3-4 week chicks in brooder

[mschicklady]

So I have my 3-4 week old chicks along with 4 ducks the same age in a homemade plywood brooder outside. It has a wire mesh bottom lifted of the ground. Well I have been keeping the lid open during the day with the heat lamp off because it has been in the high 80s and low 90s here then closing it up and turning the lamp on at night. They seem to be fine, just drinking a lot of water of course. My question is that it has been in the mid to high 60s at night and I sometimes feel that they may be getting too warm (especially the ducks). Of course I make sure part of the brooder is cooler than under the lamp by angling it to a corner. Anyway, do you think they would be able to stand the 60 degree weather at night without the lamp? If not, when do you think it would be ok for them to? I'm also thinking once they get a few more weeks old and have been able to tolerate no heat lamp for at least a week, it would be ok to put them in the coop with the older chickens. What do you think?

 

[iwiw60]

I can't speak on the topic of ducks, but as for your chickens...are they feathering out? If they are I would say they should be okay.

 

[mschicklady]

Yes they are. Almost fully feathered.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

60 is too cold if they are not fully feathered even on the head at 3-4 weeks of age. They need access to 80 degree temps at 3 weeks of age.
Usually by 6 weeks is when they are fully feathered even on the head.

 

[mschicklady]

Thank you. I am still keeping the light on them at night and will continue to do so for another couple weeks. Appreciate all of y'all's help. Anyone know about the ducklings since they mature a little faster?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thank you. I am still keeping the light on them at night and will continue to do so for another couple weeks. Appreciate all of y'all's help. Anyone know about the ducklings since they mature a little faster?

I have never had ducks- sorry!

 

[iwiw60]

Remember, too, that you shouldn't house ducks alongside chickens. Right now as little babies I don't think there's any harm being done, but down the road? You'll have to segregate them I believe.

 

[mschicklady]

I've heard some people say that but a lot of people say as long as they are raised together everything should be fine. I've asked several people that raise theirs together and they say there isn't a problem. Only people that said they had a problem were the ones that added them together when they were older. Don't worry though I will be keeping an eye out and making sure there aren't any problems and if there are I will seperate them but as of now they are doing fine. Other than the babies I have 4, 3 month ducks along side 18 chickens ranging from 3 months to 1.5 yrs.

 

[mschicklady]

Thanks for the concern btw. I appreciate it but I promise I will do everything in my power to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all my animals. They are my pets and part of the family.

 

[mhopson19]

I know people say not to house chickens with ducks but I have my two ducks with chickens. At 5 weeks the ducks did not need heat even at night, and it was getting down to 50 degrees then.