Letting the ducks out in the morning darkness...

[DoodlesDuckies]

Due to my work schedule I have to let the crew out before I leave for work (6:00-6:30am) and it is before sun up these days and worse with the daylight savings time change. I am assuming leaving them in until daylight is more for their safety and not a rule of thumb? They can stay in the hut if they want but they run out into the darkness to forage. I hate to do it but not much of a choice with my work schedule.

Anyone else in this situation?

Thanks
Renee

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi Renee,

We must live pretty close to you, but it wouldn't matter as the varments would be different. Here in the past, we've had to do that but we have two dogs that would scare off any predators. Without them, I'm not sure how safe the chickens would have been.

We also have a lot of motion lights around, so that keeps the riff raff back at night or while it's still dark. You could try getting a couple of those. These are solar, motion detection we get on Amazon.

We're in Shawano County, west of Shawano in the boonies.

I don't think I've seen you in our state thread yet, but we've got one!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wisconsin-cheeseheads.245700/

 

[tlcmurphy]

DST will make it lighter in the morning, at least temporarily until the days shorten more. It will be getting dark earlier.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Hi Renee,

We must live pretty close to you, but it wouldn't matter as the varments would be different. Here in the past, we've had to do that but we have two dogs that would scare off any predators. Without them, I'm not sure how safe the chickens would have been.

We also have a lot of motion lights around, so that keeps the riff raff back at night or while it's still dark. You could try getting a couple of those. These are solar, motion detection we get on Amazon.

We're in Shawano County, west of Shawano in the boonies.

I don't think I've seen you in our state thread yet, but we've got one!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wisconsin-cheeseheads.245700/

We are between Wausau and Eau Claire just north of 29, in the country, but not really. LOL!

I have not seen much for threats thus far but I do see there is something living under the duck hut. I put out a rat trap out at night and they haven't hit it yet.

I have solar lights ready to go on the hut, seems I am on the right track.

I will check out the WI thread!! Will be nice to get some information about the harsh winters!!

Thanks!

 

[yarrowhouse]

We have an automatic door that opens at sunrise, closes at sunset. It works great to let them out in the morning. Evenings they are actually getting pretty regular at putting themselves to bed too. I've been meaning to share an update on that, which I just posted here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...c-door-and-putting-themselves-to-bed.1643842/

Edited to add link.

 

[ruthhope]

I just came to add the link that @yarrowhouse has now added above.

Personally, I am not in favor of using an automatic door for ducks at night. Although @yarrowhouse has had success, ducks are too ditsy and it just needs one to be left out at night for it to be taken by a predator. But I think an automatic door for the morning might resolve your issue
@DoodlesDuckies

 

[yarrowhouse]

I just came to add the link that @yarrowhouse has now added above.

Personally, I am not in favor of using an automatic door for ducks at night. Although @yarrowhouse has had success, ducks are too ditsy and it just needs one to be left out at night for it to be taken by a predator. But I think an automatic door for the morning might resolve your issue
@DoodlesDuckies

Definitely agree about ducks being too ditzy to be trusted to put themselves away safely at night. I should clarify that ours are in a fully secure run all day except when we are let them out into the garden with us. So the automatic door is on a protective hutch *inside* the run. If one didn't make it in at night, she would still be safe in the run.