I have 2 runner ducklings I hatched, they are now 2 weeks old, when is a good time to start putting them outside? I thought maybe start putting them out in the day and bringing them in at night? or is 2 weeks too early? any advice taken as this is my first time at hatching eggs
I think two weeks is too young. Wait until around four weeks to put them outside during the day, and then around at around five to six weeks (depending on how feathered they are by then) they can start spending the night outside.
i took my ducks out when they were one week old. i have 40 and i let them out during the day and put them in cages during the night. i keep the cages in the coop. the first batch were even younger when i took them out, but now i was too busy and had no time to move them out.
I put mine out with a lamp at 2-3 weeks with nights down in the 40s. They all did well, infact they prefered to sleep away from them lamp. They free ranged during the day with highs from 50 - 60s. my humble set up for my KCs back in March. Sides covered at night.
I put mine out during the day when they are about 3 to 4 days old. They are out from 8am to 7pm then brought back in for the night into the brooder.
Mine hate going back inside, they are like little kids. They are just over two weeks old and spend the days outside, and nights inside. Of course its depending on the weather. Once their new house is all set up and secure they will probably be staying outside, maybe with a lamp during the night.
