How long does it usually take for ducks to grow all their feathers?

[Miss Lydia]

I have 4 Pekins coming to me and I am in North East PA on Lake Erie. It will get cold here soon and I need to know how ild they need to be before I let them outside. As far as feathering for Pekins do they take longer?

I'd think by 6 weeks they should be completely feathered but will still need protection for severe cold weather and wind. Think nice house with ventilation

and

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd think by 8 weeks they should be completely feathered but will still need protection for severe cold weather and wind. Think nice house with ventilation

and

When you mean by letting them outside what exactly do you mean?

 

[Howard The Duck]

I'm going to build them something really nice outside but need to know when they can live in cold weather. Also introduction to cold.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm going to build them something really nice outside but need to know when they can live in cold weather. Also introduction to cold.

Once you get your ducklings all set up in their brooder with temps running around 85* that first week, be sure to have a thermometer so you can keep track of it. your going to want to adjust your heat lamp so the temp in the brooder drops every week by 5* . but once ducklings get to you and settled on days when it's still nice and warm take the outside and put them into a secure run where they will be protected from the wind, they will love being out side, you just don't want them to get chilled or leave them for too long or on days when it's raining. This way you are acclimating them to out doors and by the time they are 4-6 weeks old they will be ready for full time out of doors, This will also get there feathers coming in quicker getting them use to being out side. Let them have short swim time everyday in something shallow so they can splash around in some warm water it will get them to preening and get the oil gland working which helps them to be water proof. Make sure they are in warm not hot water and that you pat dry and put them right back into the brooder to finish drying and warm up. Some put a short sided tray in the bath tub for starts.[be sure to lay a towel down in bottom of the tub so they don't injure their lil legs on slippery surface] One of those paint trays for rollers works well. after about a week they can advance to something a little deeper but always be with them when they are playing in water. There's a link in the stickys about caring for ducklings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[downhomelady]

I have six indian runners and yes I thought they just about had their long silky mature feathers at about six weeks. I am in oregonso the weather can turn fast. When I first put them outside I they had a heating pad under their straw....I am so glad I got it because they a r e mounting again and are coming up on 10 weeks....I n ow only use the heating pad if its 40 or below and only let them swim if its 60 or above. I have had chickens before an I really feels ducks are where its at. I plan on putting them on layer feed at 16 weeks.....which is when I guess they will have their real mature mature feathers.

 

[JustAnotherPeep]

Ducks can learn to use their oil gland to cover themselves at a young age. I live somewhat close to Lake Winnebago (WI) and ducks will be where ever there is open water. Its possible that there are variations to feathering maturing. Call ducks take about 6 - 8 weeks to get their juvenile feathers. About another month for their adult feathers, totaling about 3 months.

 

[JustAnotherPeep]

I have call ducks (Silver & While Calls) and I have a couple of females (Quacks) that seem to be changing to male. One is getting the curled tail feather (white) and the other is getting the green sheen on the head (silver). I have heard that if the ratio of males and females change drastically that they can somehow change. Is this just the appearance and is it true?

 

[AimToMisbehave]

My runners starting getting ridiculous little tail sproots around 2 weeks, were hilariously scraggly at 3 weeks, and at 1 month, have sort of a half-pin, half-feather mess going on. My older ones were pretty sleek by 2 months, but they got way prettier and the boys popped their big-boy tail curls at 3 months.