Too soon?

[ducklover87]

My ducklings will be 6 weeks old on Sunday but they are already feathered out even on their wings. Is it still too early to put them outside at night? They are outside a few hours a day then I bring them in before dusk. I live in upstate NY and its still 30 degrees at night. Will they be OK? My yr old Pekins didn't go outside until May (but I got them at the end of March) so it was warm outside. I still give them a heat lamp at night to and on cold days if they want to get warm. They never seem cold but I just like to be sure. Should I put the ducklings outside with a heat lamp? I'm worried they will still be to cold. Any advice will be greatly appreciated to this very worrisome ducky mom.

 

[Amiga]

I wouldn't. 30 is too cold, and where I am, we regularly get temperatures five or more degrees below the predicted low. Are they becoming a challenge with brooder cleaning or something like that?

 

[ducklover87]

Not so much a challenge but with them growing bigger and being so many of them its hard to keep it clean from all the poo. I'm constantly cleaning it and stirring it up and I'm starting to break out. Not sure if its from the ducks or the shavings I use. Its hard to tell because I put them in the tub then clean out their brooder so I'm not sure what's causing the break outs on my hands.

 

[Amiga]

Oooh, I hate it when my skin breaks out. And on the hands, too.

Well, I really think it's too cold for them outside. And I know, they make poop like crazy. Can you get ahold of a stack of old towels? I used towels for my ducklings and it worked out well. Shake'em outside on the flower garden, toss'em in the wash, reuse.

Maybe a box of those non-latex gloves? I know I was sensitive to the shavings we used. And it was probably just that particular bale of shavings that had extra resin in it, I think.

 

[ducklover87]

I let them walk around on old blankets that I don't use sometimes cause I have a bigger bed then I used to. I wouldn't non latex but I could get some gloves. Never crossed my mind of wearing gloves. Thanks I'll try that and keep them inside for a couple more weeks or until it warms up but probably be a couple weeks anyway

 

[ducklover87]

I let them walk around on old blankets that I don't use sometimes cause I have a bigger bed then I used to. I wouldn't non latex but I could get some gloves. Never crossed my mind of wearing gloves. Thanks I'll try that and keep them inside for a couple more weeks or until it warms up but probably be a couple weeks anyway

 

[cosbackyard]

I've got five-week olds and they're outside in the shed with a heat lamp. 30s at night here too. It may not be ideal, but the shed is shut tight and they're okay so far.

 

[Amiga]

What's the temperature under the lamp out there? Just trying to learn more about temperatures for younger ducks. And I apologize, I forgot the kind of ducks you have.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

I kicked my 2 Cayuga ducklings & 15 chicks out at 5 weeks with a heat lamp it dipped into the teens and 20s at night and most of the day for the first week and they all did fine ( I put them to only nighttime heat at 6 weeks 30's at night and there were done with a lamp by 7 weeks). Today & yesterday we had a terrible ice storm and they have been outside playing in like nothing is wrong (they are now 10 weeks)

The biggest thing is adjusting them gradually. So I would put them out with a heat lamp and be sure to lock them up at night so they can't get seperated. Then after about a week or if it gets really warm just leave it on at night still lock them up...then lock them up with no lamp. They will snuggle and be fine.

 

[ducklover87]

So it would be OK? SD bird lady no problems with them running around they are penned up when they are outside. Still introducing them to my Pekins. My Pekins free range all over so not sure if I'd want them to be around each other. Next thing ya know they'd be taking them across the road or something lol would not be good.