New to ducks and need some advice

[Miss Lydia]

Oh yeah I was worried about them getting out so I stood there the whole time. I will raise the lamp a bit to get that temp down to around 85 or so. Or maybe I'll go grab a lesser wattage bulb. I have a 250 now. Maybe a 100 or 150 would work better to achieve that temp.

I plan on starting that garage pen for them tomorrow so soon they will have lots of room to play. At least until they grow some more haha

I like to use a red light bulb because it doesn't interfere with their sleeping some use blue. white light will disrupt their sleeping. 6 Pekins are going to grow so fast your going to be amazed.

 

[19trax95]

I just figured out a way to raise the light basically until it doesn't heat anymore.

I cleared off a shelf I had in the garage that has solid posts that go all the way up. I took the upper shelves off and made the one shelf about 2 feet off the ground, set their bin on that, then clamped the light onto the post of the rack. I hover it about 6" higher than it was before, and once it heats up again, I'll check the temp and adjust if needed.

Thank you all for the help so far. I'll update with pics of the new pen and the ducks when I am done building it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just figured out a way to raise the light basically until it doesn't heat anymore.

I cleared off a shelf I had in the garage that has solid posts that go all the way up. I took the upper shelves off and made the one shelf about 2 feet off the ground, set their bin on that, then clamped the light onto the post of the rack. I hover it about 6" higher than it was before, and once it heats up again, I'll check the temp and adjust if needed.

Thank you all for the help so far. I'll update with pics of the new pen and the ducks when I am done building it.

 

[19trax95]

I built their indoor pen today. They love it! I made it 4x6 and 2 feet tall. I'm adding another heat lamp. I also bought a much larger waterer and feeder for them.

They are running around and playing like they've never played before.

 

[19trax95]

Another little update.

I started on their outdoor pen today. I went and got some chain link fence panels and a pond form. I am in the process of putting up the fencing and leveling the ground for it. Then I need to dig around and put something so nothing can easily dig under it.

I dug the hole for the pond. Man what a chore that was in this nearly pure shale and clay Pennsylvania ground. But it's in and level.

Tomorrow if it doesn't rain will hopefully see the rest of the fence put up. I got a shade top for the pen as well. It says it's 70% shade. I figure that's good to keep stuff out from climbing or flying in the pen.

So it's coming along. I can see the ducks have grown since I got them. Or at least it seems they have grown.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I built their indoor pen today. They love it! I made it 4x6 and 2 feet tall. I'm adding another heat lamp. I also bought a much larger waterer and feeder for them.

They are running around and playing like they've never played before.

That is an awesome pen.. Great job. I bet they love all that room.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another little update.

I started on their outdoor pen today. I went and got some chain link fence panels and a pond form. I am in the process of putting up the fencing and leveling the ground for it. Then I need to dig around and put something so nothing can easily dig under it.

I dug the hole for the pond. Man what a chore that was in this nearly pure shale and clay Pennsylvania ground. But it's in and level.

Tomorrow if it doesn't rain will hopefully see the rest of the fence put up. I got a shade top for the pen as well. It says it's 70% shade. I figure that's good to keep stuff out from climbing or flying in the pen.

So it's coming along. I can see the ducks have grown since I got them. Or at least it seems they have grown.

They literally grow in front of our eyes. Look forward in seeing your hard work Lots of love going into these projects.

 

[19trax95]

Yeah the indoor pen came out very nicely. It's got a 3/4 plywood under neath that's covered by the plastic.

I added the second heat lamp today and they seem to be less huddled together now. So they must not be too cool or too hot.

They love to put their bills in the wood shaving and dig around and play in it. They run pretty quick too. They like to chase eachother around in there.

Tomorrow shows rain in the morning so that might put a damper on the outdoor pen, but I've got plenty of time for that since they have a while to go yet before they'll be outside.

 

[lomine]

Wow, that looks good. Great job!

 

[19trax95]

I have the majority of the outdoor pen finished. All that's left is some block work, a top for it, and their house.

I made it bigger than I originally planned for. It is now 13x15. I put a small pond in there and a few other features. There are day lillies that have grown in that spot forever so I left them. I also plan to put a nice tall fountain grass behind the pond in the corner.