Are they old enough to go out?

[CurlyLindsay]

2 questions, I have chickens, guineas, and ducks that I purchased at the same time and I've kept together for the 2 weeks I have had them. Will I always be able to keep them together without problems?

Second, chicks and guineas are almost totally feathered and supposedly should be about 4-5 weeks old. My ducks (mallard) are much larger than the chicks and guineas, but the ducks hardly have any feathers. Can they go out in my coop?


My coup is a little more sheltered than most, I think. I have a shedrow style barn with added solid wood divisions between each stall. We used mesh fence panels to build a coop in the back of a stall, so they're sheltered on 3 sides and have an overhang well over the top of them. There's a heat lamp in the back. Are they okay to go out there? They are getting so big the smell from the trough is getting too much for the garage!

 

[cowman910]

yea i think if you have a lamp they will be fine.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

My ducklings went out at 3 weeks with no problem.
I dont know about keeping together,someone else might know the answer

 

[calmlake]

ducks can go outside in an enclosed pen as you describe in weather warm enough. they should be at least in 80 degree temps the first 4 weeks until they feather and can keep their bodies warm. a heat lamp is in order until then.

Bill

 

[headred]

My ducks went out at 2 weeks with a heat lamp in 25 night time temps. They never went near the heat lamp and did just fine. They huddle together well so I wouldn't worry about temps. Ducks seem pretty tolerant of being cold and wet!