This is good news considering their dramatic declines in the late 19th century. They usually won’t put themselves to bed at night like chickens (ducks can see quite well at night and can be quite active) but if locked up regularly, they will often get into the routine of going to bed. The drake Wood Duck is considered one of the most beautiful species of waterfowl in North America. Be aware that ducks and their nests receive legal protection across the UK, so you must allow a duck access to her nest. It will usually be past dark before I get to head to the house and most of the ducks are already in the coop but I just say "Bedtime!" Wood Duck populations increased between 1966 and 2015 according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The population of the wood duck has increased a great deal in the last several years. The increase has been due to the work of many people constructing wood duck boxes and conserving vital habitat for the wood ducks to breed. Like many birds, ducks go south for the winter. Ducks need to be locked up at night, unless they are in a predator proof enclosure. Caring for a newborn duckling is not the same as raising baby chickens although there are a few similarities in caring for both types of birds. Wood Ducks can be found throughout the year in the U.S., with some individuals breeding in Canada, and some wintering in Mexico. They occasionally winter in the Cayman Islands (Scott and Carbonell, 1986). Wood ducks predominantly use forested wetlands with a variety of hardwood tree species. When the weather begins to turn cold, ducks migrate south where food sources are more abundant. Wood ducks predominantly use forested wetlands with a variety of hardwood tree species. Wood Duck Habits. The increase has been due to the work of many people constructing wood duck boxes and conserving vital habitat for the wood ducks to breed. Fortunately, wildlife management has protected this species to the point that it is one of the most common ducks in the Eastern United States today. Ducks sleep on land at night and with their head tucked. It is common for ducks to migrate to southern coastal areas where the winter climates are mild. More Wood Duck Resources. They occasionally winter in the Cayman Islands (Scott and Carbonell, 1986). Whether you convert a small doghouse or build a custom shed, the one thing a duck house must be is predator-proof. My ducks are always the last to go up at night. Next, provide your ducks with plenty of high quality, non-medicated poultry food so they can graze on it frequently throughout the day and make sure they have constant access to fresh water. When the weather begins to turn cold, ducks migrate south where food sources are more abundant. "There is some kind of similarity between the way that a wood duck … Asked in Ducks What do ducks sleep on? However, for the 2008–2009 season, the limit was raised to three. Some ducks sleep in icy water. If they sleep on they water, they might drown! Bobwhite sleep on the ground. Wood ducks are resident in Cuba and are scarce winter visitors to Mexico and Bermuda. I do like to lock them up even though I have a Grt Pyr for their protection. Domestic ducks move very slowly on the ground and can’t fly, so they are extremely vulnerable to predators—especially at night—and need a safe place to sleep, lay their eggs and maybe even raise ducklings. A general answer is that birds sleep anywhere they safely can stay warm. Baby ducks can be fun to raise and play with whether you buy them at a feed and supply store or hatch them yourself from an incubator.