Transitioning to outside

[Piepie]

Hi everyone, my ducklings are two weeks old now. I know they'll be inside until 8-9 weeks but I'm wondering if I should start taking them out for a few hours each day to get them used to the temperature? They will be old enough to go outside at the end of November/start of December so I'm worried they won't know what to do with cold weather? First time duck mom if you can't tell

 

[Canadian Wind]

Could you tell us where you are located? I'm in Ontario, Canada, and my ducklings, about the same age, will be spending the winter inside with me.

 

[Piepie]

Could you tell us where you are located? I'm in Ontario, Canada, and my ducklings, about the same age, will be spending the winter inside with me.

North Carolina

 

[Canadian Wind]

Okay, I recognize your avatar now, lol!

Hope you weren't hit too hard by Ian!

Whereabouts? Northern? Southern? I have a friend in NC that always complains whenever she has to shovel an inch of snow, lol!

I would say that considering you don't get anywhere near as cold as I do, gradual introduction to the outside, with longer times as they feather out, would be good. If they go in the water, make sure they are completely dry afterwards.

You may still want to keep them inside overnight for a little bit, even if they are outside during the day. Gauge the weather/temperature and use your better judgement. If in doubt, then keep them in.

 

[Piepie]

Okay, I recognize your avatar now, lol!

Hope you weren't hit too hard by Ian!

Whereabouts? Northern? Southern? I have a friend in NC that always complains whenever she has to shovel an inch of snow, lol!

I would say that considering you don't get anywhere near as cold as I do, gradual introduction to the outside, with longer times as they feather out, would be good. If they go in the water, make sure they are completely dry afterwards.

You may still want to keep them inside overnight for a little bit, even if they are outside during the day. Gauge the weather/temperature and use your better judgement. If in doubt, then keep them in.

My closest big city is Charlotte so thankfully no damage here from the storm. It was warm the past few days but the highs will be in the 60s and lows in 40s this week and like 38 for a low one night. If you have your ducks inside during winter and they're older do you just keep them in the same set up?(mine are in a baby pool) or will they need more room?

 

[Canadian Wind]

They'll be in my bathtub >.< Or rather, a bin in my bathtub, so I can move it when I shower. It's the only place I can keep them since I live in an RV trailer. Once they're bigger and the cats don't look at them as prey, I'll let them waddle up and down inside for exercise. I might move them to a large-ish rabbit cage in the main area, I'll see if I can shuffle things around for it. Right now, I have six chickens, three ducklings, three cats, a large dog, two gerbils, and myself in a fifth-wheel 30' trailer, lol!

I may be a bit insane (or more insane) by the time Spring comes around...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m in NC mountains and if you take your ducklings out during the day do it in the warmest part of the day with little wind and just for short times like 30 mins. I wouldn’t let them swim in cold water their down isn’t thick like feathers and they could chill pretty easy. Mine loved being outside but I stayed right with them to make sure they were safe.
I’m old school but I would rather be safe than sorry when they are so young.

 

[Imataken]

I'm in nj and I have my ducks inside at night while the duck house is being finished they are little older 5 months old I have them in a large xpen with a tarp on the bottom and up the sides then hemp bedding about 4 inches deep this had been my setup since they turned 7 weeks old I bring them outside to the duck run every day rain or shine from noon till around 630 then they come in for the night we had 4 days for straight rain last week and they were out loving it still swimming and puddle jumping except for one of those days the wind and rain were so strong