ducklings growing so fast-space ideas help needed please?

[5fathens]

Hi our ducklings are just growing so fast it's amazing, they are just so funny

They have an outdoor run for the daytime but at night I still bring them in as the youngest is only just 2 weeks old.

The problem is that with their fast growth they are running out of room in their bedtime box and I wondered if it would be ok to give them more space by leaving out their food and water overnight??if not at what age is it ok to do so?

many thanks

 

[Amiga]

At two weeks I don't think so. Can you rearrange things a bit? It is only temporary.

 

[Going Quackers]

At two weeks I don't think so. Can you rearrange things a bit? It is only temporary.

I would agree, @ 2wks they are needing the nutrients and that long(overnight) is too long to be lacking in the availability.

 

[92rslt1]

I moved mine into a dog kennel around this time.

 

[anniele27]

We use a dog run pen (just wire panels no top or bottom can be made nearly any shape) with a tarp or towel covered with bedding for ours! we have cardboard surrounding the open sides for draft control!

 

[5fathens]

thank you for your help

unfortunately we just don't have the space for anything too much bigger indoors I can't get over how fast they grow both in character and size!

I have a kennel type run outside for them during the day but still bring them into our loo at night..... at what age will they be okay in the chicken coop overnight do you think? it has an indoor bit where the hens roost with an area the ducks could sleep....

what age would you feel is okay for them to be without food and water over night? they are all over 3 weeks now in fact the youngest is nearer to 4 weeks old.....

many thanks again

 

[willowbirdks]

thank you for your help

unfortunately we just don't have the space for anything too much bigger indoors I can't get over how fast they grow both in character and size!

I have a kennel type run outside for them during the day but still bring them into our loo at night..... at what age will they be okay in the chicken coop overnight do you think? it has an indoor bit where the hens roost with an area the ducks could sleep....

what age would you feel is okay for them to be without food and water over night? they are all over 3 weeks now in fact the youngest is nearer to 4 weeks old.....

many thanks again

I'm wondering the same thing as far as when it would be OK to go overnight without food and water... For us it's not a space issue so much as wanting to get permanent quarters established and keeping the night house dry. But I don't want to do so at the expense of the ducks' health. So I hope you'll get some good ideas here about when they can be overnight without food and water access.

BTW, we moved ours into the predator proof night house with a heat lamp at two weeks. Any way you could get the coop warm with a lamp and move them out? (Assuming it is predator proof, and you have the ability to keep it warm enough, etc.)

 

[Amiga]

I would not reduce food and water availability before 8 weeks, and then only overnight.
Have you seen
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[willowbirdks]

I would not reduce food and water availability before 8 weeks, and then only overnight.
Have you seen
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

Just checked that thread before replying here, and it seems to say there are varying opinions... As I'm finding with most things! I would say two weeks seems young to me, but I have seen that in a few different books. Just wondering what people here have done, and you usually see it work out OK at 8 weeks to take away food overnight? I know my question is a different motivation than the original, because we are just at the point where we don't want the whole night house to get soaked constantly and our daytime run is now complete. Ducks are only 5 weeks so I'm a little leery of moving the food out just yet... Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

I waited till 8 weeks, and it was because I did not have the water management really nailed. I had made progress, but there was still quite a mess overnight.

I have seen these ideas and should I ever brood a big bunch of ducklings (we had eleven, which is not the biggest bunch I have heard of) again, I will go with a watering station like I have now for the adults. Works great.





These are also good ideas

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641902/created-a-water-saver-for-my-duck-brooder

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/679433/water-water-everywhere/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/858161/feed-water-solution-for-brooder#post_12901321

http://frankiemakes.blogspot.ca/2012/06/watering-solution-for-ducks.html