moving the ducklings outside....

Date sort Score sort
TriskeleFarm said:
My ducklings are 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 weeks old, 2 Pekins, a Welsh Harlequin, a Rouen and a Runner. They have outgrown their indoor cage and I've prepped an old dog run outside with a small kidie pool. They have spent the last 3 days out there all day.

I'm in CEntral Arizona (Phoenix Area). nighttime temps are currently in the low 50s. There is no heat source out there, but they do have a plastic box with hay in it that they can get under cover and nestle into.

Will this set up work? can they stay outside at night now? The Pekins and Welsh are the oldest, and largest by FAR. The Rouen and the Runner are smaller. They're better swimmers, but I worry a little about them getting cold at night, even if they cuddle with the Pekins.
Click to expand...
I personally would be very careful with them at this age and would keep up with supplemental heat. They are still a bit young to be getting wet and not having enough enough adult feathers to retain or produce proper body temps without chilling.

Birds acclimate to their environment and those hatched in colder climates can tolerate colder brooding temps. In areas of huge temp swings, birds even chicks adapt to wildly fluctuating temperatures. 50 degrees in your climate is cold for small ducklings, this temp might feel warmer to ducklings hatched further up north. It's all about adapting right now, everything in their environment is giving them clues on surviving in their territory and it's very important to work with your situation and not others. Why risk it? They will be fully feathered soon, if they were my babies, I would keep them under heat for at least a couple more weeks.

Good luck with your ducklings, they sure are precious at this age! 🦆
 
TwoCrows said:
I personally would be very careful with them at this age and would keep up with supplemental heat. They are still a bit young to be getting wet and not having enough enough adult feathers to retain or produce proper body temps without chilling.

Birds acclimate to their environment and those hatched in colder climates can tolerate colder brooding temps. In areas of huge temp swings, birds even chicks adapt to wildly fluctuating temperatures. 50 degrees in your climate is cold for small ducklings, this temp might feel warmer to ducklings hatched further up north. It's all about adapting right now, everything in their environment is giving them clues on surviving in their territory and it's very important to work with your situation and not others. Why risk it? They will be fully feathered soon, if they were my babies, I would keep them under heat for at least a couple more weeks.

Good luck with your ducklings, they sure are precious at this age! 🦆
Click to expand...
Thanks.. we opted to bring them in at night and have them out during the day, when its in the high 70s, they are doing great. they can easily get in and out of the water, and have been. in a couple more weeks, we'll revisit leaving them out, it'll be in the 60s at night by April
 
DuckyDonna said:
I don't see any indication that the OP is looking at any of these posts. Hummmmm. :idunno
Click to expand...
I've been away from computer for several days...I have read them though! we opted to have them outside during the day and bring them in at night for a little while longer. They are doing really well and LOVE having the extra space outside and access to a pool (which has multiple rocks and they can all get in and out easily)
 
TriskeleFarm said:
Thanks.. we opted to bring them in at night and have them out during the day, when its in the high 70s, they are doing great. they can easily get in and out of the water, and have been. in a couple more weeks, we'll revisit leaving them out, it'll be in the 60s at night by April
Click to expand...
Sounds like a perfect plan! Glad they are doing well, enjoy them at this age, they grow so fast! :)
 

Similar threads

L
Ducklings with adults?
Replies
6
Views
513
davez
D
pinksapphire
Advice for moving ducklings out of the house
Replies
1
Views
289
Starrponies
Starrponies
S
    • Love
    • Like
Ready to spend the night outside?
2
Replies
14
Views
1K
Miss Lydia
Miss Lydia
Ilovemychicks08
    • Like
Ducklings(Breed)
Replies
7
Views
1K
Ilovemychicks08
Ilovemychicks08
J
    • Like
Cold weather and ducklings
2
Replies
15
Views
2K
Sosalty
Sosalty

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom