Think they'll be ok?

[JJchiknshak]

I have two 4 1/2 week old runner ducklings. They have all their adult feathers on their chests and tummies. They've been spending their days out in the duck pen. They can get in and out of the pool on their own.

Tonight it is going down to 56 degrees with a 50% chance of rain.

Do you think they will be ok if I leave them out for the night?

Here's a pic from yesterday.

Thanks!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Do they have a covered in area where they can get in out of the rain???

 

[JJchiknshak]

Well, there is a covered area, but my broody, cranky duck is in there right now.

I decided I'm not ready to put them out for the night yet. I want to make a little sheltered area other than the duck house so they can have somewhere to hide.

 

[FenDruadin]

Aren't they adorable!!

My 4-week-old ducklings have been spending nights outdoors for a while now, but they have a covered shelter all to themselves and on cool nights I hook up a brood lamp that makes the little dog house quite toasty. They actually don't use the shelter much, but on rainy nights they certainly do, and I feel better knowing they have the option.

I think you're right to bring them in for now, unless you can rig them up a shelter of their own.

 

[Amiga]

JJchiknshak,

Good call on keeping them in. We are in New England, and last night was the first night that both the house and pen were secure enough, and the ducks old enough (10 weeks), and the temperature warm enough (mid 50s) for me to feel confident that all would be well (I do like to rest at night).

Ducklings, even when they get some adult feathers, are still growing and need their energy to build internal organs and more feathers and fight off disease. If they are spending energy staying warm, they don't have the energy for other important processes.

Yes, they are hardy, but why push them? They are only ducklings for some number of weeks - they will be adults for (we hope) years.

 

[Brickman House]

My recent crop of ducklings are just a few days older than yours. They've been outside for a couple weeks already, at 60- 70's during the day and 40-50's at night, rain or shine. They do have a snug house of their own, though, that they can use at will, and they're locked up at night. I have noticed that they definitely use their house during the day for shelter against wind, rain, or even for shade.

So while I think your ducklings are old enough to be outside, at least in my experience, they do need a house of their own that isn't guarded by a broody adult that won't let them in.

 

[L0rraine]

So I've been leaving my (nearly three week old) Runners in a run with a pair of Silkies for a few hours every day. They have a small shallow pool in there and they seem delighted to have a chance to chase bugs. But the weather has been uncharacteristically cool here so I try to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't look cold. What has been especially cute is that they think the black Silkie roo is a momma duck and they hover as close to him as possible. At first he was a bit distressed by it all, but now he just thinks it's his lot. I REALLY have to get a picture (though now they are almost as tall as he is). And one time yesterday when I went out to check, a chipmunk had joined the menagerie.

(Actually I think they'd go in and sleep with the Silkies - but I just worry about some unexpected disaster happening in the middle of the night).

 

[JJchiknshak]

I'm planning on making a little covered area in their pen. Somewhere I can put the food bowl so it's out of the weather, (I used to keep it in the front corner of the duck house, but with cranky momma in there, that doesn't work.)

The shelter I'm planning will be pretty basic, but should keep them out of the elements.

 

[JJchiknshak]

I made the little covered area. It's just a basic shelter. I'm glad I made it cause now I keep their food bowl there, and it stays dry when it rains.

I've let my babies stay outside 2 nights in a row now. They seem just fine.

 

[FenDruadin]

Cool! Mine are six weeks old now, but I still turn the light on in their shelter on rainy nights like the last couple. They do use it occasionally, so I'll keep providing it.

Glad to hear yours are doing so well out there. Yay!