Inside or out at night??

[cibellamy]

We just got 4 Pekin ducks and we love them, but we have a questions. They are put up all the time right now cause they are only 4 weeks old. Then they get older they will be moved outside to a big pond that we have. We have heard a lot of things that say you need to put them up at night so nothing can get to them, but the lady at the store that we got them from said that they would just go in the water and would be fine. So just wanted to know if we needed to build a pin with there house or not. Please let us know what you think. Thanks a lot!!

 

[Frank Phinster]

I would coop them up for the night.

Ducks do not stay on the water the whole night, they can actually get very active and go foraging on land where they are exposed to predators. You also have to think of winter when the pond freezes. Then predators can easily gain access to the birds.

At the age of four weeks you could already allow your ducks to get outside, they would benefit from fresh air and some more natural environment.

 

[Carcajou]

Owls will also pluck them off a pond at night. Not locking your ducks up at night is definitely inviting trouble.

 

[Going Quackers]

Without question. In. Leaving them out is Russian and roulette with their lives, these are domestic ducks not wild ones with differing abilities and instincts.

 

[cibellamy]

Thanks everyone that has helped a lot. Oh and as far as the pond freezing over in the winter, not a problem we live in South Carolina. So that would not be a problem at all. I know that they would not swim all night. I just wanted to know what would be good for them. They do get let out a lot. I was just saying that they are in a pin when we can not be out side with them. Thanks again.

 

[jonhpdx]

Without question. In. Leaving them out is rush and roulette with their lives, these are domestic ducks not wild ones with differing abilities and instincts.

I think you meant Russian roulette

I agree with you though, leaving ducks out on open water at night isn't the best way to preserve a domestic flock at all.

 

[Going Quackers]

I think you meant Russian roulette

I agree with you though, leaving ducks out on open water at night isn't the best way to preserve a domestic flock at all.

That's what happens when you type to quick! correct that, should have stuck with a game of chicken

 

[Frank Phinster]

Wild mallards do also spend time on land during the night, but they can fly away in case of an approaching predator what is nit granted to most domestics. They are also more difficult to spot in the dark than large, white pekin ducks.


I thought that with "all the time" you meant that they are kept indoors permanently. My bad^^