Duckling age?

[Bopeep271]

can anyone help me estimate how old my babies are? New to ducks, thanks!

 

[KathiQuacks]

I’d say about 1.5 - 2 weeks old

 

[Bopeep271]

I’d say about 1.5 - 2 weeks old

thank you!

 

[ruthhope]

I can't see the tail. The first sign of feathering is little whispy changes at the tip of the tail. That usually starts at 2-3 weeks old. Assuming there are no whispy changes on the tail, the duckling is 2 weeks or less.

 

[Bopeep271]

I can't see the tail. The first sign of feathering is little whispy changes at the tip of the tail. That usually starts at 2-3 weeks old. Assuming there are no whispy changes on the tail, the duckling is 2 weeks or less.

This is their tail, I’ve already had them for almost a week so they’d definitely be older than that, just curious to know heat wise. They were pretty large when I got them.

 

[ruthhope]

View attachment 4125381
This is their tail, I’ve already had them for almost a week so they’d definitely be older than that, just curious to know heat wise. They were pretty large when I got them.

The duckling already has whispy feathers in the close up, so it might be 3 weeks. Not older. The feathers should start coming in soon and fast! They will be noticeable across the top of the wings looking like little wing caps. Most ducklings are fully feathered by 7 weeks, 8 weeks at the latest.

At 3 weeks, the duckling still needs to be warm. I keep them at 70-75F until 4 weeks. I had 2 rescued jumbo pekins in April that experienced a night low of 65F at 3 weeks. The poor little fluffies had very cold beaks and feet in the morning and needed warming up in side my shirt.

 

[Bopeep271]

thanks for the reply! I’m in South Carolina so they are plenty warm in the room they are in! Never gets below 73-74.

 

[ruthhope]

I'm in NE Florida and my 2 had spent 2 nights outside before they were rescued and given to me. The person who rescued them thought they were 4 weeks old ( TSC told them that (but must have been going by their size not their feather development.) They didn't have any feathers and only got those first tail signs 3 days after they came to me.