Can my ducklings be free range?

[ColdWaterFarms]

Hi my ducklings are 2 weeks old when can I put them free range and then in a shed at night?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Not for quite awhile yet. They're still babies! Wait til they're 100% fully feathered.

 

[TLWR]

Way too many things carry ducklings off.
Mine get supervised free range time until they are adult sized. Until then, they are confined to the deck, brooder in the yard or a fenced in area with covered top since we have some hawks that frequent the airspace over the house.

 

[ColdWaterFarms]

At what age do pekins becomw fully feathered? Because I have noticed that our littke duckys grow fast!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I'd say about 16 wks. How fast they feather in depends on feed, temperatures, etc.

ETA: you will just know-- they'll look like adults!

 

[cymbaline]

I'd say about 16 wks. How fast they feather in depends on feed, temperatures, etc.

ETA: you will just know-- they'll look like adults!

I don't know about Pekins, but my Mallards were fully feathered at about 6 weeks and flying by 8!