Can they stay outside?

[Louise's Country Closet]

I have two Bourbon Reds that are 7 weeks old right now and have been without their heat lamp for a few weeks. I've just started putting them outside during the day and I really want to attempt to leave them out all night but I'm cautious.. they're my little peepers

Do you think they're old enough to stay out now? They have a nice warm place to go at night and I have 10 ducks in there too so there's a lot of heat generated on top of it. I live in Minnesota.. if that's any help.

 

[KellyHM]

How cold is it there at night? Down here the babies go out at 1 week.

As long as it's not below the 50's I'd say they'll be ok.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I don't raise poults and ducks together until they are much older. The ducks are very wet and that's not good for poults. 7 weeks is very young to be outside this time of year, what are your night time temps? And is the area they will be in covered over?

Steve

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Thanks for the quick replies

It gets into the 40's here at night, which is what I was worried about. I keep them in the rabbit shed right now without any heat or anything, but ya know.. there's a lot of rabbits in there generating a lot of heat too at night.

As for the ducks, yeah.. they do get a bit wet. We keep their run dry though and the coop doesn't seem to be getting very wet either (I think I've just been getting lucky there though). They're in an insulated coop with lots of straw/hay and nest boxes, etc. There's a big run connected to it too but they spend the majority of the time inside while the ducks stay camped outside. Oh, and it's all covered. It's a rule here to keep everything covered because we have so many eagles and hawks flying around lol.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I would wait until they get bigger before I put them in the run. If they get caught in the rain and get wet that would be bad.

Steve

 

[OmaBird]

My weather dips into the 40's at night too. I am not putting my late hatched turkeys out yet. When they do go out they will be is a insulated barn with tons of other turkeys.Thats the bummer about raising turkeys out of season. They need alot more TLC. Spring raised turkeys do not have the problems that you get with out of season turkeys. Thats one reason most hatcherys do not sell turkeys after June. Those that do I think should put a warning to the turkey newbees.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Is it okay if I just leave them out during the day then so that they have a little more room to run? I don't mind keeping them inside at night that's not really a huge deal.. a few more weeks isn't going to hurt anything

One other question: how long does it take a turkey to fully feather out? I'm guessing that's when I don't have to worry about them getting wet or rain, etc.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

letting them out during the day is fine, they will enjoy exploring.

It depends on the variety as to how long it takes them to feather out, the last place to feather are the underside. When you think about it, it seems kind of strange that is the last place. Going thru grass etc where are they going to get wet? or if they lay down. We need to design the new and improved turkey poult version 1.2.

Steve

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

They're Bourbon Reds.. pretty little peepers too and that's just with their little feathers

Now I foresee running out there in curiosity to see how feathered they are there LOL

 

[Lagerdogger]

I found your thread, neighbor. It answers some of the questions I asked in the PM. It seems that I am in agreement with the big dogs.