When can ducklings go outside during the summer?

[Whitneyd88]

I've read many of the posts on here about when ducklings can go outside regarding cold weather, but what about hot weather? My Welsh Harlequins are 5 weeks old, have half their feathers, and are really crowded in the brooder. They are still afraid of me so I'm worried that once I put them in their 16' by 8' coop, I won't be able to catch them daily to bring them in during the day. Daily temps reach mid 90's to almost 100 and it's pretty humid here in Georgia so the heat index is like 105. Should I hold off for a few more weeks?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What is the temperature where you are keeping them. They need to be acclimated. You could start with short trips out.

 

[Whitneyd88]

What is the temperature where you are keeping them. They need to be acclimated. You could start with short trips out.

I have a heat lamp that is pointed mostly away from them but still on to provide a little heat and the lid is off the brooder now. I don't have a thermometer in the brooder, but the house is kept at 78-79 during the day, so I imagine mid 80s in the brooder.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They may be okay to be moved directly out, especially if you provide somewhere they can swim in to cool off.

 

[chickens really]

Totally ready to be outside without heat...As long as you have a coop and run they will do fine...Keep out of the wind and rain still at this age..Mine are all locked in at night and have been out since 3 weeks old..I provide feed and water in the coop till about 8 weeks and then feed and water in the morning..Hopefully your an early riser though..