To determine when to release and whether ducklings can walk outside, you need to know the timing of bird development. Have information about the time of appearance of plumage and the required temperature conditions for walking. Transfer to street keeping will allow raising healthy young animals suitable for breeding for meat, producing eggs and offspring. A gradual transition to a long stay in the open air, swimming in ponds improves immunity and promotes the growth of ducklings.
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At what age can ducklings be released outside?
Poultry keepers, both beginners and experienced ones, often argue: what is the optimal age for walking ducklings. There are many arguments made for and against early release.Some say that if the chicks try to quack, then it’s time to take them outside. Indeed, in natural conditions, ducklings immediately begin to live in the open air, and at the age of several days they learn to swim, dive, and get their own food.
There is a certain logic in these arguments. Just don’t miss the significant difference between wild birds and domestic ones, adapted to human feeding and breeding in an artificial environment. Therefore, we will sequentially consider all the factors influencing the release date.
It is best if the period of raising ducklings coincides with the warm season. This way the chicks will grow up faster, begin to feed on their own, and gain weight. In this case, already on the 3-4th day it is possible to gradually remove the young animals into the open air during the day.
Release into the water, if there are no contraindications, can be done at about one month of age.
At a temperature of 14 degrees (in some sources - 16), open range is simply necessary. It is believed that chicks begin to fledge faster and better if they earlier had the opportunity to learn to swim, dive, and take water procedures. And weight gain and muscle mass gain in such ducks is more effective.
What can affect the timing?
Inexperienced farmers often make mistakes by starting to transfer chicks to outdoor housing too early. This leads to fatal consequences, including death from hypothermia.
It is recommended to consistently accustom the bird to new conditions. First - floor cages (approximately 10 days of age), carefully monitoring the behavior of the ducklings. At the same time, there are no drafts, cracks, open doors or windows.And only then, when the young animals are stronger (and it is warm enough outside), they can be released outside.
