Need some questions answered

[marilunasunset]

Hello, very recently I decided on a whim to get two pekin ducklings. They're cute and entertaining so I figured why not? I love my ducklings, but I really need to figure out what I'm going to do for their outside living quarters. I have never had poultry of any kind. No birds, not even a parakeet. I have decided on straw as their bedding and that's about all I have figured out.

Where do they lay their eggs?
Do they just need a safe place to sleep at night and rest occasionally during the day?
At what age can I put them outside?
How can I begin to bond with them? They tolerate me but don't seem to like me much. They used to come over and sleep on my lap but they're 3 weeks old now and don't do that anymore.

Their names are Francie and Esmond. I don't know their sex yet obviously. They are beginning to get their quacks. I've had them since they were 4 days old.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Mari, welcome to BYC

As you have found animals are not always the best thing to get on a whim - they are quite labor intensive, and there are lots of potential mistakes to make in their care. You will find many folks here to help you out. Here are two articles from the Learning Center to help get you started -

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/duckling-care-brooder-ideas

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introduction-to-keeping-ducks

 

[marilunasunset]

They're doing really well. I was equipped to take care of them and they have everything they need. I just am having difficulty with bonding and figuring out whether they will sleep inside. Thank you for the articles though.

 

[Amiga]

At three weeks, my Runners went from being sweet and relaxed to panicking when I came near - there seems to be a developmental stage when they are frightened by anything that looms over them or appears to corner them. A good instinct for wild ducklings!

With good counsel from the Duck Forum members, I began squatting down as I approached the brooder, talking to them before coming into sight, and letting them out of the brooder before cleaning it (I used to just clean up around them). I also ended brooder cleanup time with a "pea party." It took weeks and weeks, but we finally got back to our former friendly relationship.

Here is a little more advice on raising ducklings https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711


To answer your specific questions

Where do they lay their eggs? Depends - sometimes just wherever they are standing, sometimes in a corner of the coop, sometimes they build their own little nest with bedding. Rarely in a nest box provided by you.
Do they just need a safe place to sleep at night and rest occasionally during the day? Every predator in the area will know you have ducks. They will be after them. I provide a shelter for night time and a day pen for when I am not with them in the yard.
At what age can I put them outside? Depends. The general guideline for temperature is 90F the first week, dropping 5F a week till that reaches the temperature of their surroundings. If outdoors is 40F and they are 4 weeks old, that would be too cold for them. Even once they reach about 95 percent of their adult size, they are still developing on the inside, so being too cold will rob them of energy needed to finish developing (seems that way to me anyway).
How can I begin to bond with them? They tolerate me but don't seem to like me much. They used to come over and sleep on my lap but they're 3 weeks old now and don't do that anymore.
I used treats, patience, talking, singing, sitting near them, and eventually they came around.