Webster and Patches

[duckncover]

I have 2 ducklings, one rouen and one pekin. They are starting to get BIG and MESSY and STINKY! They are at least 16 days old. It's going to be 49 degrees out tomorrow and I want to put them in the coop on my porch. Do you think they'd be alright for the day. I will still bring them in for the night, but having them in for half the day will create half the stink and mess. I let them swim in the bathtub before since their feet were all poopie. They come when you peep at them but they aren't really imprinted. They will hop up on your lap if they feel like it but their still a little scared of me. I don't know if you guys know my story but I usually get ducklings around spring but I'm never allowed to keep them since they are messy. But this time I only have 2 and I'm hoping I can get them living outside before my mom gets mad and makes me get rid of them. I don't think I'm zoned for ducks but if anyone asks I'll just say their my pets. My chemistry teacher said as long as I say their my personal pets and not production or working animals no one can make me get rid of them unless they're making a problem like being too loud. I highly doubt noise will be a problem since I have extremely loud parrots and no one complains about them. Here are some pictures..

Sorry for the poor quality my camera is dead so I'm using a potable video game system to take pictures.
Webster is the Pekin and Patches is the Rouen. I'm really hoping Patches is a drake since the drakes a so colorful.

 

[tia]

I think that is too cold for them until they are totally feathered out. When mine are inside I clean their brooder several times a day. If you clean them often, that will keep the smell down. What do you do with them when you get rid of them? I hope it works out that you can keep them.

 

[duckncover]

Well my cousin's cousin has a farm with ducks and geese. He usually takes them. He loves when I bring them to him because they are friendlier then the ones he gets at the auction. I was reading on one post that people started putting them out at 2 weeks but I'll judge it myself. If they start shivering and huddle together then I'll bring them back inside.

 

[Mikanik]

Yeah...I wouldn't put them out in those temps. Do you have a heat lamp? My 2 ducklings and one gosling are all between 5 weeks and 1 week old and I'm not planning on putting them out until it's at least 60 outside during the day. If you're worried about smell, just change their bedding more often. I was changing mine 4 times some days....until I started using stable pellets (or toxin free wood stove pellets with low to no cedar) which has made a HUGE difference. I change their bedding about every other to every 3rd day now!

VERY cute babies, btw!! I have a rouen myself and seriously wanted a Pekin but got a goose instead.

Hope you get to keep them! If that's an on going yearly ritual of getting ducklings and having to get rid of them....That's probably something I would consider stopping. It can't be fun for you every time you have to give them up..but MORE importantly it's not fair and probably very stressful on the poor ducklings.