When can ducklings go out to free range?

[MartynM]

these are my first ducklings, they were raised by their muscovy broody mother and hatched naturally by her. For the first week we kept them inside in a brooder with their mother (no heat lamp) and now we've made a run for them outside and put them in there with their mother. I was just wondering when I can let them out to free range the whole yard? They will have their mother out there with them, but we also have a drake and other muscovy females, and chickens so will they be safe? (Currently 15 days old)

 

[IvysAnimals]

If you're introducing them to other fowl, wait till they're fully feathered and sexually mature if they're going to be around other males. That also helps keep them just a little safer from predators and them getting scared. Getting fully feathered takes roughly about 30 days after hatching, and being sexually mature is around 4-7 months of age. It's important to keep them away from other drakes or other male poultry because they can seriously hurt and possibly damage little ducklings. Which can also very well kill them. Other ducks and drakes get aggressive towards ducklings and the mother gets stressed with others being around. The enclosure they're in should be closed off to keep them safe from other ducks, predators, humans, and natural things that they can get themselves into.