About how old is this pekin duckling?

I bought a duckling and some chicks from a woman who was ill and couldn't take care of them any longer. She told me the chicks were 2-2.5 months old but they have got to be 4 weeks olds tops. The duckling she told me was 4-6 weeks old. I don't know ducks so I'm not sure at all if she's correct, but he doesn't have any feathers, and I read Pekins are butchering size by 7 weeks, not that I intend to eat him, but I can't imagine him being butchering size in 1-3 weeks.
Also at what age or level of development can I move it outside? Fully feathered?
Also I have Pekins hatching in a week so he won't be lonely for long!

Can you weigh it? That may give us a better idea of size than the photos.

When to move is going to depend on your local weather. Un-feathered if nights are above 50 I generally would move my ducks outside, but that assumes there's some duck company (they sleep together at night and will stay pretty warm.) I'm afraid you might be stuck with him/her inside for a few weeks unless you can provide a heat lamp outside.

dotknott said:

Can you weigh it?  That may give us a better idea of size than the photos.

When to move is going to depend on your local weather. Un-feathered if nights are above 50 I generally would move my ducks outside, but that assumes there's some duck company (they sleep together at night and will stay pretty warm.) I'm afraid you might be stuck with him/her inside for a few weeks unless you can provide a heat lamp outside.

Click to expand...

Ok, I will try to weigh him! Yes I understand about the photos, all were taken yesterday but the one in the car and the one in the bath look like two completely different sizes!
When do they start to get feathers usually?
He's so sweet, I don't mine him staying in for as long as he needs, just curious. I've read all the duck raising guides I could find in the library in preparation for the ones I have hatching (I have mixed khaki Campbell/black Swedish/welsh harlequins hatching on Saturday and Pekins hatching four days later) but this one sort of was thrust upon me and I feel unprepared!

machinfarm said:

this one sort of was thrust upon me and I feel unprepared!

Click to expand...

I've heard this a lot recently. Thinking about writing a What to Expect When You're Expecting (Ducklings)


Sorry, I'd answer all your Q's but I've got to run to the Post Office before they close. It's just about 6 on the east coast, so folks should be coming on and will hopefully chime in.

While it varies duck to duck, if he's 4 weeks there should be some feathering coming in. Usually tail and chest first, but sometimes they get their first ones in weird awkward places (is if teenage years weren't weird and awkward enough.)

machinfarm said:

Ok, I will try to weigh him! Yes I understand about the photos, all were taken yesterday but the one in the car and the one in the bath look like two completely different sizes!
When do they start to get feathers usually?
He's so sweet, I don't mine him staying in for as long as he needs, just curious. I've read all the duck raising guides I could find in the library in preparation for the ones I have hatching (I have mixed khaki Campbell/black Swedish/welsh harlequins hatching on Saturday and Pekins hatching four days later) but this one sort of was thrust upon me and I feel unprepared!

Click to expand...

My three week olds are starting to get their feathers in. I don't think yours is 4-6 weeks yet. He's really cute!

DuckGirl77 said:

My three week olds are starting to get their feathers in. I don't think yours is 4-6 weeks yet. He's really cute!

Click to expand...

Thanks, I think so, and my son is madly in love with him!
Ok, yeah he just seemed so small for that age. I looked closely and I see little tail feathers starting. He cracks me up with his tiny wings, so different than the chicks and poults I'm used to.

machinfarm said:

Thanks, I think so, and my son is madly in love with him!
Ok, yeah he just seemed so small for that age. I looked closely and I see little tail feathers starting. He cracks me up with his tiny wings, so different than the chicks and poults I'm used to.

Click to expand...

I don't remember when mine had their tail feathers coming in, but it might have been somewhere around 2 wks.
Yeah, their wings are very tiny! Chicks grow in their wing feathers quickly, but my huge 4 week old ducklings are just beginning to grow theirs! It's extra-funny when they stand up tall and flap their little wings!

DuckGirl77 said:

I don't remember when mine had their tail feathers coming in, but it might have been somewhere around 2 wks.
Yeah, their wings are very tiny! Chicks grow in their wing feathers quickly, but my huge 4 week old ducklings are just beginning to grow theirs! It's extra-funny when they stand up tall and flap their little wings!

Click to expand...

I've got week and a half olds right now with one of them growing a patch of feathers on his lower back. Not quite his tail, and it's not feathers yet, it's in the stage where you look at the guy and go 'what is all over you' and you brush him off and realize its feathers starting up.

Mine here are about 4weeks. Way bigger than yours.