Ducklings outside?

[ScooterMcPooters]

My 2 Cayuga ducklings are just over 3 weeks old. They’ve been in a corner of my kitchen in a kiddie pool. They are huge and a big mess... I’m wondering if I can move them out? I’m currently insulating my metal shed and putting up plywood for their permanent home however it’s not ready to house them yet. It’s been nice out the last two days so I’ve been trying to acclimate them to the weather and bringing them in at night. My question is... I have a wire dog crate I’ve put up against the house with plastic sheeting over the top and put a heat lamp with a foam cooler and pine shavings on the inside. It’s still getting down to 40 at night... will I have duck popsicles in the morning if I leave them out?

 

[Knighstar679]

My 2 Cayuga ducklings are just over 3 weeks old. They’ve been in a corner of my kitchen in a kiddie pool. They are huge and a big mess... I’m wondering if I can move them out? I’m currently insulating my metal shed and putting up plywood for their permanent home however it’s not ready to house them yet. It’s been nice out the last two days so I’ve been trying to acclimate them to the weather and bringing them in at night. My question is... I have a wire dog crate I’ve put up against the house with plastic sheeting over the top and put a heat lamp with a foam cooler and pine shavings on the inside. It’s still getting down to 40 at night... will I have duck popsicles in the morning if I leave them out?

I would be wary of leaving them out at night with temperatures that low. they can still get easily chilled if something happens to get them wet like deciding to play in their water at night and a cold breeze hits.

 

[Ratchnick]

I have researched this myself and it seems like some people do put them out like your suggesting. They still need a heat source though.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors.68067/

 

[ScooterMcPooters]

I would be wary of leaving them out at night with temperatures that low. they can still get easily chilled if something happens to get them wet like deciding to play in their water at night and a cold breeze hits.

I’ve hopefully blocked

I would be wary of leaving them out at night with temperatures that low. they can still get easily chilled if something happens to get them wet like deciding to play in their water at night and a cold breeze hits.

I’ve hopefully minimized the amount of draft in there and I have a heat lamp and thermometer underneath it, it was 77 degrees inside and 60 out so hopefully they fair well, I’ll just be getting up all night to check on them.

 

[Knighstar679]

I’ve hopefully blocked

I’ve hopefully minimized the amount of draft in there and I have a heat lamp and thermometer underneath it, it was 77 degrees inside and 60 out so hopefully they fair well, I’ll just be getting up all night to check on them.

that’s not bad temps. If the draft and all that is minimal, go ahead and try it. I was always paranoid before 5 weeks when they can go without water for the night because I was afraid of drafts on them. But if you have a good set up I think they will be able to make it ok. I mean if they were hatched under momma they would be out in it already. But I know we all worry about our duckies in our own ways.

 

[Isaac 0]

As long as they have a heat source and no drafts they should be ok, make sure to secure the heat lamp very well and please use a heat lamp wire guard.

 

[DuckyDonna]

If you would put your location on the account profile it sure would be helpful for those of us trying to help. Click on your BYC name on the top right, account detail and put in your location which will appear under your avatar. Get as specific as you are comfortable with, even just the state or country helps us help.

With the temperatures you post I'm guessing you are in a fairly warm climate? That presents a whole different scenario when giving advice.