Night Light?

[kcbode]

I have 10 Australian Spotted ducks that are now 6 weeks old and living in thier house outside. I leave a light on at night since they haven't been without one thus far, and they seem a little afraid of the dark. Should I just remove the light and they'll get used to it? Thanks!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Mine do. They stay inside the house a while after the light is removed so they still have dim light in the brooder in the evenings - then all the lights go out when I go to bed. For the first few days they peep a bit for a few minutes, but they quickly get used to it. They can be less likely to enter a darkened house though - especially if it is very small.

 

[Amiga]

Mine peeped for more than a minute or two, early on - they don't like the dark so much.

So I set a charged-up solar path light in with them. Works fine. By the time the light starts to fade, the sun's about to come up.

 

[Denninmi]

When you first take the light away, they will all be scared and holler like they're being killed. But, after a few minutes, they will settle down. After that, not a problem, they get used to it fast. I guess its just the change that frightens them.