5 week old ducklings

[Clmirabilio92]

Hi there everyone, it's been a little while since I've raised my last batch of ducklings. I have 6 cayuga ducklings, they are 5 weeks old now and they are getting very big! They dont fit in the biggest plastic tote that I have them in right now. They cry almost as if they are miserable in there. Its getting about 55 degrees, almost 60 some days outside during the day and 40 at night. Would it be okay to put them in their small coop outside now? They would be protected from any cold winds. Thanks so much!

 

[Isaac 0]

Still a little too cold for them, a good guideline is once they get their adult feathers, they can be let out given they have had a few days of acclimating to the temps. Have you thought of putting them in a large-sized kiddie pool?

 

[hayley3]

Hi there everyone, it's been a little while since I've raised my last batch of ducklings. I have 6 cayuga ducklings, they are 5 weeks old now and they are getting very big! They dont fit in the biggest plastic tote that I have them in right now. They cry almost as if they are miserable in there. Its getting about 55 degrees, almost 60 some days outside during the day and 40 at night. Would it be okay to put them in their small coop outside now? They would be protected from any cold winds. Thanks so much!

6 ducklings in a tote does sound a bit cramped. I have something similar to a playpen and on nice, sunny days let them outside to play for a couple hours which also keeps the mess down inside my house and when they come back inside they are not as rambunctious. Finding something bigger for inside would be good and you can use it next time you get new ducklings, cause you know you will.

 

[DiYMama540]

Are they fully feathered? Start the transition by letting them outside very early morning and bringing them in late at night. You should be able to tell if they are having trouble acclimating to the temperatures.

 

[hayley3]

6 ducklings in a tote does sound a bit cramped. I have something similar to a playpen and on nice, sunny days let them outside to play for a couple hours which also keeps the mess down inside my house and when they come back inside they are not as rambunctious. Finding something bigger for inside would be good and you can use it next time you get new ducklings, cause you know you will.

I know this is a bit pricey but cages are expensive. It's great for ducklings...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0133LNLJY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[nao57]

Are there also other things outside in that pen also that might not accept them?

And how is your heat control, while they are outside to make sure they don't get too cold?

People told me the ducks will have a hard time in the cold until 7 weeks. But that's not counting with lamps or other heat sources, etc.

When people mention kiddy pools also, I think they assume you know when they mean with water and when they don't.

Post some pics here! Ducklings really are so neat to look at. They have a special hidden skill of hypnotizing small children.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Hi there everyone, it's been a little while since I've raised my last batch of ducklings. I have 6 cayuga ducklings, they are 5 weeks old now and they are getting very big! They dont fit in the biggest plastic tote that I have them in right now. They cry almost as if they are miserable in there. Its getting about 55 degrees, almost 60 some days outside during the day and 40 at night. Would it be okay to put them in their small coop outside now? They would be protected from any cold winds. Thanks so much!

That should be warm enough for them to be outside during the day, you can put them out there for most of the day and bring them in at night.
I would not leave them a water pan that they can get into and get themselves soaked, or leave them out in the rain until they are fully feathered.
They can still get chilled if cold and wet.

 

[Clmirabilio92]

I let them out on the warmer sunny days. They have a blast playing in the muddy puddles lol. But then I bring them in because of the big wild animals we have in the woods around our house.

Are they fully feathered? Start the transition by letting them outside very early morning and bringing them in late at night. You should be able to tell if they are having trouble acclimating to the temperatures.

 

[Clmirabilio92]

I have a small chicken coop I used for my chicks when they were growing up, it's inside a portable garage next to my big chicken/ duck coop. It would be okay to put them in there during the day while they are outside? I dont really have the time to make anything.

That should be warm enough for them to be outside during the day, you can put them out there for most of the day and bring them in at night.
I would not leave them a water pan that they can get into and get themselves soaked, or leave them out in the rain until they are fully feathered.
They can still get chilled if cold and wet.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I have a small chicken coop I used for my chicks when they were growing up, it's inside a portable garage next to my big chicken/ duck coop. It would be okay to put them in there during the day while they are outside? I dont really have the time to make anything.

I don't see why not. I kick mine out of the house pretty early, at 5 weeks they should be feathering out pretty good.
you surely haven't still been putting them under a heat lamp or anything at that age so the acclimation shouldn't be too drastic unless you keep it extremely warm in your house.