Do ducklings need heat source this time of the year?

[juliezoo]

Our daytime temps are always in the 90's and night temps in the 70's. The ducklings are 2 days old and *LOVE* being outside together. I have them in a small/medium kennel with their bedding, food and water in a safe, protected area outside. Just wondering what others' thoughts are on a heat lamp or brooder at night this time of the year.....

Thanks so much for any advice.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Julie, this time of the year we don't use heat lamps and all new hatch.ongs go outside at 3 days old and don't come back inside. They are all in raised brooder as well.

 

[SJUDD]

I leave the lamp on outside at night, because they are used to it. They sit under it for a while after their evening "bath" in their pond then they sleep in another area of the pen. They are 6 weeks old though so not sure if it makes a huge difference

 

[juliezoo]

Julie, this time of the year we don't use heat lamps and all new hatch.ongs go outside at 3 days old and don't come back inside. They are all in raised brooder as well.

Thanks so much for your reply.
You think they are fine in the enclosed puppy kennel, outside at night?
I can't see bringing them into the house with the a/c on... would think that be chillier than staying out in our crazy humidity and 70+ night temps.

I'm just a little over-worried since they are a birthday present and there are only 3 and any loss would be sad. My gut instinct is they are fine without any extra heat source (half the time I worry more about overheating). Even with the tiny exotic parrots we raise, we don't keep them that warm *but* I've never raised ducks so just want to know from those who know ;o)

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Watch them, if they dog pile they want/need more heat. If they spread out and doze off they are fine and no worries on extra heat.

I took the heat lamp out of one of our raised outside brooders back I'm April, won't need them in place again until late Oct/Nov for fall hatching we will do. Our raised brooders have wire floors, and three sided shelters at one end for them to sleep in. 3 days old to 3 weeks old they get a storage tote lid with hay piled on it for a bed. After that the lids are removed and they are wire until big enough to be on the ground and free ranging with the flocks. If a major rain storm is coming we slide the lids back in so they have extra protection. Feed sacks make great wind blocks also and can be stapled and or zip tied to the sides or bottom as needed. Then remove and toss in the trash.

 

[juliezoo]

Watch them, if they dog pile they want/need more heat. If they spread out and doze off they are fine and no worries on extra heat.

Oh good point! Just like the chicks. They are sleeping together at the moment but have been running around all day playing. I will probably try moving them against the house for the night and clamp a heat lamp outside but point to one inside corner in case they want it then. The kennel is so enclosed and small that a heat source inside would likely roast them - literally. Of course I can bring them inside if a storm blows up but we've only had rain a couple times in the last few months. It has been soooo hot and humid here and the drought is awful. I lost one hen to heat stroke a couple weeks ago - I'm sure she did it to herself since she was the one always out chasing everyone but I tried all my nursing tricks to save her to no avail.

 

[juliezoo]

Just an update for anyone out there wondering (or new to raising ducklings)....

I decided not to use any heat source. Each night we'd bring them up onto our deck, place a towel over the kennel door and leave the side vents open for ventilation. We also made sure they had dry bedding and that their play water was removed long before bedtime so they were totally dry before dark.

Fast forward 2 weeks and they are thriving and doubled in size. They are beginning to repel water and swimming like little pros, though we never leave them unattended or in deep water - and that play time happens 2-3 times per day. They are happy running in the yard and eating bugs and especially my weeds (thank you duckies!!).

Still keeping them in a secure, mostly protected/enclosed small dog kennel, but no longer covering their door... they retain heat just fine.

Thanks for everyone's help and messages!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Congrats Julie, hope you continue to enjoy them

 

[granny05]

hay i live in northern michigan. it gets mighty cold here,do ducks need heat lamps too? i plan on starting next spring with adult ducks and i am needing to know this and many other things. smile/ granny

 

[juliezoo]

hay i live in northern michigan. it gets mighty cold here,do ducks need heat lamps too? i plan on starting next spring with adult ducks and i am needing to know this and many other things. smile/ granny

Hi Granny,

If I were to start them in the spring, depending on temps, I'd use a heat lamp, just like with chicks. Of course the obvious signs the little ones are cold is when they are huddled together to keep warm and not moving about happily. When I do use a heat lamp, I am sure to place it in one area and also sure there are places they can go to get away from the heat when/if they need to. I've also found an aquarium heater placed in/under water (top covered to prevent babies from jumping in and drowning) works well b/c it gives them plenty of heat without the dangers I fear from lamps. I've actually used aquarium heaters for years and years while raising parrot chicks (especially the tiny parrotlets).

I did not use any heat source with my ducklings since I started them in mid-July in all this crazy heat.... 90-100+ each day with lows only in the mid 70's. I asked a vet friend of mine and she suggested placing a towel over the kennel door at night to help keep drafts out but said no to worry about a heat lamp. I kept them in one of those plastic dog crate/kennel/carriers that has the 2-piece plastic top and bottom with the locking front door and little slits in the top sides for ventilation. this kept them well sheltered from too much sun, wind, etc. We also moved them against our back door at night to keep them close and placed a rubber mat over their top in case of rain.

Long story a bit shorter LOL.... I guess the main concerns are day and night temps (keeping them warm 75-90) and also being sure they are dry before it cools off (so change bedding after they play in water and remove play pool/dish after a supervised time and before dark).

One other thing I found interesting is that ducklings are *not* waterproof when they hatch out without their mom. In nature, the parents spread their oil over the babies so they don't get saturated with water when they go in. Since our ducklings came from a hatchery and their oil glands aren't mature, they will not be able to repel water and can chill easily and even being to sink in water.