Another question. How long should my ducks stay in the brooder?

[April and Andy]

Hello everyone! I’m new to raising duck babes and have been doing SO much research. Everyone says something different but I’m curious what you all think, when should my ducks be taken out of their brooder to live a more independent life style? They will be spending their days outside with a pool and moved inside at night before bed when they are done with the brooder.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How old are they?
Ducklings are a bit more precocial than chicks so they can be weaned from heat earlier.
It depends on your brooder setup and your climate. Where are you located?

https://www.metzerfarms.com/RearingInstructions.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=25519783

 

[April and Andy]

How old are they?
Ducklings are a bit more precocial than chicks so they can be weaned from heat earlier.
It depends on your brooder setup and your climate. Where are you located?

https://www.metzerfarms.com/RearingInstructions.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=25519783

They are two weeks old as of today and I am located in Oregon, so right now the temperate range is about 50-70° throughout the day (on the nice days, this week it’s been all 50s, that’s Oregon for ya).

 

[btrask]

Oregon here as well. My trio is 7 weeks old. Since we had overnights in the high 50's last weekend, I kicked them out on Sunday to their coop/run. They were almost fully feathered (As of today I would call them fully feathered) and have been doing great. So 6.5 weeks of brooder, and since they were in my garage the heat lamp was off a week or more ago. They also loved going outside everyday so they got used to the weather.

For your ducks I would wait another 4ish weeks, unless the overnights get to the 60s and your ducks are acclimated to that temp. All ducks are different so watch them for shivering, major duck piling, etc.

 

[April and Andy]

Oregon here as well. My trio is 7 weeks old. Since we had overnights in the high 50's last weekend, I kicked them out on Sunday to their coop/run. They were almost fully feathered (As of today I would call them fully feathered) and have been doing great. So 6.5 weeks of brooder, and since they were in my garage the heat lamp was off a week or more ago. They also loved going outside everyday so they got used to the weather.

For your ducks I would wait another 4ish weeks, unless the overnights get to the 60s and your ducks are acclimated to that temp.

Perfect, thanks! Good to hear, still in the process of building the coop and run and getting it all figured out. Thanks for the info!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are two weeks old as of today and I am located in Oregon, so right now the temperate range is about 50-70° throughout the day (on the nice days, this week it’s been all 50s, that’s Oregon for ya).

That’s really too young to be in 50* temps unless they have a heat plate or lamp.

 

[April and Andy]

That’s really too young to be in 50* temps unless they have a heat plate or lamp.

I will be keeping them inside with their heat lamp for about another month or so, right now they spend a little time outside daily but not long, and then back under the lamp so they don't catch a chill!

 

[Miss Lydia]