We live pretty far from weasel territory (ponds and lakes), so I am not super worried about that, but it could happen as they can travel quite a distance from what I hear, but that is a chance I take with my set up.
I definitely lock them in but I do want to add the smaller gauge wire to the doors of the house. I buried that tiny gauge wire around the outside of the entire pen and even added it to the door so no large snakes could get in. I know nothing is 100% but I do love them and want them to be as safe as possible. I have been leaving my dogs out if I run errands as they will run off most anynpredetor and are protective of the ducks. The aviary netting is a good idea! I will definitely do something to make the top more secure. I really appreciate all of the advice. I’m a novice and this is why I asked the question!I am sorry I read your post that you left them outside of their pen last night
Looks like you have gotten some good advise.
Below is the view from my bathroom window. I keep a flashlight there to check on them inside their house through the night.
I totally get the paranoid thing right now! I do eventually want to upgrade their house but I need to do the best I can with what I have for now. I was told not to use security lights near them as it upsets hem but the flashlight is probably the very same effect.This past winter, I used a flashlight from the house to check on my chickens at night. They used to have a prefab coop and I was always worried about them (before we got the hot wire too!) Now, they are pretty secure at night and my hubs has installed better security lights. So, I am not as paranoid as I was before.
I guess because my ducks have had it since the beginning, they aren't having any problems with it. When I go to check on them, it trips the light, which makes it easy to see everything. Then, I just close them up for the night. The light is on an adjacent building, not directly over them.
