Can five week olds sleep outside?

[CayugaJana]

I put several Pekins outside under a heat lamp at 2 weeks old and 35-40F. And they did just fine.

 

[BornToQuack]

I'd like to think their coop is like a mini Fort Knox. LOL! The bottom and windows are reinforced with hardware cloth and we have two types of latches locking the side door. I've even closed (and latched) the gate to their attached run, so any predators who want to get through the front will have to go through a metal gate AND a solid wooden door.

 

[BornToQuack]

@Table4Six, since you asked, here are my babies.

The first two pictures are from the day we got them, and the last two are within the last two weeks. Let's just say it's hard taking non-blurry pictures when they're not laying down. LOL! I've pretty much resigned myself to taking videos, especially when they're swimming.

 

[BornToQuack]

I’m super impressed you didn’t kick them out already based on the smell.

Not going to lie, the smell was AWFUL! We joked about our master bathroom smelling like a barn. LOL! And that's even with me cleaning their brooder two to three times a day, as well as putting a fan in the window during the day to circulate in some fresh air.

 

[harmonymw]

I put several Pekins outside under a heat lamp at 2 weeks old and 35-40F. And they did just fine.

Probably because at 2w a Pekin is approximately the size of an eagle and no indoor cage is big enough.

 

[harmonymw]

Not going to lie, the smell was AWFUL! We joked about our master bathroom smelling like a barn. LOL! And that's even with me cleaning their brooder two to three times a day, as well as putting a fan in the window during the day to circulate in some fresh air.

I once let 8 ducklings sleep overnight in one of my bathrooms and my whole family voted never again.

 

[CayugaJana]

My house is 4000 sq ft and after 2 weeks of having ducklings inside, there isn’t anywhere in the house that you can’t smell them. And I keep them in the basement.

 

[Alexander2000]

There totally ready my ducks are only 3 weeks and are outside just at night watch for predators,anyways hope your chicks are excited as excited as you!!

 

[Jacob Duckman]

Hi all, according to the hatch date the feed store gave us, our ducklings should be turning five weeks old this coming Monday. Up until now, they've been spending the night in their brooder box in our master bathroom, and the coolest overnight temp they've been subjected to thus far is about 70° F (we recently turned off their heat lamp to get them used to cooler nights).

My husband is dead set on having them start spending the night outside, but I'm a little hesitant to do so right away. The outside night temps are ranging between 60° F and 66° F. Sure, they'll be in their duck house with ample straw to snuggle in, but they're also only five weeks old. The paperwork the feed store gave us says, "your ducklings can stay outside in good weather once they are six to nine weeks old."

In your opinion, are they old enough to sleep outside, or should we wait another week or two?

Thanks for any feedback or advice!

This time a year it should be no problem at all. But do be sure to offer them a shaded area and constant access to water. a small filtered pond would be great

 

[BornToQuack]

Well, last night we took the plunge and had them sleep outside in their duck house. As expected, I was up until about 1 am worrying about them. Of course, they were as happy as could be when I let them out this morning. . I even gave them a special treat of fresh blueberries and beet greens as they roamed the backyard/played in their pool.