Duckling Bald Bellies?

[Deleted member 94844]

Amiga, your ducks are so cute I could die!!

 

[Amiga]

Amiga, your ducks are so cute I could die!!

Don't do it!!!!!! I mean, ya know, early, on account of my duckies . . . .

 

[Deleted member 94844]

I only had two, so they were in a large Sterilite bin until they could hop out, then we got a 2x3 dog crate for inside. We let them roam around the house a lot and bathe in the tub before they were able to be outside all day... if the diapers worked better I'd let them inside more. The pic of your girls in the bathroom is priceless. I wish I had enough ducklings to fill a puppy playpen!!

 

[Amiga]

That bathroom photo is one of my favorites. It captures life for me for those three months, I still recall watching in amazement as Acht played with acoustics in buckets, waste bins, toilets, anything she could stick her head into.

 

[samuelsonfarm]

I was very shocked how talented the ducks are. They figured out how to stick their booties right up to the side of the cage and shoot the poop ALL the way across the laundry room...like 6 feet! Poor kitty, his food bowl had to move to a different room. LOL.

 

[wafflechicken]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. But MAN is it difficult to keep ducklings dry!

I was looking up several things and saw that, according to the "optimal temperature" chart on this page ( http://www.duckhealth.com/housmngt.html ) that, by 4 weeks old, they should be OK to be outside in the coop as long as the temps are in the mid to high 50's. Do you guys have any thoughts on that? Having the extra room in the coop to give them places to go dry off away from the water would make things much easier but I also don't want them to freeze to death. The temps for the next week or so will be quite warm during the day (mid-80's at least) and low to mid 60's at night.

And I think I mentioned, these guys are 4 weeks old and haven't had a lamp on them for at least 10 days and seem fine.

 

[samuelsonfarm]

My 4 week olds are outside 24/7 with no heat lamp. Our temps are similar to what you have described, and they are doing great. They get all snuggled up together and keep each other warm, but they don't seem to be phased by the outdoors, in fact, they seem very happy. I force them to take breaks from the mud bog they like to splash in all day to get washed up in clean water and dry off on the grass at least 2 times a day. They are so cute <3

 

[wafflechicken]

Awesome, thanks! I had them outside last night and they seemed perfectly fine the few times I checked on them (desipte their first thunderstorm in a coop instead of a house) and were chipper and ready to go this morning.