At what age can the ducklings move into their coop?

[tankerman]

At what age can the ducklings move into their coop?

We've got a dozen mix breed ducklings that are three weeks old and it's quite a handful trying to keep their indoor (garage) pen clean.

 

[Miss Lydia]

At what age can the ducklings move into their coop?

We've got a dozen mix breed ducklings that are three weeks old and it's quite a handful trying to keep their indoor (garage) pen clean.

If your weather isn't down below say 50* and you can give them a heat source they can all get under if needed, and out of drafts, you maybe able to put them out, they also need to be kept in a very secure coop where even small preds can't get to them.

 

[tankerman]

Nighttime - 30's
Daytime - upper 50's to mid 60's.

We'll be housing them in our turkey coop (which isn't occupied at the moment).

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nighttime - 30's
Daytime - upper 50's to mid 60's.

We'll be housing them in our turkey coop (which isn't occupied at the moment).

I don't know, will you be putting up a heat source like a heat lamp? you might out to give it another week . They may need to feather out more. unless you positive they can keep warm in those temps. No drafts and heat.

 

[tankerman]

We can control the drafts, but having a heat source in the coop isn't so easy.


How old before they can go in the coop without a heat source?

 

[Miss Lydia]

We can control the drafts, but having a heat source in the coop isn't so easy.


How old before they can go in the coop without a heat source?

They need to be fully feathered. maybe try finding a very large box like an appliance would come in and using it for time being. probably home depot or lowes would have some.

 

[tankerman]

Wow, fully feathered appears to be a long way off.

These ducks are a fully three weeks old and are just now starting to show signs of getting their very first few feathers.

Conversely, our chickens are almost fully feathered by three weeks.


At what age will they be fully feathered.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wow, fully feathered appears to be a long way off.

These ducks are a fully three weeks old and are just now starting to show signs of getting their very first few feathers.

Conversely, our chickens are almost fully feathered by three weeks.


At what age will they be fully feathered.

6-8 weeks, too bad you can't figure out a way to get heat to your coop, of course safety is the most important , We just had a BYC friend lose all her flock plus her barn because of faulty wire and too many extension cords plugged in. If you put them out too soon you run the risk of losing some, they can chill pretty quick when not feathered in. Brooding out in barn coop garage is possible if you can provide heat. And yes ducklings are alot of work especially when trying to keep brooder clean and dry, but It's our responsibility to do this for them since it was our decision to bring them home. they depend on us.

 

[tankerman]

I don't like the idea of having an unattended heat source out in the coop. The turkey pen and coop is connected to the chicken pen and coop and I'm not interested in having 70-ish birds burned up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't like the idea of having an unattended heat source out in the coop. The turkey pen and coop is connected to the chicken pen and coop and I'm not interested in having 70-ish birds burned up.

I know exactly how you feel, I have electricity to both of my coops but don't run any heat out there. I know it's a bummer having to keep the ducklings in the house but thats really the best for them right now. Matter of fact I just put 2 smoke alarms in both of my coop/houses.