First night outside! Do ducks need light? Suggestions to get them to go in their house?

[Shayrae4]

It’s my ducks first night outside! They’re 7 weeks old. Do they need a light out there?

And suggestions to get them to go in their house?

I’ve been out there a couple times tonight to try and lure them in there with treats, but they can’t seem to see them so they’re not even picking at the ground. When I shine a flashlight in their house, all the treats I’ve put in there are still there. While I have my flashlight on, they’ll go in there and eat the treats but then as soon as I leave, they leave the house too. Wondering if they need a light on?

I assume it’ll take some training, but will they eventually stay in there?

(I’m not closing the house up at night. The house is inside a predator proof enclosure)

 

[Tonyroo]

It takes time and repetitive task to make them understand that they should sleep there. I had my chicks at 3 weeks in the coop in there own pen but after about 7 weeks I took down there barrier and let them roam inside. They understood during that process that it was there home. Now they go in before dusk and I free range them in my yard. I can't say this comment is helpful to you but like with most animals and birds they just need repetitive reinforcement.
BTW having a light in there house does help them navigate and also feel safe. A light with a timer will be handy.

 

[Shayrae4]

It takes time and repetitive task to make them understand that they should sleep there. I had my chicks at 3 weeks in the coop in there own pen but after about 7 weeks I took down there barrier and let them roam inside. They understood during that process that it was there home. Now they go in before dusk and I free range them in my yard. I can't say this comment is helpful to you but like with most animals and birds they just need repetitive reinforcement.
BTW having a light in there house does help them navigate and also feel safe. A light with a timer will be handy.

Yeah that’s smart. The house I bought is a dog house and doesn’t have a door, but maybe I’ll have to get a board or something to lock them in there for the first couple weeks until they get it.
I did leave the porch light on but they’re a good 20 yards away and it’s not providing a ton of light, especially in the house.

 

[Tonyroo]

Another idea is to use a battery powered led warm lantern, just use rechargeable batteries in it. Then you wouldn't need to haul out a cord and get a fixture.

 

[KaleIAm]

Personally I wouldn't use a light, even though it will likely help with your issue. Artificial light can cause increased egg laying in birds, and lead to reproductive issues and shorter lives. My avian veterinarian has informed me of this.

What I would do is put your ducks to bed before it gets dark enough that their vision is reduced. Get a routine going that they can follow, since birds seem to like predictably. I would either walk into their coop, hand feed them mealworms, then turn around and leave before they can follow you, then close the door. Or throw the bugs in and stand in the doorway letting the light in for a couple minutes so they can eat them, then close the door. It might not be long until right before dusk they will be shouting at you to hurry up and put them to bed. Mine do. And if during the day I say to them, "go to bed, ducklings." They do. Lol.

 

[Everose]

Ducks are pretty smart. I found that mine would wait (In the dark) for me to come herd them into their predator proof pen and then if it was cold they would sleep inside of the house in the pen but if it was warm they would sleep outside the house.

They are fully feathered, which means that they will be fine temperature wise, if their pen is predator proof I don't see any reason why they would have to be in the house at night, unless it's cold.

Do you have any specific reasons for needing them to sleep in the dog house?

 

[Shayrae4]

Ducks are pretty smart. I found that mine would wait (In the dark) for me to come herd them into their predator proof pen and then if it was cold they would sleep inside of the house in the pen but if it was warm they would sleep outside the house.

They are fully feathered, which means that they will be fine temperature wise, if their pen is predator proof I don't see any reason why they would have to be in the house at night, unless it's cold.

Do you have any specific reasons for needing them to sleep in the dog house?

Haha no. Just that I bought it and want them to use it!

 

[KaleIAm]

Oh, I didn't realize it was a dog house without a door. Oops. In that case, they are probably just going to go right back outside.

My ducks have a predator proof aviary, but I lock them inside a barn at night anyway because they are precious to me and I don't want to tempt night time predators to traumatize/harrass/prove my predator proofing incorrect. But a lot of people have mentioned that their ducks prefer to sleep on the ground outside.

 

[citymeetscountry]

Ours aren’t old enough to really go out yet (4 weeks) but we’ve been having outside supervised time and with only 1 prior into to their house they actually went in it in their own today after a dip in their pool to warm up.

I think just practice herding/exposure will help

 

[Everose]

They will use it when they feel like it