muscovy and temps

[sassy]

I rescued a muscovy duck a few weeks ago. I didn't realize until I read one of Evy's responses that the caruncles were sensitive to the freezing temps. Since this duck was rescued, I have opened the pen that it stays in at night during the day to try and see if it would socialize with my other ducks and it really hasn't. I have two sebastapol geese, and some mallards and cayuga's. I thought that by having them spend some time together they would be able to eventually be put together at night and hence....keep him warmer. For now, he is in a seperate coop. I bought a ceramic heater that can be adjusted to specific temperatures and ok to be outside. I didn't want to throw him into a molt or anything, just wanted something to take the chill off when it got below breezing and into single digits. Has anyone done this or know of anything better for what I think I need? Thanks in advance for any help.

[CindyS]

If you supply them with some shelter out of the wind they can handle freezing temps like any other duck. I have a trio of muscovys, and they dont socialize with the other free range ducks (campbells, mallards, anconas)but at night I chase them in the coop together.

[goosedragon]

I used to raise white production Muscovies in the same climate as Evy's. We would confine them to the duckhouse at night but give them free choice in the day time. These were production(not show or even Standard breeds) and did not have the huge caruncles being hens. We never noticed any frostbite on the caruncles (we might have had some but we never noticed it if we did)
We did lose a few toe tips the first year since they were in an old chicken house with round roost bars. Yes muscovies will roost if given the place. We took out all the roost bars and replaced some with 2x4s laid flat so the 4"side was up. that way when it was cold and they hunched down to protect their legs their toes were protected too,rather than being wrapped all the way down to the bottom of those round roost bars. There were always a few that were smart enough to take to the laying nests on very cold nights and the others would make nests out of the dry litter. Other people might talk about 'three dog nights,' we would say "the muscovies are off the roost its so cold tonight." ~gd

[Evy]

GD's right & your temps. aren't as cold as ours. I wouldn't worry about it. Shelter & a dry place to sit is all they need. Ducks pull their feet right up into the feathers. The only time I've seen them freeze is when someone had them up on wire. I can't seem to make ''duckidi' understand that she's doing hers more harm than good. If they're shivering, it's because she's been heating them & they've molted when they shouldn't. If she's cold she needs a down jacket.