When can the babies go outside?

[sroberts]

I have 12 ducks that will be 3 weeks old in the next day or so. We live in the Gulf of Florida and the days are warm but nights get around 35-40. We have a duck house built that is secure. The book I have says 4 weeks until they can be outside but the lady we got them from said 3 weeks and they can be outside. Do you think with the heat lamps in the duck house they will be ok outside now? Or give them another week inside?

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[sroberts]

 

[sroberts]

 

[Amiga]

I would give them another week inside, since that will give you time to check the temperature of the outdoor house at night (if you can borrow a min-max thermometer - those things are great!)

Are you going to cover the openings with half inch metal hardware cloth? They need ventilation, but the half inch metal hardware cloth keeps predators out (when securely installed).

Everything likes to eat duck - that's my mantra when building a shelter.

At 3 weeks of age, they need to be no colder than around (90 minus 3 times 5 is 90 minus 15 is 75) 75 degrees F.

Yes, people put their ducklings out in colder weather, but here is my thought. Ducklings are developing. They only have a certain amount of energy. If they have to spend that energy staying warm to stay alive, they won't have it to build bones, muscles, nerves and organs. I like to give ducklings the best head start that I can.

Just a reminder if you are using a heat lamp - how will you prevent a fire? I am sure you have thought of it, so it would be good to discuss that for people who read this thread later.

 

[sroberts]

The openings at the top have mesh that we stapled around the opening. Do we need to also add wire? I think another week sounds like the best option. Thank you!

 

[Amiga]

The openings at the top have mesh that we stapled around the opening. Do we need to also add wire? I think another week sounds like the best option. Thank you!

Could you describe the mesh? Is it metal, plastic, chicken wire, window screen?

Whatever goes over openings needs to be tough enough that raccoons cannot rip it open. If they can, they will. If they can pull out the staples, they will.

 

[sroberts]

Ohh I will need to put something else up. It's just a cloth mesh. I was not thinking about the raccoons ripping open the mesh!

 

[Amiga]

Predators have all night and sometimes all day to rip, claw, tear and dig their way in to get to ducks. Please use that to guide your shelter construction.