When to put ducklings out?

[MadisonOde]

Hey all,
I was wondering when I could put my ducklings out. They are now a little more than 3 weeks old, and they're huge! They would be going out with my 4 pullets that hatched in April. I don't think its an issue of warmth, their brooder stays outside during the day and they don't have their heat lamp on anymore because they were to hot. I know chickens and ducks together is a controversial topic, but I would like to try it and if need be I can always section the coop off. Thanks!

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Are you planning to feed everyone an All Flock?

I don't move mine out until 5 weeks. That last week is really hard because they are so enormous, and look so cramped in the brooder. What I did as a sort of medium ground was to put them outside for longer and longer stretches of time, and bring them back in at night the last 1.5 weeks.

 

[MadisonOde]

Yes, they will all be getting all flock.

 

[Fisherlmiranda]

Mine are outside full time right now. They have a small coop with removable roof. I hung a heat lamp down in the coop for them to snuggle up under. They are doing great and love the extra space! There's 7 of them born on 8/6 and they were just on top of each other in the brooder so I made the decision to move them outside.

 

[AlleysChicks]

I got mine at the beginning of July. They spend the days outside and nights inside.

 

[Kylo_Hen!]

SO CUTE! I LOVE DUCKS!

 

[CayugaJana]

Put those little stinkers outside! I put mine outside at 2 weeks when the weather is nice. As long as they are protected they will be just fine!

 

[MadisonOde]

Will they be ok with the chickens though? I'm just worried about the size difference.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Will they be ok with the chickens though? I'm just worried about the size difference.

It would depend upon how much space the ducklings have to escape the chickens. I personally wouldn't do it. Ducks pinch, and bite but they have blunt bills. The damage they can do to each other has more to do with size once they're older, not an inherent defensive system. Chickens are mean little creatures if they want to be, and they have sharp beaks (not to mention Roo spurs) so they can do more damage in a shorter period of time if they so desire.

I think of it like puppies and full grown cats. My Chesapeake Bay pup is about 100 lb now. When he was a wee pup one of our cats hurt him badly by scratching his eye. I had to take him to the vet to have it treated. He's a full 10x the size of that cat now, but when he was a little guy the cat was a bigger danger to him than he was to her.

 

[MadisonOde]

So should I wait until theyre bigger then? I dont have a rooster. Or should I section off some of the run for them during the day until they're older?