White pekin ducklings

[michelleshens]

Hi everyone! I'm new to raising ducks, and I have a quick question.

When can I move these sweet babies outside? I got them on April 22nd, and I didn't even think to ask how old they were. They are starting their feathers, but are still mostly downy. I live in Northern Nevada, and our temps at night are still pretty low. Daytime temps this month have ranged from 55-75 degrees during the day, with lows in the 40's.

I don't want to put them outside before they're ready, but man!! They stink!!

 

[The Pinto Pony]

Once they have no Down left and the low stays over Fifty then they can go outside.

 

[Peekin In]

I moved ours out at 5 weeks old. They still have a heat lamp in the duck house but are mostly content sunbathing. They were out in the snow on the weekend and were trying to catch snowflakes *sigh*, the cold didn't seem to bother them at all.

They are mostly feathered but still have down on their heads.

 

[The Pinto Pony]

Yeah I let one of mine outside when he still had some down on his head but it was around 60 degrees outside.