Duck housing needs and when can they go out in the cold???

[countrygirl74]

Hello!
I have 4 ducklings that are about 4 weeks old (one of them is 5 weeks). Two are Pekins and two are Rouens. I already have a run built with a wall that separates the chickens from the ducks. We built a chicken house for the chicks but now I am wondering what to do for the ducks. Does their house need to be as elaborate as the chickens (roosts, nesting boxes, ramp, etc.) or can they live happily with a "dog" house? I've heard some people just use the plastic X-large dog houses and others who go all out and make them almost like the chicken house. I'm looking for the simplest way to create a shelter for them. The house will be inside a safe run.

Also, how old do they need to be to stay out at night? They have been off heat lamps for a couple weeks and I have been putting them outdoors in the run from about 9a.m. to 5:30p.m. every day. They love it! The temperatures have been 65-68 during the day but it drops to 30 at night so I bring them back inside overnight. About at what age can they safely spend the night outside with no heat supplement as I will not be running heat lamps to the run/house?

Any advice and comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[Kevin565]

I would wait until around 6-8 weeks for completely no heat supplement at night if it's getting that chilly. All of my ducklings are outside full time by the fourth week. They won't need a roost,nesting box,or ramp but I would advise a bit more elaborate than a dog house. Especially in cooler temps and bad weather.