Proud New Mom with Questions!

[animal quacker]

Hi everyone, I am a proud new mom of six Pekin ducks. My husband and I live in Colorado where winters are harsh. We built a suitable shelter for the ducks and put them outside yesterday at a little over five weeks old. It is Mothers Day here today and the temperature dropped down to the lower 40s. Is it okay that I placed the heat lamp from their brooder in their new home with them? Can it be left on in there all of the time or will that cause issues? Also, is it bad to visit them and give them treats at night? I do not want to attract predators.....

 

[Tonyroo]

Welcome to BYC ,

I wouldn't feed them at night, they need to understand it's time to sleep. And having a heat source out there is fine but make sure it's a red bulb. Only have it on at night, turn it off during the day so they get use to there new environment. Good luck.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. This link may help you navigate the site - “How to...” guides. Be sure to post further questions here - Ducks

Chat with other BYC members nearby using the links in my signature, below (turn your phone to landscape to see them).Make yourself at home and enjoy the forums.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[DucksAreBest]

Hello, welcome to BackYard Chickens! Thank you for joining our community.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC neighbor! Good luck with your new ducklings!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal Community!

I hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Once they're fully feathered, they shouldn't have a supplemental heat source. I would not visit them at night.

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Welcome to BYC!
6 Pekins... Lots of fun ahead...

 

[Callender Girl]

Congratulations on the new ducks. I've never had Pekins, but northern Iowa winters are pretty harsh, and I'm surprised every winter how little it bothers the ducks and geese (now, the chickens are a whole other story!).

Previous advice about heat lamps all sounds good to me. I brood my ducklings indoors until they are fully feathered because using lamps outdoors makes me worry about the risk of electrical fire (Guess I don't worry about burning down my house, huh?).

I use the irresistible lure of food to get free-ranging ducks inside for the night, but once they are locked in to their wood and hardware cloth-wrapped shelter, there are no treats for the night.

Welcome to BYC where you will find plenty of kind, generous folks who will be willing to offer advice and opinions on everything and anything.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC!