Duck House

[jeremiah1980]

My 6 ducks are around 7-8 weeks old and moved them to their outside pen yesterday. I have a concern and that is, the ducks did not go into their house at all yesterday or last night. It got fairly cool last night 35 degrees and I had a heat lamp inside the house with a lower wattage 60W. When I went to check on them this morning before light they were huddled by the pen door but seemed content and not cold. Is there something I need to do to show them it is okay to go into their new house or will they eventually figure it out.

 

[Debs Flock]

My 6 ducks are around 7-8 weeks old and moved them to their outside pen yesterday. I have a concern and that is, the ducks did not go into their house at all yesterday or last night. It got fairly cool last night 35 degrees and I had a heat lamp inside the house with a lower wattage 60W. When I went to check on them this morning before light they were huddled by the pen door but seemed content and not cold. Is there something I need to do to show them it is okay to go into their new house or will they eventually figure it out.

Welcome to BYC!

At that age, they aren't fully feathered so they aren't able to do a good job yet of regulating their body temperature. They need to be shut inside a coop if you want to protect them from the many nocturnal predators. Of course, the coop needs to be secure enough that predators aren't able to break in.

Ducks are notorious for being very wary of anything new, something moved to a different spot, etc. The good news is that they're suckers for treats. I suggest giving them some frozen peas (thawed) near the doorway of their house and then toss some inside. (They should scurry into the house to get those peas.) You may have to do this more than once to get them used to the house.

When you give food other than their normal duck diet, they need access to grit.

Good luck & congrats on your ducklings!

 

[jeremiah1980]

The pen I have them in is 10'W x 12'L x 6'H and is fully enclosed and enclosed on the top. I will try the peas today when I get home from work, if they have not figured it out yet. Thanks