How old is old enough?

[ma2babygurl13]

To go outside? Temps are in the high 80's to mid 90's during the day, and stay above 70 at night. Chicks are almost 5 weeks, and ducklings are 4 weeks. Chicks are Welsummer and Marans, ducks are runner and swedish. I will be putting them into a modified rabbit hutch so it has a full roof and the "outside" run is open to only 2 sides, and has a fully enclosed house for them to get into. I only have them under a florescent bulb during the day and no light at night in the house. The chicks seem mostly feathered but the ducks seem not to have any feathers at all they are still very fluffy and downy.

 

[chicmom]

I can't say about ducks, but with this heat, I'm sure your chicks will be OK outside. They will probably pile together during the night and they'll be just fine.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

My chicks go out in their own pen at 2 weeks, with a house & light available for heat. I release them into the barn with the flock at about 6 weeks, with a light available for heat. When their bodies are fully feathered, it's easier for them to retain heat. I freerange, so if they get picked on, they can run & hide.

 

[noodleroo]

I put mine outside permanently at 9 days old. Its warm here in the south, too and I've had no problems.

 

[BeccaB00]

Idk about the ducklings because I have never owned ducks before. But for the chicks...5 weeks is plenty old enough. our's went out at about 3 or 4 weeks. We moved them from the house. to the garage. to outside. but yours are good to go strait outside. like another commenter on this thread said...they will most likely huddle together at night.

 

[ShrekDawg]

i think 5 weeks is a good age, they should be fine, especially with that heat, plus like someone else said, theyll most likely huddle together so they should be fine, cant say about the ducks though but the chicks should be fine... good luck!

 

[gryeyes]

Because the ducks ARE still fuzzy, I didn't put mine outside until they were 8 weeks old. And it wasn't a second too soon. It was earlier in the year, though... if it's that warm at night where you are, I think they'd be okay at 5 weeks, feathers or not.

Chicks are fine. I put mine out at 4 weeks but had the heat lamp out there for the first 2 nights. Didn't need it after that at all.

 

[Kedreeva]

I booted my ducklings outside at about 1 week old and in this heat (same conditions you're describing, and they are even in a rabbit cage), they have been just fine. The chicks we waited to boot them to the barn till they were about 2 weeks, and left them with a heat lamp in a corner of their stall- but they sleep across the stall from it. We turned the light off at about 4 weeks and they didn't care at all.

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

they should be fine but make sure they have lots of water and access to shade