Putting the ducklings outside

[headred]

Mine were 2 weeks and went out to 25 degree weather with a heat lamp. They never used the heat lamp and did just fine! They also sit in the water when its pretty cold at night. Ducks are really tolerant of cold and rain.

 

[Apopka Cluckers]

I was told not to put them in water until they feather out. Something about the feathers and oil and the such. I placed them in the bath once and they came out they were shivering.

 

[taraann81]

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EVERY 2 DAYS!!! I clean mine twice a day just to be able to tolerate the odor! phew duckies stink!

 

[patyrdz]

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Mine were shivering too! I had them in the bath tub!The water wasn't even cold!! I tried to put them in a little garden pond in the front yard and they freaked out and ran out of the pond!! I have some weird ducks!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I'm in SE Florida (West Palm Beach area) and I usually put my lil' peepers out in the grass right away *BUT* during the daytime only. I would much rather have them depositing most of their poops outdoors as soon as possible. I have an assortment of bottomless wire cages & pens to use for this, so the babes can enjoy the grass & dirt but still be protected. I keep a piece of plywood or a plastic bin lid on the top for shade & protection from hawks. I also give my ducklings a shallow pan of water to play in once they're a couple of weeks old.

However, I do bring them in at nightfall, either in the house or up on the patio. Into a box with a light for warmth or into something like a dog crate. There are so many things that like to snack on little chicks & ducklings that I won't chance it by leaving them out until they're quite big & feathered.

 

[hendrix25]

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I have read that also. I have 3 Cayuga ducklings and I let them play in our garden tub until they are tired. They will stop dipping their heads and "splashing" when they are finished. I wait for mine to huddle together and stand before I take them out. Then I dry them off one at a time with a towel...NO they don't like being dried off...but I do it so they won't get chills. After drying them off, I put them back in their "clean" cage. They will fluff out with in 5 mins or so. Then I put their cage in our smaller bathroom put a towel over the cage. I also turn on a small heater and let it run for 10-20 mins.

Another trick I use is, I take a mason jar fill it with water, microwave for 4-5 mins(without the lid), put the lid on, roll the jar in a hand towel put two hair bows around each end making sure they ducklings can't touch the jar (bc its really hot) and place it in the cage. They will cuddle up next to the jar when they sleep and sometime will lay onto of the jar. Then if they get too warm they can get away from the jar.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Ducklings that hatch under a mama duck get enough oil on their fluff from her feathers that they can stay afloat when they swim. Brooder ducklings have to wait until they produce enough oil on their own when their feathers grow in.

I guess it stays so warm here I never get shivering ducklings. I give them a shallow pan of water to play in and it seems to stimulate their oil glands when they dip & flap & wiggle their tails. Then they dry themselves by preening, they keep rubbing their bills over their oil glands and spreading it over their fuzz.

 

[hendrix25]

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Thanks...that was educating. I didn't know that they were stimulating their oil glands when they were drying off.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

While watching my brown Khaki Campbell ducklings after a dip I could actually see the fuzz darken at the base of their tails, so I assumed it was from their oil glands there. I think that's why they do that cute wiggle with their tails after they stretch tall on their tip-toes and flap their tiny penguin wings, it's to help release the oils. Then they rub their bills in it & use their wonderfully bendy necks to spread it all over their bodies.

 

[Luvducks]

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I have read that also. I have 3 Cayuga ducklings and I let them play in our garden tub until they are tired. They will stop dipping their heads and "splashing" when they are finished. I wait for mine to huddle together and stand before I take them out. Then I dry them off one at a time with a towel...NO they don't like being dried off...but I do it so they won't get chills. After drying them off, I put them back in their "clean" cage. They will fluff out with in 5 mins or so. Then I put their cage in our smaller bathroom put a towel over the cage. I also turn on a small heater and let it run for 10-20 mins.

Another trick I use is, I take a mason jar fill it with water, microwave for 4-5 mins(without the lid), put the lid on, roll the jar in a hand towel put two hair bows around each end making sure they ducklings can't touch the jar (bc its really hot) and place it in the cage. They will cuddle up next to the jar when they sleep and sometime will lay onto of the jar. Then if they get too warm they can get away from the jar.

Good idea with the mason jar.