Can my orphaned ducklings be warm enough outside all day?

[Lauryn Dee]

Hello,

I have 2 orphaned and almost fully recovered (from lacerations) Muscovy ducklings whom I rescued and who are happily stinking my house up LOL in a makeshift brooder. They are so wonderful, but the smell is oppressive (roomate loves me!! lol) despite constant cleaning daily (wow they poop so much LOL) and they are quickly outgrowing the largest terrariums I own!

We have a very safe pen outside- but I am unsure at what age range they are able to keep warmth enough themselves out there all day with only one buddy to huddle with.

They are at my best guess, over 3 weeks old but less than 5 weeks....I can't remember exactly when I saw them first appear with their mother on our property (they are the neighbours)

Anyways, to give you an idea of the temperature here currently in Vancouver, BC it is 17 degrees C today (approx. 67 degrees F) with a lil showers here and there at midday.
It's summertime so the temps will range from 15 C to 28 C pending on the day (59 to 82 F) and the type of weather front coming through our parts. We just had 3 weeks of 26ish C and it was glorious!

Is this warm enough to leave them outside all day?

Thanks for your help!

Lauren & the Orphans

 

[ruth]

I am a big proponent of freeranging and raising all of my flocks of chickens and ducks as naturally as possible - so I would say, yes, it is warm enough for ducks of that age to be outside. They'll also have a better time. I've had baby ducks, only a couple of weeks old, out running around in 40 degree temps. The little ducklings seem to tolerate the cold a lot better than little chicks do. Maybe put a little box or shelter they can run into and huddle together at night but mine all sleep out in the open even though they have a huge duck house they could stay in so I know they prefer being in the open and like the cool weather.

 

[Lauryn Dee]

Thanks for your advice!
Sorry my internet has been down until now...but I think you're right, they seem okay out there and are having fun with all the bugs! lol

Yay, house smells better again!

 

[Wifezilla]

I had a brooder heat lamp go out in the Winter when my 3 and 4 week old ducks were outside. I was AMAZED to find them perfectly fine. The were snuggled together and they we hiding under a feather duster I had in there for "companionship".

 

[GrannySue]

Quote:
Hi Lauren! ~~~waving at you from Salt Spring~~~~ Our weather is basically the same and my kids have been outside since they were 4 weeks old. I would have put them out sooner if I'd had a predator proof cage before that.
I know what you mean about the smell. My house thanks me now!

 

[Lauryn Dee]

GREAT thanks everyone, I feel much better about it now than I originally did a few days ago! Phew!

And Hello to you in Salt Spring!!

*Waves back*

 

[hikerchick]

Ducklings are cute but they are the stinkiest little things. Good thing they are so hardy. Mine love it outside..and I love them outside.

 

[jvls1942]

my ducks and geese start to enjoy the great outdoors at two days old

as long as the weather is not below 50F. I have a brooder set up where they spend the nights, in the daytime they are free to roam.

I have a flock of 25 full grown geese who stand guard day and night.. no self respecting coon or fox will venture into that flock..

 

[Lauryn Dee]

Quote:
Hahaha ya there are 2 big & ornery geese out there (my neighbors) and some days they even scare me off hahaha A flock of 25 that's an army...good security haha

Thanks again everyone. I think they will stay outside for now unless it gets particularily cold.
Gosh, I worry so much, what ever is going to happen when I have my own children!

 

[headred]

I think we all forget that somehow ducks survive in the wild in all temps! When you put it all in perspective it somehow makes sense to put them outside. Mine went out at 3 weeks and the nights were about 25 degrees. They wouldn't even go sit under the heat lamp!