Can ducks see in the dark?

[HomesteadDucks]

I just turned off the heat lamp for my ducklings for about a minute. In that time I reached in to grab one and was very surprised that none of them were running away. I tapped on their heads, gently pushed them around and even picked one up. Either they got over their deadly fear of humans or they just thought my hand was another duck. Turns out it was probably the latter because I turned the lamp back on while simultaneously petting one on the head and they all immediately saw that it was actually my hand and ran away in terror.

 

[junebuggena]

Ducks have terrible night vision. You have just experienced why it is so essential for them to have a secure house for sleeping in every night. They are literally sitting ducks.

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind when I am beefing up my duck house. I lost 2 ducks last year for that exact reason. But right now I cannot wait for these guys to go outside. They're driving me absolutely CRAZY. I can't sleep because they have a terrible habit of eating the newspaper that their brooder walls are made of (as you can see in the photo). But they are finally going to bed just now. They don't sleep until 10pm every night. Like clock work.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have muscovy ducks that wander the yard at night in warmer weather looking for bugs. So mine appear to have excellent night vision. Muscovy are different than mallard derived breeds though, so perhaps their eyesight is different.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind when I am beefing up my duck house. I lost 2 ducks last year for that exact reason. But right now I cannot wait for these guys to go outside. They're driving me absolutely CRAZY. I can't sleep because they have a terrible habit of eating the newspaper that their brooder walls are made of (as you can see in the photo). But they are finally going to bed just now. They don't sleep until 10pm every night. Like clock work.

We used cardboard for lining our brooder and our ducklings liked to eat that. Little piggies!