How soon can they move outside?

[Cowgrl4life]

I have two ducks that are 4ish weeks old... a bit older as I got them at tsc a bit bigger than newly hatched.. I guess maybe 5 weeks old LOL. My question is what age is it usually ok to move them outside? I'm used to chickens and ducks always seem to get their feathers in so much slower that although some of my chicks are outside, I'm nervous about them. Here's a pic of them from a few days ago. How soon do you think they can move outside?

 

[savingdogs]

I have 17 the same age that I was wondering this same thing! Mine are outgrowing the brooder right about now and we still have temps in the low 40s at night.

 

[Amiga]

It is not just a question of how old the ducklings are, but of what the nighttime temperatures are and what kind of shelter you have that tells you if it is okay for them to stay outdoors.

How cold is it at night there (think coldest lately)? What kind of shelter will they have? Is it heated? Predator-proof?

At seven weeks, my runners are still in my house

because they are okay at about 60 degrees F, and nighttime temperatures are still reaching down into the 30's.

My runners have just gotten most of their adult feathers in - a few still have fuzzy spots, and they are only a little over a pound each, so their high surface to volume ratio means they are at great risk of hypothermia in the current outdoor conditions. I would hate to lose them.

So, just a couple more weeks and their readiness and the outdoor temperatures should line up . . . But if we have a freaky-cold night, as sometimes happens here, I will need to port them back into the house overnight until summer really gets here. By fall, they will be large and mature and all feathered in, and cold weather won't be a concern.

Time to go change the bedding

 

[savingdogs]

Amiga (cool name) maybe you can tell me if our current plan is a good compromise...carting them outside each day (barring sleet or hail or cold rain) to be outside and let the duck room "air out" and dry out and just bring them in at night? I think I'll have to set up two indoor brooders in order to accomodate their increasing size. I did not picture how large they would get so quickly. But it sounds like I have about three weeks to go!

 

[yotetrapper]

I dont know if you have a garage/large coop, etc. outside, but, if you're like me, I hate ducks in the house, LOL. I usually keep mine inside for 2 weeks or so, then out to the garage they go. I keep their brooder out there, with heat lamps. They can go outside no matter the temps, IF you give them proper protection from the elements, and heat. If you give them a heat lamp and they're huddled under it and look cold, use a higher wattage bulb, or lower the light.

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

I am having the same dillema... Mine are 4 weeks old today as well, and they are stiiiiinkin! I bring them outside during the day and all, but I wish they would get big enough to stay out at night as well. A heat lamp being out where they would be is out of the question, and they'd be with the "big" ducks. I haven't even introduced them yet, I should do that soon huh??

 

[Amiga]

savingdogs,

forgive me if I am repeating myself (it's the age . . .) having them outside during the day is a really good idea if they have a safe place and the temperatures aren't going to be too cold, it's not going to be rainy and windy, so forth. Perhaps a sheltered area where they can hide out, if you can swing that.

We port our ducklings out on nice days, and it is wonderful to have a break - I can get away with fewer bedding changes !!!! (Today we carried them out, and I began putting the hardware cloth on the duck house. Hardware cloth wants to kill me, or at least maim me - I am convinced of this. )

Something that helps the room air out is panels (I don't know what they are called - they are three rectangular wooden pieces hinged together. I use that instead of a door most of the time so that the ducks get better ventilation. With the way they splash, it was becoming a concern.

At night (they are seven weeks old, now, not just three or four) I change their bedding at around 10 p.m., and remove the waterer and feed pan. I clean out the waterer and feed pan and refill them and set them aside for the morning. At around 5 a.m. they are getting thirsty, so I get up and put the waterer and feed in their brooder.

I may have to give them some more space this next week, or I may get away with the 16 sf. They are still small, really. About a pound a piece, and 21 inches tall or so. They can all still settle down for the night with room between them if they wish, especially since the waterer is no longer in there with them at night.

I use a puppy playpen. I am not handy, though I can cobble together things sometimes. The playpen is expandable, so if I have to I may add another section (this will require moving or removing furniture from that room). This would be necessary if the ducklings have a growth spurt and the weather continues to stay so cold at night (we are expecting another freeze tonight).

This is a very short window of time - just several weeks. It is not worth it to me to risk their well-being for my convenience. So far, we have found ways to keep everybody`s quality of life at an acceptable level

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
thats what i have been doing with mine, they have a play yard in the chicken run, when the weather is warm, mid 70's and up, they go out there and they come in at nite- they love being out but sure sleep at nite! currently their brooder consists of a section in the living room covered in sheets or towels

 

[bock]

I am a BAD mommy! My babies are out with only a tarp protecting them from the wind and rain...........not to mention it is 50F out.

 

[arabianequine]

I know there is baby ducks in the wild so who does all this for them? Their mommy I guess.