3wk WHs outside and nightime temps

I graduated all six together to the 'big girl brooder' yesterday and they all love being together. At the time the lowest predicted nighttime temps for a week out were not lower than right around 50. Now there are weekend nighttime lows predicted into the upper 30s! I'm in central Virginia.


My setup is as follows: a plastic dog kennel (~36"x24"x30") with pine shavings as bedding material. The kennel sits near the front wall of the garage under a 24'x24' carport; precipitation protected, partial wind protection, no temperature protection. I have two 250w lights on standby as needed. I used one last night aimed at the front door, approximately four feet away with mid 50 temps overnight.

Would I be ok with adding extra bedding and aiming both lights into the brooder over the weekend nights as long as there is no significant wind? Should I be prepared to slide the brooder into the garage portion with lights so the heat can bank some? I don't know DH will go for this scenario (professional firefighter) due to the obvious fire hazard of two 'unsupervised' high heat bulbs in an enclosed space, but he may. He has surprised me before!

I would like to avoid bringing them back in the house if possible, but obviously, if that is what is needed, I will. Sorry if disjointed, this is my second attempt at this post at almost an hour with an almost two year old and a three year old 'helping' me!

Personally, I would keep them in at those temperatures. Otherwise, I think you'll have to check on them frequently to make sure they are not all huddled up in front of the lamps.

Thank you for responding. I'm thinking of seeing if DH will be willing to have a heater in the garage for them overnight those nights. The 'big girl brooder' doesn't fit in the house and to put them in the house will mean back in the plastic tubs, split up and would require some break down and reassembly of the *very* non-mobile friendly light setup. Again, doable, but will mean I will be doing it alone, in the dark, after kiddos are in bed, DH won't be home to help. Just trying to plan ahead and be prepared! Thank you again.

I hear you! We currently have 3 adult ancona's outside and 4 four week old ducklings (2 runners and 2 white layers) in the house. They have outgrown the bin so I have them in a kiddie pool in my living room. It's a lot of work. I have to drag the pool outside and spray it out several times a day. When we had gotten the ancona's it was the end of April and by mid May I was able to put them outside. These guys probably have another 5 weeks before they can stay outside. lol

That's the age I was originally thinking too (8-9wks), but then I saw several posts (searching old threads) from experienced duck mamas that put them out around the 3-4wk mark with supplemental heat. Which brings me to my current dilemma. There is a *definite* difference between putting out four week chickens the end of June and three week ducklings in near mid-October!

I just want to keep my newest babes happy and healthy. I had read also that 'over babying' them prolonged feather production and hardening off. Just trying to weed through all the info and make the best decision, that's why I figured I would put the question to the experienced ones here. This my first foray into ducks and I only got my chickens this past may, so I am *far* from experienced in this subject!

I would also not leave them out at those temperatures. I would also worry that the dog crate it not predator proof. I'm not completely sure but I would guess that a racoon could get through the plastic. Personally, I would err on the side of cation.

This is our first year with ducks as well. I'm just going by what I learned from the research I did. Hopefully your husband won't mind them being in the garage with the heat lamps.

@tess36 3 weeks old ducklings need to be at temps of around 75 degrees they have no away to keep in the heat since they don't have their feathers yet. This is the rule of thumb first weeks 85-90 I always do 85 and mine do fine kept in a draft free room, second week 80* third week 75 and 5 degree cooler each week there after till feathered in.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711