If you’re looking for an adorable pet, reliable egg-layer, or both, ducks are a fantastic choice. However, there are some nuances of raising ducklings that can be tricky to manage, especially regarding their health and safety.
While hatching and brooding your ducklings indoors is a great option, the little ducks will need their outside time to grow and thrive properly. But when is it safe to bring the little ones out into the world?
There are a few essential factors to consider– including temperature, age, and swimming ability– that you need to consider before letting the ducklings out to play.
The Right Time To Let Your Baby Ducks Outside
If the conditions are right and your ducklings are prepared, you can let baby ducks outside when they are between about five and eight weeks old.
If you’re wondering, “If the weather is warm, can X-week-old ducks be outside?” Maybe– if the ducklings are supervised, and you’re very careful. At that age, the water-proofing oils have not fully (or sometimes, at all) coated the duckling’s feathers, so there is a great risk of drowning.
However, at around four weeks old, the little ones should be ready for short, supervised excursions into the great outdoors– so long as it is 65 degrees Fahrenheit outside or warmer. Eventually, the ducklings will be able to live outside permanently (provided the weather is warm enough), but we’ll want to make sure they are all completely ready first.
When Can Ducklings Go in the Water?
Technically speaking, baby ducks can swim when they are only a week old– but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to leave your ducklings in the water just yet! Mother ducks in the wild will often preen their ducklings to coat them in oil and help them swim, but baby ducks don’t naturally have the water-proof oil coating on their feathers yet, so they aren’t as buoyant or water-resistant as adult ducks.
However, ducklings adore the water, and (supervised) water playtime is essential for a growing duck’s health. It’s a good idea to prepare a small, shallow pond– or you can use a sink or bathtub– with just enough water for the babies to splash around in. The ducklings will get tired quickly, so keep the first water playtimes short; around 15 minutes should be enough.
Remember that at this age, ducklings should always be watched in the water. It’s also important to dry off the little ones before putting them back in the brooder to keep them warm.
So, when can ducklings swim unsupervised? After around six to eight weeks old, the ducklings should have the preening and water-proofing they need to be safe on their own in the water. Be sure to double-check that the ducks can get in and out of the water easily, just in case they get tired while swimming. Many people use ramps, rocks, or even bricks to give their ducklings a stepping-stone when they need it.
Duckling Care Week-by-Week
So, when is the best time to introduce the little ducklings to their outdoor space? Here’s a general timeline of a safe duckling’s move outside.
Weeks 1-2
For their first few weeks, the ducklings will need to be kept safe and comfortable in their brooder. Since all their feathers won’t grow in for a few little, it’s essential to keep them warm. If there is a mother duck in the brood, she should naturally warm the baby ducks, but there are alternatives if you only have the ducklings.
It’s recommended that you put a heat lamp or heat plate on one side of the brooder to keep your little ducks at the right temperature. This will allow the ducklings to choose their temperature levels– warmer near the lamp or cooler on the side.
If you wonder how cold baby ducks can tolerate, the answer is not very, at least in this stage of their lives. You’ll want to keep the heat lamp set to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week. After that, you can drop the temperature by one degree per day until it hits 75 degrees to acclimate the ducklings until their feathers grow in slowly. If the brooder is always at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit, you can probably take out the heat lamp once the babies are acclimated.
It’s helpful to watch the ducklings gauge their comfort level. If they are huddled up under the heat lamp, they may not be warm enough– check the temperature with a thermometer. If the ducklings are huddling up on the other side of the brooder, they may be feeling too warm away from the heat lamp.
Weeks 3-4
So, when can ducklings go outside to play? At this point, the little ducks should have enough feathers to keep warm on outdoor trips. You can help the ducklings adjust to the outside temperatures by taking them out for short periods at first and then slowly keeping them out longer and longer until they are comfortable.
The ducklings may start to get adventurous, so be sure to monitor them closely and keep them within a secure area, like a fenced yard or a chicken run. They will be especially vulnerable to predators at this age, so be sure not to let any ducklings run off– and keep an eye out for foxes, birds of prey, or other wild critters.
This is an excellent time to introduce the baby ducks to their pond, pool, or other outside water sources. It’s important to keep in mind that ducks and ducklings both dearly need water for their health and happiness. Ducks drink more than chickens, must keep their nasal cavities moist, and often submerge their whole bill to eat and drink. They also love playing and bathing in the water.
Remember, the ducklings will most likely not have the water-proof oil coating their features to protect them at this age. Unfortunately, drowning deaths are a terrible reality of raising ducklings, but this can be avoided with careful monitoring and close supervision. For your duckling’s swimming space, make sure that they can easily get in and out of the water. It should be deep enough for the ducks to submerge their whole bill, but only barely.
Weeks 5-6 and Beyond
If you’re keeping ducks inside your house, at this point, you are probably thinking, “When can ducks go outside full time?” Don’t worry– the little ones are almost ready.
Once they reach about five or six weeks old, the baby ducks should start preening their feathers to coat them in the water-proofing oil. Once they’ve gotten into the habit of grooming their feathers regularly, they should be safe to swim on their own for longer periods. It’s still a good idea to keep an eye on them whenever they play in the water, however.
Their big bird feathers should be coming in now, and by the time they are between six and eight weeks old, they will probably lose their duckling fluffiness. By this point, they should be able to move outside permanently– so long as they can swim safely and the temperature doesn’t drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, even at night.
The most important thing about bringing your baby ducks outside is knowing that they’re ready for the temperature, water, and adventure of the outside world. With their adult feathers preened and ready, their little bodies acclimated to the temperature, and their swimming practice completed, the ducklings are now ready to move into their new outside home!