Need advice.

rubberduckies

Songster
8 Years
Feb 9, 2013
209
10
139
Kentucky
My ducks will be 6 weeks old on 4/2 and they are STILL IN MY HOUSE. They have no room left in the brooder and are outgrowing the bathtub (where I let them swim). And I love the little piggies but they stink. Lol. I'm constantly cleaning out the bedding.

Their house will be finished tomorrow and they have a small pen I will attach to it until the bigger enclosure is finished. But I have a few questions...

1) The coldest night this week will be 28 degrees. They have almost all of their adult feathers now and I can put their heat lamp in the house with them. Would they be ok staying outside?

2) when I move them to the outside house/pen should I already have the nest boxes and decoy eggs set up? They won't be laying for a while but maybe they should get used to the boxes and thinking other ducks lay their eggs there so it's safe??

3) EVERY SINGLE TIME I pick them up one of them ends up scratching me with their toenails. (Big bleeding scratches). I know they don't mean to hurt me but when they try to find a place to rest their feet or when they want to get down and flap their feet around they end up scratching me. Any advice? Should I cut their nails?
 
I'm in Texas so I don't have experience with cold weather but I'll try to answer the other two.

2). You can try but I've never had any luck with ducks using their nesting boxes. They've always just laid wherever they wanted.

3. Are they overgrown? If not then I wouldn't attempt clipping them. It can cause you more damage then good. How are you picking them up?
 
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I wondered about the toenail issue, so I asked a few months back. Seemed like most people do not clip their ducks nails. I personally do not, I am just very careful if I pick up any of my flock, and quite honestly, I really don't pick mine up often.If I do I will get one hand either side of their body, pick up, and hold both feet in one hand. But sometimes I still get scratched a little. That's just the breaks of picking up a duck I guess!
I *think* your ducks should be ok outside, I might leave the light on at night just because they will be adjusting. Mostly feathered = good. My adult ducks (who are used to being outside) don't use a light and we are also bout 27-28'F overnight.
How many do you have? I ask because each duck makes btus, heat, and they will huddle to stay warm. I wouldn't worry at all about decoy eggs or nest boxes, mine very rarely lay where I want them to. Hope this helps.
 
I clip my ducks toe-nails with a pet nail-clipper. It's much like a cat or dog, watch for where the quick is and you should be fine. You can also gently file them with a filer if needed.
 
At barely six weeks old I would hesitate to have them outside in that. I would say that you could get the heat set up done, get a max-min thermometer and put it in the outdoor lodging then check and see what the temperature is.

Also, with any electrical device and flammable bedding, there is a risk. So you need to be absolutely sure there could not be a fire.
 
Their nails aren't extremely overgrown but they never walk on anything that could help keep them at a certain length. (Like concrete that sort of files down animal nails when they walk on it).

I have 5 ducks. If I only had a couple I wouldn't put them outside yet but I know my 5 will huddle to stay warm.

I was going to do a test tonight with the heat lamp and see what the temp would be inside the house with the lamp. (BEFORE they stay in the house). It will be 28 degrees one night this week but the rest of the week should be 30-40. I might just keep them in until AFTER that 28 degree night.

When I pick them up I usually put one hand on each side. I have to move them to the bathtub or outside for the day and back to the brooder. So for right now I HAVE to pick them up all the time. I think that maybe filing their nails a little would help. They're just so sharp!
 
I would just be more careful when handling them, maybe wear long sleeves or something. They have the claws for a reason, best to let them keep them in my mind.


Gonna hijack the thread for a moment. DenverDucky, where did you get the inflatable pekin in your picture. It looks so real, wouldn't know it was a blow up if the pic didn't show you inflating it...
 
I thought DenverDucky was kissing the Pekin. Lol.

They'll be outside soon so I won't have to pick them up as much. I'm kind of looking forward to that. :)
 
Last year I put mine out in the shed at around six weeks old. Temps were about the same as you're dealing with. I had a heatlamp on the and they were fine. There's always a risk, of course.
My four week olds will be going out to the shed later this week since it won't be getting as cold at night.
 

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