Ducklings and temps

[Sherry]

I have a 10x5x6 dog kennel I've rigged to keep my ducklings in outside. The back end has been covered 1/3 of the way up with plastics panels like the kind you would use for a small greenhouse. The front half has hardware cloth. The top is covered with welded wire fencing and a tarp. I have a heat lamp with a 350 watt red bulb.

I have 24 ducklings aged anywhere from 1-3 weeks.

Will they stay warm enough with temperatures in the upper 30's at night? What if I add some straw to the "floor"?

I got to worrying about them when we had some showers and wind the other night and yesterday, so I brought them back in and put them back in the bathtub. The temps are supposed to start climbing again tomorrow. But it took them no time at all to have water everywhere and it stinks to high heaven in there. LOL

Any input appreciated.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Is the dog kennel in a shed or barn- or just on the open ground?

Dampness and drafts from the wind and rain are possibly the biggest threat to them being outside at that age- Even with the heat lamp. I would be afraid in cooler temps that the smaller ones may be left on the outer rim of the warmer area - especially with so large a number of different ages all in together. I never put ducklings outside until they are at least four weeks old or no longer requiring heat to be provided. Without seeing your set up it is hard to say if it is adequate to keep them all warm- but maybe you could just keep some of the younger smaller ones inside for a while longer if having so many inside is causing a problem.

 

[Amiga]

My best friend the first few weeks was an inexpensive non-mercury thermometer. It has a dial face and is easy to read from a few feet away. I would get one. Then you will know for sure if it stays warm enough.

Bedding - absolutely! But you want a setup that you can keep as dry as possible, and that is going to mean some changes of bedding.

Drafts are big trouble for ducklings. I am thinking you may want to cover the hardware cloth side with burlap.

Also, is there some kind of wire mesh between the light bulb and the ducklings? A friend of mine had her bulb shatter. I think it was because the ducklings were splashing vigorously, and a drop of water hit the hot bulb.

(Sorry to add to worries)

Week-olds need it around 85 to 90 degrees F. It is not always easy to get an outdoor shelter like that up to those temps with one bulb.

Perhaps you could get some heavy-duty tubs, put several inches of hardwood shavings, then cover them with plastic poultry fencing or coated wire fencing with very small openings. That would get them up off the cold floor, anyway.

Wish I could resolve the whole thing. . . hope the weather warms up soon.