Indoor ducklings transition to outdoors after a week

[TMarie]

Hello! I'm looking to get ducklings this wknd. I plan to keep them in the brooder in the front room for the first wk or until they get too dusty and stinky. Then I figured I could transfer them to a prefab coop outside with the hen heater (the kind that looks like a table and they go under)
We're in Tennessee. So it's still getting cold at night and not super hot during the day 40-65 range.

My question is: since they'll have their heater with them, will they acclimate well or is it going to be too cold outside for them after being indoors?

Should they go straight outside?

I've brooded chickens and quail before but I had a basement then so the stink wasn't as much of an issue

 

[bhaugh]

I would not put them outside until they are about 3-4 weeks old depending on your outside temp. They have no way to heat themselves and no mom to keep them warm. Ducklings are hardy but drafty areas can cause pneumonia and kill them. I've had that happen with runners. If your worried about the smell, I use wood pellets and a glad plastic container with a hole cut on the side for them to get a drink and clean their nares. No other water is allowed in the brooders which can also create mold and dead birds.

 

[TMarie]

I would not put them outside until they are about 3-4 weeks old depending on your outside temp. They have no way to heat themselves and no mom to keep them warm. Ducklings are hardy but drafty areas can cause pneumonia and kill them. I've had that happen with runners. If your worried about the smell, I use wood pellets and a glad plastic container with a hole cut on the side for them to get a drink and clean their nares. No other water is allowed in the brooders which can also create mold and dead birds.

I appreciate your response. So even though they'll be in a coop with a heater that acts as a hen, you think it'll be too cold?

 

[bhaugh]

I've never used the heat source you mentioned. Ducklings grow tall fast and your needing to raise it won't keep drafts out. I can tell you wood pellets work great and I wouldn't raise ducks without them. Quail are another skinky chick. Works great for them too

 

[TMarie]

I've never used the heat source you mentioned. Ducklings grow tall fast and your needing to raise it won't keep drafts out. I can tell you wood pellets work great and I wouldn't raise ducks without them. Quail are another skinky chick. Works great for them too

Thank you! Maybe I'll try to just keep them indoors. I'm thinking I'll only get about 6 anyway

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I use puppy pee pads for the first 4 weeks. You can just roll them up throw away and put down fresh. Easy peasy and very little stink. I usually dont put mine out to the 4th week. Table heaters are great for inside but not powerful enough for outside this early in the year.