Help Managing Indoor Ducks

[luckyduck956]

For those of you that have indoor ducks, or ducks that go both in and out of your house, how do you manage your ducks and other things?

I’m finding it hard to get things done around my house because I’m so concerned about watching my ducklings (2-3 weeks old) I don’t want my floors to become stained, or have my house smell like a poop, so I try to clean their poop right away. Of course that means being with them at all times. I also don’t like leaving them unattended since they will try to eat everything. I basically have them out of their pen from roughly 8am to 8pm. It’s causing issues with my bf who wants to get things done around the house, but also has to help keep up with the ducks.

I feel bad leaving them in a pen for an extended period of time since they’re animals and need room. I’m worried about how I’m going to handle this in the long run. Ever since I’ve gotten my ducklings I haven’t done much of anything else but sit in my living room or in the area, with them. As a possible solution I have laid out puppy pads in the living room, but of course, they don’t always go on them. My bf and I have a lot of things we need to get done upstairs, but again either someone has to be with the ducks downstairs or I lock them in a pen. Same thing if I want to work outside or my garage.

I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining, but instead asking for some ideas or solutions.

Do you all have them out all day?
Do are they in a pen or blocked off area?
How often are they roaming around?

I don’t want to have to give them away or cause issues with my bf.. so I’m trying to find solutions.

 

[CoriM]

Ducks are outdoor animals. They belong in the house IN their brooder when they're little babies. They have no need to wander around your house - you're going to ruin your house and go crazy!! I had a big plastic swimming pool in an area that happened to work in my kitchen. 6 ducklings lived in there and were happy for two months. They were pretty much full grown at that time and I was having them spend days outside in my yard in an enclosed pen, but we were waiting for my husband to finish building their run and coop. I did give them time to swim supervised in the bathtub when they were very small like yours, but they do well contained in a small space at 2-3 weeks.

 

[Isaac 0]

Ducks are outdoor animals. They belong in the house IN their brooder when they're little babies. They have no need to wander around your house - you're going to ruin your house and go crazy!! I had a big plastic swimming pool in an area that happened to work in my kitchen. 6 ducklings lived in there and were happy for two months. They were pretty much full grown at that time and I was having them spend days outside in my yard in an enclosed pen, but we were waiting for my husband to finish building their run and coop. I did give them time to swim supervised in the bathtub when they were very small like yours, but they do well contained in a small space at 2-3 weeks.

 

[luckyduck956]

Ducks are outdoor animals. They belong in the house IN their brooder when they're little babies. They have no need to wander around your house - you're going to ruin your house and go crazy!! I had a big plastic swimming pool in an area that happened to work in my kitchen. 6 ducklings lived in there and were happy for two months. They were pretty much full grown at that time and I was having them spend days outside in my yard in an enclosed pen, but we were waiting for my husband to finish building their run and coop. I did give them time to swim supervised in the bathtub when they were very small like yours, but they do well contained in a small space at 2-3 weeks.

You’re right. I think I need to consider transitioning them to be outside. How does someone do that? I’m not 100% sure how old they are, but I’d put them at 2-3 weeks. At what age can they be outside full time? How does one even transition a duck to be outside?

 

[Isaac 0]

You’re right. I think I need to consider transitioning them to be outside. How does someone do that? I’m not 100% sure how old they are, but I’d put them at 2-3 weeks. At what age can they be outside full time? How does one even transition a duck to be outside?

Depends on your temps, I usually wait till they have there adult feathers, so they can better repel water and regulate there body heat better. Best way to acclimate them to the temps, Is to bring them out every so often, just for little trips outside so they can get used to the temps. They will tell you if they are cold , Shivering, Huddling together, Puffed up feathers or decreased movement would all mean they are probably cold and should be brought in to warmer temperatures. If you post a picture of your ducklings we can give you a rough estimate on how old they probably are.

 

[luckyduck956]

Depends on your temps, I usually wait till they have there adult feathers, so they can better repel water and regulate there body heat better. Best way to acclimate them to the temps, Is to bring them out every so often, just for little trips outside so they can get used to the temps. They will tell you if they are cold , Shivering, Huddling together, Puffed up feathers or decreased movement would all mean they are probably cold and should be brought in to warmer temperatures. If you post a picture of your ducklings we can give you a rough estimate on how old they probably are.

I’ll start my research on this, and most likely will create a new post for additional help.
(Excuse the puppy pads)

 

[Isaac 0]

Three Weeks-ish.

 

[Miss Lydia]

When my Runner ducks weren’t out on field trips they were in their brooder. It’s like having a toddler you can’t let them have the run of the house so you have a play pen. Same with ducklings