When To Put Ducklings Outside

[aking19]

I am new to ducklings (long time chicken keeper) and I am having trouble deciding if I can put my ducklings outside yet. I am in the south so temps are milder but they are in 30s and 40s at night. I can run heat to their coop as well and i have a radia t heater that mouts to the wall. They are cayuga and khaki campbells and are 3 and 4 weeks old. They are I would say almost halfway feathered. The Khakis seem to be feathering faster and they are getting huge.

I am torn about putting them outside because I want to make sure I keep them warm but they are outgrowing the brooder in my garage, I know ducks don’t put themselves to bed like chickens so I am afraid they won’t go in the coop at all. Also, I can’t keep up with the poo and changing bedding in brooder constantly and its not good for them and I dont have a way to give them an open waterer that allows them to fully submerge their faces because they make such a mess, space is an issue and the gallon of water is gone in about 2 hours and usually it ends up all over the brooder and my garage floor. They do go outside on warm days too.

Can anyone give me some tips to safely transition them outside early or should I deal with the issues a bit longer? If it was warmer I wouldnt be struggling so bad with this decision.

 

[Jlw0903]

I would start getting them acclimated to being outside. This will help them get used to cooler temps. As they are out for longer times you could keep them outside during warmer days and bring them in at night. Once they are fully feathered no longer an issue (I wanna say that's about at 8 weeks old or so?). Ducks LOVE cooler temps. Honestly mine are most happy when it's 40-50° out and will be in the pool happy as clams when it's 10° out.

 

[aking19]

I would start getting them acclimated to being outside. This will help them get used to cooler temps. As they are out for longer times you could keep them outside during warmer days and bring them in at night. Once they are fully feathered no longer an issue (I wanna say that's about at 8 weeks old or so?). Ducks LOVE cooler temps. Honestly mine are most happy when it's 40-50° out and will be in the pool happy as clams when it's 10° out.

Thank you, that is kind of what I have been doing. They don’t seem to get cold even when the sun starts to go behind the trees in the afternoon. They huddle up together but they snuggle in the sun too. They seem perfectly content and they have been avoiding the heat source in their brooder for weeks. I am just struggling with their health and well being being in that tiny brooder with the messy poo and ammonia smell etc vs being outside and i can warm them in their coop too.

 

[SixBabies]

Mine are just about 6 weeks and it’s finally warm enough and not too windy or rainy in the day for that age bracket to have them outside during the day supervised.

Pacific Northwest so it’s still pretty chilly at night but thankfully it’s nice out right now.

At 8 weeks they should be fully feathered and able to fully handle the outdoors. Been getting mine acclimated so they should be right on track by that time.

Make sure to keep clean dry bedding in their house for them at night! <3

 

[aking19]

Mine are just about 6 weeks and it’s finally warm enough and not too windy or rainy in the day for that age bracket to have them outside during the day supervised.

Pacific Northwest so it’s still pretty chilly at night but thankfully it’s nice out right now.

At 8 weeks they should be fully feathered and able to fully handle the outdoors. Been getting mine acclimated so they should be right on track by that time.

Make sure to keep clean dry bedding in their house for them at night! <3

How sweet!! your gals are beauties! I am in the south so we are a bit warmer; however, this time of year is all over the place. Definitely wishing I had done this in the summer. I had no idea how messy they are and how fast they grow!!! Lesson learned. It is so hard keeping up with the mess and smell. Thanks for your help!!