Alternatives for heat lamps??!

[BullChick]

In ‘16 we had snow in March (as usual), and I had 3-week -old chicks and 2-week -old ducklings in the coop with a lamp. The lamp was on the front right, but the babies were sleeping on the back left. The area was six wide by four deep. After three days I turned off the heat, and never heard a sound. I stood in the darkness outside the open window they were under, and nothing. They remained active throughout the days, and I checked constantly. I also put week-old ducklings out in May.
As long as the babies are healthy, see what they do, and go from there. It really is possible that they won’t cry for heat. As for the current ones, they are used to Florida, they aren’t going to ask to go to Alaska. They will take the heat as long as they can.

 

[feathermaid]

You really think with it getting down in the 40’s some nights, they would be okay? We still have a heat lamp on our almost 6 week ducklings (who moved out to the coop) yes, I know major fire hazard, it was my husbands idea but we wanted to keep heat on them until at least 7 weeks if they’re fully feathered!

It depends what they're acclimated to and how you get them there. It sounds like your ducklings haven't been exposed to any cold so they don't understand what that feels like. Heat and cold affects physiology and how fast they grow feathers.

A heat lamp usually generates enough heat to make the entire space warm, with minimal temperature differences from one end of the brooder to the other. Babies get acclimated to being warm (or warmer) all the time.

With a heater plate, only the area under the plate is warm, and the rest of the brooder is the same as the surrounding environment, even if it's cold. Broody mamas naturally take their babies outside to explore all the time even in freezing weather and the babies run back to mom for a quick warmup occasionally, then go on their way again. The heater plate simulates that, but you do have to show them how to use it by pushing them under until they "get it." Since babies spend most of their time in ambient temps, they acclimate much quicker. Mamas usually abandon chicks by around 5 weeks and they're feathered and on their own.

I used a MHP for the last 2 years outside in the coop even when night/morning temps were 30s-40s F. My chicks quit using MHP during the day by 2-ish weeks and were completely off heat by 3-4 weeks. The longer you provide heat, the longer they think they need it.

Are you turning the lamp off during the day? You need to be doing that to help them. I'm sure at 6 wks your ducklings would actually be fine without heat at night as well, but their biggest complaints will come from being in the dark. That's usually a more upsetting change than losing heat because they'll just huddle together for warmth and be totally fine. I'm wondering if it might be too late to introduce and alternative heat source. If you take the lamp away completely and replace with a heater plate, I bet you'd find they won't even use it all anyway. At some point you're just gonna have to let them be the birds they were meant to be.

 

[katiebrock]

i never had luck in the first week with a plate, i found the lamp cast a wider area, with the heat centered in the middle and cooler around the outside

it seamed they could find the heat source easier that way, i had a couple duckling who seamed to get lost and couldnt find the heat, and i lost a few quails that way too

i use a heat lamp with an inline dimmer switch so i can turn it up or down without moving the lamp

I didn't think about using a dimmer. Could I use that with any heat lamp or do I have to get a "dimmable" bulb?

 

[Jpat]

I didn't think about using a dimmer. Could I use that with any heat lamp or do I have to get a "dimmable" bulb?

it works on all the lamps ive used, Lighted bulbs or heat coils

Just check the dimmer for its recomended wattage

 

[springvalley123]

I personally like the red heat lamp because I can look outside, see the glow, and know it's working. I was going to use my brooder/heater for a second season, but when I was trying it out in the coop, the day before the birds were due, it decided to die. Had it died overnight the following night I'd have had dead chicks.

I have used radiant oil-filled heaters inside and out with ducklings and chicks. For outside, I put up hardware cloth to keep the bedding from getting under the heater, and the heater was warm enough. But that was when the ducklings were already two weeks old, and only needed about 76 degrees F at most.

The oil filled heaters have a thermostat so you can adjust with the falling fall/winter temps, and/or for the increased feathering of the ducklings.

Enjoy the ducklings, they grow so fast!

 

[Quackattack717]

It depends what they're acclimated to and how you get them there. It sounds like your ducklings haven't been exposed to any cold so they don't understand what that feels like. Heat and cold affects physiology and how fast they grow feathers.

A heat lamp usually generates enough heat to make the entire space warm, with minimal temperature differences from one end of the brooder to the other. Babies get acclimated to being warm (or warmer) all the time.

