can i move my duckling’s brooder outside?

[Puddingtheamericana]

i have two 4 1/2 week old ducklings currently in their brooder with a temp of 70 degrees. the brooder is currently located in our tuff shed and i was wondering if it’s safe to move the brooder outside into our chicken coop, but still keeping the duckling in the brooder with their heat lamp. i live in California, bay area, during the day the temp is the same as the ducklings brooder, gets a little colder at night. their brooder is a plastic bin with a lid with chicken mesh, and a frame holding a heat lamp above it. i live in a suburban area and we do have a lot of rats, like a lot of rats- like rat holes everywhere and you never dont see a rat. we’ve never had any chickens killed by rats but our quail was killed by them. i think the brooder is secure but it is plastic so easily chewable.

so i just need to know, is it a good idea to move the brooder outside or should i keep the brooder in the shed until they go outside permanently

 

[Miss Lydia]

What breed of duck? Since your most likely going to have food and water in there with your ducklings I don't think I'd put them out yet. We had a heavy duty plastic trash can sitting out by our coop and rats chewed a huge hole in it. Their teeth must be very sharp.

 

[CoriM]

My vote is keep them inside a few more weeks! Better safe than sorry.

 

[Puddingtheamericana]

What breed of duck? Since your most likely going to have food and water in there with your ducklings I don't think I'd put them out yet. We had a heavy duty plastic trash can sitting out by our coop and rats chewed a huge hole in it. Their teeth must be very sharp.

their welsh harlequins, and i don’t think i’ll be putting them outside just yet, too risky

 

[specTONKular]

I would agree with everyone else, I don't intend on allowing mine (currently cooking away nicely in the incubator) until about 6 weeks, but I have an outhouse attached to my house that they can go in if the temperature is a bit cool