Ducks outside?

[wefarm2466]

Ducks are out in their new pen for the first time. 12 5 week old indian runners with partial feathers. I have a couple of questions: 1. it is 82 degrees high today. The ducks were panting for a minute after the feed scramble. They have been in cool basement. Will they be ok? 2. They have a house and a portion of the run has a roof. Do I need to worry about rain tonight? They don't seem to like the house much yet. 3. Pen is 12 gauge, with chicken wire around the bottom covered with 2x4 welded. Inside a bigger pen of 2x4 welded. Inside an electric fence on the pasture. Didn't pour the footer around pen yet. Will they be safe? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Amiga]

Some fence terms are different, in different parts of the country, so I am not sure of everything you describe.

Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks recommends that if it's going to be above 70F, there needs to be shade and plenty of fresh water. Do they have water and food overnight? Five weeks is too young to go without food and water overnight.

I use half inch metal hardware cloth (wire mesh) over all openings for night-time. These days I have converted the basement pen to year-round night-time, and that has resolved alot for me.

But the outdoor pen had two strands of equine electric tape around it, and the hardware cloth, and top, bottom and sides.

 

[duck boy mo]

At that age i would give them water over night. Ducks can't sweat so they pant like dogs to cool down. As long as they're in shade they're fine. And for your pen. If its completely enclosed over top it should be fine. I always heard if a 3 year old can get into a coop then a raccoon can. Also they're ducks.. Only if its gonna storm hard tonight would i worry about rain

 

[wefarm2466]

Thanks folks. First night went fine although I admit I didn't sleep at all. The pen does have hardware cloth so totally locked down. Two sources of water which they were happy to play in. We feed three times a day and remove food at night based on Storey's. The ducks didn't seem to mind since we left a light on - they were finishing off a moth bigger than them when we arrived to feed. That will be my next goal - to be able to remove the light at night. Hoping for no storms until they get more settled. Although they seem to like the extra room.