Duck Question, please help

[julie75]

My ducks will not go into their house at night if I do not leave a light on for them. Is this normal? I will be the first to admit that I have very spoiled ducks. (1 crested buff, & 3 tri-colored anconas) I got them on Feb. 4 and they were about a week old. I kept them inside for about a week, then they went outside into a brooder. After a few weeks we moved them to their "big house", and I also kept a heat lamp going for a little while in there because it was still so cold out. Once we got them trained using the ramp in and out, I thought they were good to go. I took away their light. The did not go in their house. I cut light back on, in they went. I have tried cutting the light off after they go in at night, but they start fussing at me and will leave the house until I cut it back on. I ask them what's the difference because it's dark outside too but they just fuss at me until I cut their night lite back on. They are worse than 2 year olds, lol. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[The Duck ABC's]

Mine hate the dark too. I keep a baby night light in the duck house and they seem to be comfortable with it. They had a racket when the bulb burned out. I still have the old fashioned kind, but will switch to an LED night light if this one dies.

 

[HamandLily]

I agre that ducks do not like being shut in in complete darkness - instead of having a full light on, could you perhaps get a kind of night light to have on so they can still have a good night's sleep?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Do you turn a light on when you enter a dark room at night?? A dark house could seem a very dangerous place for a duck- especially if it is a small space inside. I always put my adults to bed for the night while there is still light outside- and because of the large windows- the light gradually fades and there is no fuss. With the babies- they do make a fuss for a while for the first few nights they no longer have the lamp for heat- but they soon settle down and get used the routine. If I enter the room - turning the light on- then off again as I leave- they will fuss again- but it never lasts long. They too get used to the fading light at night - and get accustomed to the light coming back on when I top up there food and water before I go to bed. Try to make going to bed a positive thing- feed them in the house for a while to help train them to learn it is a good place and they are more likely to want to go in.

 

[julie75]

The bulb that I have for them outside is a very low light, 13 watts. It's not much brighter than dusk or dawn outside. I let my ducks go in when they are ready to, and usually that is before sunset. There are 2 large windows in their house as well, and I understand what you are saying about the natural fading light even when they are inside. But it doesn't matter to them. When it gets dark, out they go. We do have outside lights up at our house which does reflect out to where they are, and if the moon is bright then you can see pretty good outside. I guess that is why they go back out. I keep food and water in the house for them at all times, whose to say when they might want a snack? lol. But they also know when they go in at night that I will be there with their treats. We go out every night and feed them treats and "socialize" with them. They have gotten so use to this habit, that if we are late getting out there, you can hear them honking (that's what it sounds like) all the way at the house. When they hear me coming the settle down and line up-waiting. We have tried cutting the light out when we left them at night, but 30 mins later they are still fussing. As a mom I can't leave them like that. It's like letting one of my babies cry theirselves to sleep and I just can't do it.

 

[FarmrGirl]

I keep a little 7watt night light on for my ducks too. It was so much easier to train them to go inside when I put a light in the house that I find it to be the easiest technique. Since they don't sleep through the night I imagine that it makes it easier for them to eat and drink and play at night.

Makes it easier for me to do a headcount after I lock them up too.

 

[Anya_K]

Right now I just cover up their cage at night to protect them from the weather. They seem to go right into their little temporary home until I get their pen built this weekend. They go right to sleep. Then first thing in the morning I uncover them and let them out.