best month to buy ducklings?

[TheBirdMan5]

just wondering which month I should order my baby pekin ducks from metzer farms? - Jay in MA

 

[learycow]

They generally do best when it's not too hot or too cold. And I ALWAYS have better shipping and receiving ducklings with GrowGel included. It's proved to be worth the extra few $$.

I would suggest April through June as long as it's not too hot, or Sept through Oct (though it isn't yet terribly cold here in New England). But you tend to get lethargic ducklings if shipped in the extreme cold, and heat exhausted ducklings if shipped in the extreme heat.

 

[Miss Lydia]

just wondering which month I should order my baby pekin ducks from metzer farms? - Jay in MA

Are you going to order from a hatchery? then chose a few and contact them about shipping most start in late winter with shipping but you want them to be able to survive the time in transit with out freezing to death or being over heated. so best to talk with hatcheries most you can email.

 

[TheBirdMan5]

learycow your also from new England? I hear the winter is going to be bad this year. tons of snow how do you prepare for winter? by the way thanks for the great info.

- Jay in MA

 

[cosbackyard]

I order mine in april. By the time they're ready to go outside it'll be warm enough to keep them out without a heat lamp.

 

[learycow]

learycow your also from new England? I hear the winter is going to be bad this year. tons of snow how do you prepare for winter? by the way thanks for the great info.

- Jay in MA

Yes, I am in Southern Maine. I heard the same thing but I am hoping they are wrong!

I generally keep my coops as clean and dry as possible. I put down shavings and hay/stray, about 6-8 inches of bedding. That way they can nest in it to keep warm if they need to.
I keep water outside, never in the coop. That helps keep it dry!

I give them the choice of free ranging or staying in. But do keep them locked in on really cold, windy, snowy days (I have a lot of muscovy so don't want them frostbitten).
I keep a light in one coop but it is not a heat lamp. It's mainly so I can see as I work early and late hours, so it's dark this time of the year when I let them out and when I lock them in. But a heat lamp id not required to keep them warm (full grown, fully feathered ducks).

If you end up getting ducklings this time of the year, I would suggest keeping them inside (house, basement, garage) until they are at least partially down-feathered (6-8 weeks). Then, if you do put them out in a coop, be sure they can ALL get warm. I keep 2-3 heat lamps in a coop if I have babies this time of the year. That way none get cold if one goes out during the night/day when I'm not around.

But if you've never had ducks before, they do tend to be very messy with their water. So it's a bit more of a pain keeping coops and brooders dry and clean if you have to keep ducks/ducklings inside all day. That's really the only down side to raising them this time of the year. Vs in the summer when you can put them outside in a small pen during the day and not have to worry about them being cold

 

[TheBirdMan5]

well I do have a shed attached to my house it is not heated but gets no wind I usually keep them in the house until they are about 1 month old then put them out there until they are about 1 month and 3 weeks then put them outside obviously this time of year I would probably have to keep them in the shed till 3 months of age right im not planning on buying them right now but probably march or april. thank you every body for the info especially learycow.

 

[learycow]

well I do have a shed attached to my house it is not heated but gets no wind I usually keep them in the house until they are about 1 month old then put them out there until they are about 1 month and 3 weeks then put them outside obviously this time of year I would probably have to keep them in the shed till 3 months of age right im not planning on buying them right now but probably march or april. thank you every body for the info especially learycow.

Anytime! Feel free to message me at any point in time if you have more questions. I'm happy to help!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I say May

 

[DaffyDuck100]

Hi, I live in Australia
What season would be best to buy ducklings?
Late winter to early spring?