With a heater plate, only the area under the plate is warm, and the rest of the brooder is the same as the surrounding environment, even if it's cold. Broody mamas naturally take their babies outside to explore all the time even in freezing weather and the babies run back to mom for a quick warmup occasionally, then go on their way again. The heater plate simulates that, but you do have to show them how to use it by pushing them under until they "get it." Since babies spend most of their time in ambient temps, they acclimate much quicker. Mamas usually abandon chicks by around 5 weeks and they're feathered and on their own.

I used a MHP for the last 2 years outside in the coop even when night/morning temps were 30s-40s F. My chicks quit using MHP during the day by 2-ish weeks and were completely off heat by 3-4 weeks. The longer you provide heat, the longer they think they need it.

Are you turning the lamp off during the day? You need to be doing that to help them. I'm sure at 6 wks your ducklings would actually be fine without heat at night as well, but their biggest complaints will come from being in the dark. That's usually a more upsetting change than losing heat because they'll just huddle together for warmth and be totally fine. I'm wondering if it might be too late to introduce and alternative heat source. If you take the lamp away completely and replace with a heater plate, I bet you'd find they won't even use it all anyway. At some point you're just gonna have to let them be the birds they were meant to be.

My current ducklings (will be 6 weeks on Saturday) aren’t the ones I am asking for alternative heat for. We used a heat lamp for them and I’m wanting to get away from using it for our new ducklings we’ll be getting on October 9th! We are planning on taking the heat light away from them when they’re 7 weeks because that’s what I read online.

Our current ducklings do freak out when my husband puts them away for the night and the lamp coming on does calm them. I never realized it was because they’re use to always having light. I told my husband that wasn’t good, but he wants to continue using it for our next set of ducklings. I’ll have to tell him that that is one of the reasons they freak out the way they do and hopefully he’ll support me in trying an alternative heat method for our new babies!

Thanks for the information! It was very helpful!

 

[EggWalrus]

My current ducklings (will be 6 weeks on Saturday) aren’t the ones I am asking for alternative heat for. We used a heat lamp for them and I’m wanting to get away from using it for our new ducklings we’ll be getting on October 9th! We are planning on taking the heat light away from them when they’re 7 weeks because that’s what I read online.

Our current ducklings do freak out when my husband puts them away for the night and the lamp coming on does calm them. I never realized it was because they’re use to always having light. I told my husband that wasn’t good, but he wants to continue using it for our next set of ducklings. I’ll have to tell him that that is one of the reasons they freak out the way they do and hopefully he’ll support me in trying an alternative heat method for our new babies!

Thanks for the information! It was very helpful!

You might could put a small 1 watt night light in there for them. They would be able to see a little and maybe it wouldn't keep them awake all night.

 

[TwoShepherds]

I got my first set of chicks back in May. I was planning to use a heat lamp from TSC; however, I started reading reviews about the lamps causing fires and burning coops down, and I got really worried. I might risk a coop, but the brooder was going to be in the garage attached to our house, and we have little kids, which made me even more nervous. I posted a similar question to the forum, and ended up choosing a heat plate from Premier 1. It's a little on the expensive side but worth it for the peace of mind. It worked great. No complaints at all. I will use it again.

 

[Lizzy733]

I didn't think about using a dimmer. Could I use that with any heat lamp or do I have to get a "dimmable" bulb?

If you're using an IR heat bulb - as in for reptiles, it may pop with the varying wattage or being turned off and on regularly- they're a bit sensitive - and you will likely end up with glass in your brooder. If you're not going momma heat pad, try a ceramic heat emitter (also for reptiles) with a cage to protect the ducklings from coming into contact with it - it will work in the ceramic fitting you're using for the heat lamp and these do not shatter if\when they pop (rarely) and are robust enough to use on a dimmer or thermostat controlled outlet. - heat is ambient, so they take some time to warm up and lose heat slowly when cut off.
They are very reliable and will heat a radius around the bulb - not just directional like the IRs.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You really think with it getting down in the 40’s some nights, they would be okay? We still have a heat lamp on our almost 6 week ducklings (who moved out to the coop) yes, I know major fire hazard, it was my husbands idea but we wanted to keep heat on them until at least 7 weeks if they’re fully feathered!

On August 11 i had a broody duck hatching seven little rascals and since August 18th they are no longer sleeping under momma duck and our temperatures in August went down into the lower 50's during the night. Ducklings are tough as - aah - down!