extra bales of straw to act as a wind break.

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (CMiller@ssd.com), August 23, 2000.

When we were living in the coldest spot in Alaska, I asked and extension agent about my geese, and he said that they are VERY hardy - - will survive one hundred degrees below zero. So as long as they have water and food available, they should be fine. Watch them, though. One of ours sat in the water (a shallow black rubber pan)and froze in -- we had to take it in the house to thaw out, and it wasn't very appreciative of that! The geese and ducks also fling their heads around when they drink, and the inside of the poultry house looked like an ice palace by spring.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 23, 2000.

Renee, I live in upstate NY with pampered ducks. In winter, temperatures fall below zero, and we get snow and wind.

The ducks spend every night in their fully enclosed small barn, and sometimes days too, depending on the severity of the weather. Most, but not all, windows get covered with plastic as they do need ventilation to prevent a buildup of humidity, and to get fresh air. (I have an 8 year old duck that appreciates a heat lamp.)

I use straw as bedding and let it get deep over the winter for better insulation. They may be sissies, but they're happy! bluetick

-- bluetick (coonhound@mindspring.com), August 23, 2000.

HI, WE HAVE DUCKS WHERE WE LIVE.THEY LIKE TO GO OUTSIDE IN THE WINTER. I ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THEM BUT THEY WERE HAPPY AND CONTENT. WE PROVIDED THEM WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND FEED.

-- MRS PRISCILLA WILLIAMS (GP83196@AOL.COM), August 28, 2000.