sleeping outside?

[new mum]

hi
my campbell ducks are 3 weeks old, they have progressed to a covered run within their run area during the day and love it, peep like mad in the evening when I bring them back inside and into their brooder box, which is getting a bit small now.
I have their house ready, its got plenty of straw to keep them warm. how old should they be before spending the night out in their house? is it too soon yet?
also when they do go out for the night, do I put water inside the house? or do they go the whole night without any?
lots of questions sorry
amanda

 

[mtcougar832]

I think mine were 4 weeks old when they went out for the night - they where in a wire dog crate in the chicken coop with water. About a week later they had their own pen/house set up and moved to it. I quit leaving water in with them at night then (at least if I shut them in). They have a thick layer of straw and seem quite happy. (Oh and I'm in Montana - nights are still dropping to the 40s, when they first went out it was dropping to the lower 30s!)