Too young to be outside in storms?

[lyssi]

Hey! On May 1st I got my first 6 ducks from a duck slaughter farm. I didn't know that they were raised for meat until after I left their (the farm owners) home. I have two 16 day old ducklings and four 8 day old ducklings. I contacted the farm to ask about when I should be putting the older two in a coop, and they said they I could now. So yesterday I set up the coop and put the two ducks in. I wasn't too worried until later tonight, when it started storming and lightning kept striking nearby. I convinced my sister to help me get the two out of the rain and back into the box I had them in earlier in the week. When I went out there, both of them were visibly upset which made my heart break. The two ducks don't have all of their feathers yet, so I was extra worried about them getting cold. I live in Louisiana, but I still think it was a good idea to bring them in. I'm writing this just 10 minutes after the whole chaotic ordeal, so I'm still kind of shaken. Now, for the actual question! Are they too young to be outside in the coop? My Indian Runner duck has shaky legs, and my Magpie duck gets scared quite easily, so I'm concerned for their health and safety! My next question is about how I can stop worrying as much as I do now. I keep thinking that the ducks will never trust me, even though I just got them this Saturday! I know they will have to get used to me, but for some reason I can't shake the feeling of being unworthy of their trust. Finally, if the two juveniles are too young to be in the coop, when should I put them back in? Thank you to anyone who helps! Take care, and stay safe.

 

[room onthebroom]

If the coop is safe & dry they should be fine out there.

What’s your coop like? Do you have something on the ground (like dirt, sand, straw, or whatever) so it’s not slippery?

I suggest you search the forum for nutrients to add into their food. It’s extremely important when ducks are little. Sometimes something as simple as brewers yeast added into their food can make a big difference for their health.

 

[lyssi]

If the coop is safe & dry they should be fine out there.

What’s your coop like? Do you have something on the ground (like dirt, sand, straw, or whatever) so it’s not slippery?

I suggest you search the forum for nutrients to add into their food. It’s extremely important when ducks are little. Sometimes something as simple as brewers yeast added into their food can make a big difference for their health.

I have a coop that is slightly raised with a ramp, but they don't know how to get in yet. I'm ordering some fake turf to try and my the ramp easier to climb. For now, the ducks are sitting under the coop. Also, thank you for responding! I didn't expect someone to help me.

 

[Mellowmalt]

If the coop is safe & dry they should be fine out there.

I've never had ducklings but to me at 12 days old with no proper feathering out in rain and thunder does not sound good.

I'm glad you got them in.

Like said, I don't know anythng about ducks but their behaviour can tell us a bit even if they can't talk and they did not sound happy.

Would they have survived according to the farm they came from that were going to use them as dinner? Yes probably but if not then they would have just been an early dinner so them saying yes fine does not surprise me but I wouldn't take the persons word for it who was not planning to keep them alive anyway..

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. Now is not too young for all of the ducks to be outside. I suspect you’ll find they’ll be sleeping under the coop rather than in it. Straw would make good bedding and if you can block off the area under the coop to keep them dry and out of drafts they will stay warm and cozy.

My ducklings used the heat plate for about the first week, after that they were snuggled together in a corner at night. Our overnight lows were in the upper 30s and low 40s during that time.

Storms will happen again so getting your worry under control is important. Not that you won’t worry about them because you will. Ducks and chickens lived outside fending for themselves long before humans started keeping them though. Ducks are tough little things. They will get used to storms and such and come to know you’ve provided a safe place for them to get out of the weather.

What has always worked led for me, whether chickens or ducks, is time. Take the time to sit with your ducklings on their level every day, meaning on the ground so you’re not a hovering predator.. Water in a bowl big enough they can swim in is an excellent enticement, I used a pink one gallon dog water bowl Just sit next to it, give it a few splashes with your hand and then sit and wait. It might take a day or three but eventually they’ll know you won’t hurt them. They’ll come over to swim and you’ll have a blast taking pics of your silly ducks. Then treats come into play. I found that if I kept my hand still and didn’t watch them directly they eventually came to see what was in my hand. Try something green, peas are a favorite here and seem to be popular with many ducks but after they’re two or three weeks and big enough to eat them. My girls liked dill and parsley so I just held a piece in my hand by the stem and they munched away. Mealworms also, but be careful about too much protein in the ten to sixteen week period as it’s thought to be a possible cause of angel wing. I stuck to greens as the extras during this period.

Now I get mugged if I walk outside with a container of peas and they’ll follow me anywhere. Even to bed.

 

[lyssi]

I've never had ducklings but to me at 12 days old with no proper feathering out in rain and thunder does not sound good.

I'm glad you got them in.

Like said, I don't know anythng about ducks but their behaviour can tell us a bit even if they can't talk and they did not sound happy.

