$103!!!

[PetDuck]

I just had my dad go to the lumber yard yesterday.
He payed for the ply wood top.
The wood to build the frame.
And the metal mesh all to make a pin for my ducky!
It all costed $103!!!
He payed for it all but forgot to pick up the metal mesh.

He is going to go get it today.
So he can build it.
I can't wait!!!
How should I introduce my duckling to it?
Like how many days should I wait before I can put him outside in his pin at night?
We have an avrage sized fenced in yard so he will spend most of his time when he's outside free ranging.
Then go to his pin when night falls.

 

[PetDuck]

Anyone?

 

[SJUDD]

I just put mine in their pen during the day and made sure they had somewhere warm and safe to curl up at night and they did fine. I have 4 though, so I am not sure about just one. For their "bed" I just used a plastic cat carrier and took the door off, lined it with DME and pine shavings and made sure their heat lamp shined into the opening. They were happy out there.

 

[PetDuck]

Mine is almost 6 weeks so I don't think he needs his lamp anymore.
And it only gets down to the upper 70's at night where I live.
And the temp in the day is in the upper 90's.
So I have picked a spot for his pin under a shady tree that has all day shade and is very cool.
It is also right outside my bed room window so I can spy on him!

 

[SJUDD]

I have mine outside my bedroom window as well. That first night, any sound at all and I was out of bed and looking out the window. My husband thought it was hilarious.

 

[PetesMom]

Just put him in it....

 

[jdywntr]

If they have been inside and had a light on at night I would get a timer and wean them off of the light. Deaths can happen at night due to stampeding in the dark. I had a similar thing happen with chickens. I put them outside without a light got home well after dark and they had panicked because of something. One died because it got its head caught in chicken wire, the others were scattered about the run. One almost died because it landed in the water bucket.
I always wean mine off of light just over a few days. I leave it on and set the timer to turn it off for 30 minutes at a time every few hours. That way they get used to complete dark. I increase the time the light is off and after 3 or 4 days I turn it off.

 

[PetDuck]

I am using metal mesh so getting his head stuck won't be a problem.
And I only have one duckling so I don't think getting trampeled will be a problem!
And we have a street light right outside the house.
So it won't be dark at all.

 

[theoldchick]

A large plastic dog carrier with a wire door (with added mesh so critters can't reach through) inside the pen will give your single duck secure place for the night. Also, if the weather turns bad, you can simply transfer the carrier into a safer location in your house. Make sure your pen is covered, and secure enough to not be tipped over or ripped open by curious dog. Be aware that varmits will dig under the pen to get to your duck.

 

[PetDuck]

Got it!
Thanks for the tips!
Got any more?