When can ducklings be moved outside ?

[kyron4]

I have 3 Indian runner, 3 kaki cambells , and 3 Cayugas that are around 4 weeks old ( I think the Cayugas are closer to2 1/2 to 3 weeks). They are rapidly out growing their 4'x4' indoor brooder. I'd like to move them to the barn in a 8'x8' pen with a heat lamp. Highs are hovering in the low to mid 50's with lows around 30* to 40* at night. Will it be okay to move them at this age ? Also, at what age or temp. can they be put in an outdoors pen during the day without a heat source ? -Thanks

 

[Knighstar679]

Some people brood in barns. So if you have a draftless place with enough heat they could move out to th barn.

as for outside are you asking for just a trip or all day?

 

[kyron4]

Thinking like 11am to 7pm in a wire covered 12'x24' run; gets dark about 8-8:30.

 

[johntfs]

Do they have their adult feathers yet? No firsthand knowledge myself, but most people here and other places have said that as long as the temp doesn't go below 50 degrees Farenheit (11 degrees Celsius), they should be okay outside.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I wouldn't put them in the barn at night until they are fully feathered. During the day they can go outside as long as the temps are warm, in the 70's but watch that they aren't getting chilled.

 

[Isaac 0]

I don't put mine outside until they are almost completely feathered.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You could make them a bigger brooder. @DuckyDonna has some pics of how she brooded her Runners last year.

 

[DuckyDonna]

You could make them a bigger brooder. @DuckyDonna has some pics of how she brooded her Runners last year.

I just used a big kiddie pool with cardboard or flexible dog gate around the pool so they can't escape. You could put it in your garage.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Pictures @DuckyDonna

 

[DuckyDonna]

Pictures @DuckyDonna

The ducklings this small will go right through the fence so you really need something like cardboard up until they get too big to get through the fence holes.

This bottom picture was a rush/panic setup after my little 4 week old got killed by a huge king snake in the big outside pen. I moved them quickly into the porch and just put cardboard up all around the big pool. I think this pool is one size bigger than the picture above. It really works just fine and they stayed in it another week or 2 until I dared put them back outside.