Is this set up ok for my 3 week old ducks to be in overnight?

[HennyPenny2]

The temps are plenty warm during the day and are in the mid to upper 50's right now for a low. They are 3 weeks old and really have outgrown their brooder, which has been in my shed. I took a dog kennel and with very heavy duty bungee cords that are super tight attached an open dog kennel to it as a run (all this is just till they get big enough to be put in the run with the chickens (even with a divider I don't trust it to keep them in and away from the chickens).
I'm mainly concerned as we have some strong thunderstorms coming tonight and though there is plenty of room and lots of cozy shavings, I worry the storm may scare them, but they may be scared in the shed too I don't know. Ever since I startled my Cayuga what looked like nearly to death, in concerned about her getting scared. They haven't been through any thunder and strong rain yet.

Here is the crate and doghouse set up. Food is inside water right outside. I also drilled holes in the plastic floor of the kennel and zip tied it for a roof to keep out the rain even more. I also just built that pvc pen completely covered for them during the day so they can swim whenever they want without me having to always be outside.

 

[HennyPenny2]

Can anyone tell me if they would be ok please? We are heading out soon and won't be home till late so I'm hoping to find out as soon as possible for either peace of mind or to bring them in the shed.

 

[dotknott]

you know, I certainly hope this is good enough. I'm planning a VERY similar setup once my hatchlings get too big for the brooder. my only concern is the temp. 50's sounds low for 3wks to me

 

[HennyPenny2]

you know, I certainly hope this is good enough. I'm planning a VERY similar setup once my hatchlings get too big for the brooder. my only concern is the temp. 50's sounds low for 3wks to me

They have actually been without heat for the past week and have been just fine, granted it was in a shed but it has no installation. They never wanted to be under the heat so I started turning it off for most of this past week anyway. I'm actually more afraid of heavy thunder and rain that may frighten them more then the temps. They are just so big for the brooder they were in, this has lots more room for them. But maybe that's a bad thing for 3 weeks? I don't know if being in the shed would make them feel safer verses this set up outside? They seem fine with this though the doghouse one not the pvc one I mean. They go inside the doghouse just fine.

 

[DuckGirl77]

They have actually been without heat for the past week and have been just fine, granted it was in a shed but it has no installation. They never wanted to be under the heat so I started turning it off for most of this past week anyway. I'm actually more afraid of heavy thunder and rain that may frighten them more then the temps. They are just so big for the brooder they were in, this has lots more room for them. But maybe that's a bad thing for 3 weeks? I don't know if being in the shed would make them feel safer verses this set up outside? They seem fine with this though the doghouse one not the pvc one I mean. They go inside the doghouse just fine.

I would not keep them in temperatures that low until they grow their feathers in. Until then, they are unable to regulate their body temperature. My 2 wk. olds don't have a heat lamp either, but they are in a warm house. If you do end up doing that anyways, make sure that they are not outside in the rain if it's in the 50s. I do understand your problem, though. Ducklings grow like weeds, and they make such a mess! Of course, you could always keep a heat lamp in the doghouse if it gets a little chilly, but I would be prepared to move them back just in case.
If you keep a dim light in their doghouse they shouldn't be as scared of a thunderstorm. Mine have never heard thunder so I don't know what their response would be, but I imagine they would be scared. Like I said before, you could try and just be ready to bring them in if necessary. Hope this helps!

 

[HennyPenny2]

I would not keep them in temperatures that low until they grow their feathers in. Until then, they are unable to regulate their body temperature. My 2 wk. olds don't have a heat lamp either, but they are in a warm house. If you do end up doing that anyways, make sure that they are not outside in the rain if it's in the 50s. I do understand your problem, though. Ducklings grow like weeds, and they make such a mess! Of course, you could always keep a heat lamp in the doghouse if it gets a little chilly, but I would be prepared to move them back just in case.
If you keep a dim light in their doghouse they shouldn't be as scared of a thunderstorm. Mine have never heard thunder so I don't know what their response would be, but I imagine they would be scared. Like I said before, you could try and just be ready to bring them in if necessary. Hope this helps! 

Thanks for your reply. I ended up leaving them in their tonight as I had to leave but the low is 61 tonight. Most of this week will be around mostly in the low to mid 60's for a low I just rechecked. Thankfully the worst of the storms went around us and only light rain. Yay for that! I'm not sure if I can put a heat lamp inside the doghouse as I wouldn't know how to hang it and I don't know if it can be out on top of the kennel part of it was to rain? They do grow so stinking fast I find myself constantly trying to figure out something bigger for their water, their food, their pool, their outdoor pen and their night time pen/brooder. Ugh! What temperature at night do most put their ducks out in?

 

[nickolemarie7]

Thanks for your reply. I ended up leaving them in their tonight as I had to leave but the low is 61 tonight. Most of this week will be around mostly in the low to mid 60's for a low I just rechecked. Thankfully the worst of the storms went around us and only light rain. Yay for that! I'm not sure if I can put a heat lamp inside the doghouse as I wouldn't know how to hang it and I don't know if it can be out on top of the kennel part of it was to rain? They do grow so stinking fast I find myself constantly trying to figure out something bigger for their water, their food, their pool, their outdoor pen and their night time pen/brooder. Ugh! What temperature at night do most put their ducks out in?

I have three new ones also, about a week or two old and I'm planning on keeping them indoors (unless it's daytime)for atleast the next three weeks...the only reason I chose this is because I want to bond with them more so they choose to come to me rather then run away and even the slightest wind cab drastically make a good warm night feel extremely chilly. If you do end up putting them out because they're just too big to keep inside I would suggest covering the open part of it with a tarp or even blanket to block out winds and keep warmth in. Even putting a bedding of pinestraw under the cage will keep the ground temperatures from sucking out the heat inside