when can my ducklings go outside??

[aduckstolemyheart]

Wow! Nice set up! Love the little houses and that awesome pond. Switch ya yards? lol

I have a similar little area ours can go out into, but I have been too freaked out to let them out there because the yard is uncovered, and I am worried about their size, and the off hand chance an air predator decided to visit the neighborhood. I need to chill, but they're my babies!

 

[chickboss]

Quote:
Your duck house looks so cute.

I will be putting my Muscovies out earlier than my Kahkis. The Kahkis were my first ducks ever, and I think I babied them a bit. I would take them out on cold days and they didn't seem bothered one bit, but did I listen to them? Of corse, we weren't just having some light frost, but snow at that time and it made me a little nervous. Still, they were out by six weeks. Honestly, even with a very large brooder, they were starting to seem pretty stressed in the house by the end of it. There are 10 Muscovies, so that is a lot more body heat. I think they will be out at 4 weeks, if not a bit sooner.

 

[artsyrobin]

ok, so it is getting down in the mid 40's, so mine get shifted back in at nite- they are 5 week old pekins, sounds like they should be fine at nite outside, their pen is in the chicken run, so a dog crate would be sufficient? the run is covered- and they have a tarp over theirs....

 

[pinkfoxfarm]

im planning on putting my baby runners out at 3 weeks assuming th weather holds (70's during the day 50's at night) they are MUCH happier outside, they wont get free run of the yard though untill its fenced and that wont be untill early april....
i took the heat lamp off them this past week because they wernt using that half of the brooder and it was only set to 70 lol so out it went so theyd have more usbale room. ill be honest i didnt expect ducklings to be sooooo messy! lol. but 6 babies can make alot of mess in a very short time...

 

[wildpeas]

We have yet to get up to 50 degrees during the day so mine are going to be in for a while. They probably wont be living out in their house and yard until they are 8 weeks or so. It depends so much on the weather.

 

[taniathetiger]

i have two ducklings myself! theyre about two weeks old but im too scared to take them outside to wander and walle because of our neighborhood cat

Advice?

 

[Amiga]

i have two ducklings myself! theyre about two weeks old but im too scared to take them outside to wander and walle because of our neighborhood cat

Advice?

Ducklings can go outside with close supervision if you have a safe space for them. They need to be protected at all times from predators, heat, thirst, hunger and accidents.

I would not leave them for any amount of time, and I would watch to make sure if they get tired they go back to the brooder for rest.

 

[eurtis7654]

My 12 Sliver Appleyard are driving me crazy. I have them in a small chicken coup in my garage. They are 4 wks. now and a mess. When the weather nice I put them out for a while. They drive me crazy.

 

[leo081977]

ohhh so glad to find this thread My 2 1/2 week old babies are getting too big I NEED to move them out... we are in Australia so I am guessing warm enough... thinking a dog kennel, they're not going in with the big girls yet... more readingt o be done

 

[Splodganessa]

i put mine out at 3 weeks.  they do just find huddling together to keep warm.

I was hoping i could put my baby call ducks out by 4 weeks but reading some of the comments i must think again! They are getting quite messy now. Changing bedding and feeders a couple of times a day and carrying them up to the bath once a day for a swim,, oh what fun to watch. 4 are three weeks old and 3 are less than two weeks but all live happily together.