Would they have survived according to the farm they came from that were going to use them as dinner? Yes probably but if not then they would have just been an early dinner so them saying yes fine does not surprise me but I wouldn't take the persons word for it who was not planning to keep them alive anyway..

Thank you! That was exactly what I was thinking!

 

[lyssi]

Hi there. Now is not too young for all of the ducks to be outside. I suspect you’ll find they’ll be sleeping under the coop rather than in it. Straw would make good bedding and if you can block off the area under the coop to keep them dry and out of drafts they will stay warm and cozy.

My ducklings used the heat plate for about the first week, after that they were snuggled together in a corner at night. Our overnight lows were in the upper 30s and low 40s during that time.

Storms will happen again so getting your worry under control is important. Not that you won’t worry about them because you will. Ducks and chickens lived outside fending for themselves long before humans started keeping them though. Ducks are tough little things. They will get used to storms and such and come to know you’ve provided a safe place for them to get out of the weather.

What has always worked led for me, whether chickens or ducks, is time. Take the time to sit with your ducklings on their level every day, meaning on the ground so you’re not a hovering predator.. Water in a bowl big enough they can swim in is an excellent enticement, I used a pink one gallon dog water bowl Just sit next to it, give it a few splashes with your hand and then sit and wait. It might take a day or three but eventually they’ll know you won’t hurt them. They’ll come over to swim and you’ll have a blast taking pics of your silly ducks. Then treats come into play. I found that if I kept my hand still and didn’t watch them directly they eventually came to see what was in my hand. Try something green, peas are a favorite here and seem to be popular with many ducks but after they’re two or three weeks and big enough to eat them. My girls liked dill and parsley so I just held a piece in my hand by the stem and they munched away. Mealworms also, but be careful about too much protein in the ten to sixteen week period as it’s thought to be a possible cause of angel wing. I stuck to greens as the extras during this period.

Now I get mugged if I walk outside with a container of peas and they’ll follow me anywhere. Even to bed.

Yes! Thank you for your help! My ducks love peas, I introduced them to the peas yesterday, and they went crazy for them.

 

[lyssi]

I've never had ducklings but to me at 12 days old with no proper feathering out in rain and thunder does not sound good.

I'm glad you got them in.

Like said, I don't know anything about ducks but their behaviour can tell us a bit even if they can't talk and they did not sound happy.

Would they have survived according to the farm they came from that were going to use them as dinner? Yes probably but if not then they would have just been an early dinner so them saying yes fine does not surprise me but I wouldn't take the persons word for it who was not planning to keep them alive anyway..

Yeah, it's hard to take advice from the farm owner if they weren't planning on keeping them alive. Also thank you!

 

[igorsMistress]

Yes! Thank you for your help! My ducks love peas, I introduced them to the peas yesterday, and they went crazy for them.

My pleasure! Have fun with your little ones, they grow sooooo fast!

 

[KaleIAm]

Congratulations on your ducklings!

First of all, I coddle my ducks. I literally have ducks instead of human children.

Do your ducklings have heat outdoors in their coop? If so they are fine outside, but they still need a "brooder" type environment to live in at 8 and 16 days old. I don't know how cold it gets where you are but most people follow the guidelines of 90 degrees for the first week, and reduce the temperature by 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered or you reach the temperature of the environment. And also provide a cooler area they can choose to go to if they get too warm.

My ducks are 6 and 7 years old and live in a barn. I have a camera in the barn that I can watch live inside my house and during thunderstorms or hail they are visibly upset. They quack loudly for me. I go in there and sit with them until it passes. They stop quacking and running around, sit down next to me, and relax. But since yours aren't bonded to you I think you should probably just leave them. Until you are a source of safety you will probably just be one more scary thing.

You can be a source of safety! I adopted 3 ducks as adults and they were terrified of me. When they saw me they ran in the other direction and hid in corners. Within months I had tamed them to eat from my hands, enjoy sitting next to me, run to me when they saw a scary hawk, come when I called, and one even hopped into my lap regularly.

I avoided doing anything scary. I avoided direct eye contact. I avoided startling them, moving quickly, walking directly at them, ect. My ducks didn't like it when I stood up tall next to them, so I crawled a few feet away before standing. So pay attention to what scares your babies and don't do it. (I don't have to do any of this stuff anymore, btw)

I made sure everytime my ducks saw me something positive happened. My ducks loved mealworms and tomatoes. So I threw them their favorite treat anytime I walked past their aviary.

And I spent lots of time hanging out with them being still. I knitting near them, read books, even ate dinner and took naps. The more time you hang out with them the better.

My ducks aren't imprinted on me, and I think your ducks are too old to be as well. But they can be friendly and trust you.