Alternatives for heat lamps??!

[WannaBeHillBilly]

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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!

That was my main reason to use the MHC for the Spring Ducklings! As said, my four Runners completely freak out when the light in the duck house goes out. They panic and run around blindly, bumping into the other ducks, walls each other until the generator kicks in.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

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.

That was the other reason why i don't like heat-lamps: Sharp and/or pointy shards of glass cutting through tiny duckling feet or intestines…

 

[Shezadandy]

Another (larger) option is the Sweeter Heater. I've come to prefer my homemade MHP, but I do still use the Sweeter Heater if I've got littles without a momma hen. Found at night they would go to sleep in a big heap away from the heater at night, in a depression in thick straw (so no direct breeze hitting anyone) and be fine (there were 9) -- but in the AM I always found them back under the Sweeter Heater- I assume at first light they go to eat, drink, and that's when they need the external heat the most - the cold AM hours after breakfast - probably because they don't want to bed back down in a heap.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

There is one big difference between chicks and ducklings: Ducklings love to pile up! I think they need the intense body contact, even under momma duck they all huddled together side by side and on top of each other.

 

[oldhen2345]

For my Spring Ducklings this year i used a Momma Heat Cave and they loved it!
And i loved that they developed a perfect day/night rhythm, sleeping peacefully over night and having a big party all day long…

I have only used the Momma Heat Cave for chicks, not ducklings, but they love it too. My chicks are a little over a week old. Since I have the brooder in the house and the temp in here is at 80 ( gotta watch that electric bill), the heating pad has been turned down to 4 (it can be up as high as 6). the chicks go inside at times, but spend a good part of daytime activity napping on the top. They seem to be comfortable, so ok. Will never go back to heat lamps again.

 

[feathermaid]

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!

Of course! You said for new babies in the very beginning and I just forgot by the time I read everything else.

Well, you could tell your husband that he got to raise the first batch the way HE wanted and the next batch can be raised a NEW way and then you both can decide for yourselves which way you prefer. That's what many many folks here have done, including me... first follow the "official" rules (that came from who-knows-where) and THEN do what makes sense. Just because you read it on the internet doesn't make it true. Sorry, but I've learned some big lessons over the years.

I'm a strong believer in doing things as close to natural as possible. Exposure to light 24 hours a day and excessive heat are the exact opposite. Nighttime darkness is the natural order of things and animals shouldn't have to be terrified the first time they experience it... it should just be a normal routine, it's healthier, their bodies rest, their food is digested and the morning starts a new day. Constant light is stressful, exhausting and they have no concept of appropriate times to sleep or eat.

I think you're doing great trying to find a better alternative! I honestly think you'll both be amazed with results using a heater plate or homemade heating pad cave. The ducklings can make their own choice according to their own personal needs how often they really need heat. I think NOT giving them a choice actually handicaps them, and with winter coming, you want to help prepare them for the real world, not hide it from them.

Best wishes with your new ducklings!

 

[Shezadandy]

I'm a strong believer in doing things as close to natural as possible. Exposure to light 24 hours a day and excessive heat are the exact opposite. Nighttime darkness is the natural order of things and animals shouldn't have to be terrified the first time they experience it... it should just be a normal routine, it's healthier, their bodies rest, their food is digested and the morning starts a new day. Constant light is stressful, exhausting and they have no concept of appropriate times to sleep or eat.

I've noticed a huge difference between chicks (I know it's a duckling thread- hoping to do ducklings next year!) I get from the feed store vs. chicks that come in the mail (without horrible delays or other mishaps at the hands of the USPS). One would think the chicks who just came through the mail would be considerably more stressed.

The ones from the feed stores who've been stuck under the heat lamps 24/7 just crash when I put them under the MHP the first time. They sack out for the first 12-18hrs. The first time I did this, I honestly thought they'd died- no peeping, not a sound- bodies flat on the ground. I had to wake them up, take the cave out, get them up to eat/drink - then they went right back to sleeping. All those "cute" videos of chicks running around like wind-up toys until they tip over to sleep aren't so cute any more.

Chicks that come in the mail get shown how to drink, get their first crumbles and toddle around their new brooder like nothing happened all day (again, no mishaps in the mail).

 

[feathermaid]

The ones from the feed stores who've been stuck under the heat lamps 24/7 just crash when I put them under the MHP the first time. They sack out for the first 12-18hrs. The first time I did this, I honestly thought they'd died- no peeping, not a sound- bodies flat on the ground. I had to wake them up, take the cave out, get them up to eat/drink - then they went right back to sleeping.

OMG this sounds exactly like me! Yeah, that first day getting them adjusted is a bit frightening. But then they finally get normal

 

[Shezadandy]

OMG this sounds exactly like me! Yeah, that first day getting them adjusted is a bit frightening. But then they finally get normal View attachment 1918233

Yes! Thank goodness they adjust pretty quickly - the first time they have a quiet, warm dark safe place, they just melt into little poof ball nuggets. The next couple days I find they usually need the flashlight for bed time - when they experience their first real sunset and aren't sure what to do, I turn the lights off and use the dim flashlight to guide them to the MHP them adjust and they soon figure out that low light means go to bed.

 

[feathermaid]

Yes! Thank goodness they adjust pretty quickly - the first time they have a quiet, warm dark safe place, they just melt into little poof ball nuggets. The next couple days I find they usually need the flashlight for bed time - when they experience their first real sunset and aren't sure what to do, I turn the lights off and use the dim flashlight to guide them to the MHP them adjust and they soon figure out that low light means go to bed.

Oh learning about sunset is pretty exciting at first, so much chatter.

I stay up pretty late, and with lights on in the house I felt really bad suddenly turning them off. I didn't think of using a flashlight, I'd go turn on more lights further down the hall so when I turned off the nearby lamp it wasn't suddenly dark... like a simulated sunset (turning off lights over the course of about 10-15 minutes, so ridiculous!) and helped them underneath. Then I learned to just put the brooder by the window in the other room and let the sun do the sunset. Then I learned to just brood outside. I still always check to make sure they're tucked in safe for the night, they get so quiet!