Heating pad cave for ducklings?

[Hope Hughes]

I dont use a heat lamp anymore. I only use the heating pad method for my chicks and baby quail. It works amazing, its safer and the babies seem to do better with it.
But i am curious if anyone has had luck using it for ducklings?
Any modifacation you had to make?
I know i will have to get a larger pad for them all but just curious of everyones luck doing this?
I really dont want to use a lamp again.
Any help is appreciated ​

 

[chickens really]

Nope. I use lamps only because Ducklings don't require as much heat as Chicks and then can suffer starve out without the proper heat as they grow.. Too warm they won't use other types of heat sources.

 

[casportpony]

I dont use a heat lamp anymore. I only use the heating pad method for my chicks and baby quail. It works amazing, its safer and the babies seem to do better with it.
But i am curious if anyone has had luck using it for ducklings?
Any modifacation you had to make?
I know i will have to get a larger pad for them all but just curious of everyones luck doing this?
I really dont want to use a lamp again.
Any help is appreciated ​

I use brooder plates for mine, but I know some people have used the heating pad brooder cave with their ducklings. @aart and @lazy gardener probably have some good advice.

 

[aart]

I use brooder plates for mine, but I know some people have used the heating pad brooder cave with their ducklings. @aart and @lazy gardener probably have some good advice.

I remember reading that a couple folks used the MHP for ducklings.
IIRC it worked fine, just needed to be higher because ducklings are larger than chicks and that ducks maybe don't need as much heat for as long as chicks.

 

[lazy gardener]

It has been more than 30 years since I've brooded ducks. Then, I did it the old fashioned way! (with a heat lamp) Ducklings certainly can be brooded with a heating pad cave. You will just have to adjust it to the right size, and follow the recommendations for how much heat to provide, and for how long. As Aart says, they probably don't require heat for as long as chicks do.

 

[chickens really]

Take info from non Duck owners..
Anyways..Best wishes .

 

[Hope Hughes]

Thank you all for your input.
I would think if it works for chickens and the quail why couldn't it for the ducks?( i know there will have to be modifacations for the ducks guess i will have to do research on temps and ages for them again. I raised my ducks on the lamp as well just want to try the pad if it is better all the way around. It has been away since i have had ducklings in a brooder. I guess i will try and see where it takes me. They hatch around the first so
Again thank you all for the input.
​

 

[chickens really]

Thank you all for your input.
I would think if it works for chickens and the quail why couldn't it for the ducks?( i know there will have to be modifacations for the ducks guess i will have to do research on temps and ages for them again. I raised my ducks on the lamp as well just want to try the pad if it is better all the way around. It has been away since i have had ducklings in a brooder. I guess i will try and see where it takes me. They hatch around the first so
Again thank you all for the input.
​

Yep..You will figure it out..

 

[casportpony]

Thank you all for your input.
I would think if it works for chickens and the quail why couldn't it for the ducks?( i know there will have to be modifacations for the ducks guess i will have to do research on temps and ages for them again. I raised my ducks on the lamp as well just want to try the pad if it is better all the way around. It has been away since i have had ducklings in a brooder. I guess i will try and see where it takes me. They hatch around the first so
Again thank you all for the input.
​

My ducklings do really well with a brooder plate, so I am 100% sure they will do fine with the heating pad. Let us know what you end up building!

 

[casportpony]

@Hope Hughes

I thought this was clever:

Just to add to the "bungie under" posts, here is a construction photo of my pad heater before it was all finished. I also have the pad under the frame with bungies. Thanks to @aart and @henless for their suggestions and guidance.

Text and photos are from @Leahs Mom from this thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/page-667 ​

"Just to add to the "bungie under" posts, here is a construction photo of my pad heater before it was all finished. I also have the pad under the frame with bungies. Thanks to @aart and @henless for their suggestions and guidance.




Old closet shelving.

This is the top before putting something on it. 12x24" ETA: All the upright bolt tops and the side pieces that protrude have plastic covers on them to avoid any accidental poking. Will have to get updated photos.


Turned upside down to see under.



Carriage bolts (8") with 2" washers. Wing nuts on top, regular nuts under for adjustable legs. Just like my Premier heat plate, I can put the back lets lower than the front at any configuration so that there is a higher and lower area.