How can you tell if ducklings are too cold?

[corriemartin]

I got my first ever ducks yesterday, and set up a mama heating pad. I kept gently herding them underneath it, and yesterday, they stayed under a lot, and then went under on their own. Today, though, they're mostly just hanging out on top, but it seems to me like they're excessively huddling. Could they be too cold? Should I add a heat lamp? Or can I trust that they're okay? (There's still a few gentle cheeps, but otherwise, they're quiet.).

 

[viennaproto]

Excessive huddling is usually a sign that they are too cold. Generally when ducklings are the right temperature they will be active and when they are sleeping, sleep further apart. Believe it or not, ducklings can do much better in the cold than they can when they are too hot. They should be okay! I would suggest adding another heating pad and a heat lamp. I usually keep a thermometer in my brooder room to keep track as well. For the first week, I like to keep it at around 90 and then slowly bring down the temp about 7 degrees each week. Hope this is helpful, you seem like a great duck mamma!!!

 

[corriemartin]

Excessive huddling is usually a sign that they are too cold. Generally when ducklings are the right temperature they will be active and when they are sleeping, sleep further apart.

So how much huddling is too much huddling? Now three or four of them are up and about again (in the dark!), and the other seven are still on the top, but not as crammed together. Maybe I should do the lamp tonight, and for a few nights, and then turn it off. We did the lamp for the chicks last month, and they never shut up (my son who slept near them complained a lot). But I don't want them to get cold either.

 

[viennaproto]

Is there any way you can upload a picture so we are able to help a little bit better? If ducklings are too hot, they will lay down with their beaks open. I wouldn't recommend leaving ducklings without a heat lamp until they are about 8 weeks old.

 

[corriemartin]

Is there any way you can upload a picture so we are able to help a little bit better? If ducklings are too hot, they will lay down with their beaks open. I wouldn't recommend leaving ducklings without a heat lamp until they are about 8 weeks old.

So a heat lamp even with the heating pad cave?

 

[Isaac 0]

I got my first ever ducks yesterday, and set up a mama heating pad. I kept gently herding them underneath it, and yesterday, they stayed under a lot, and then went under on their own. Today, though, they're mostly just hanging out on top, but it seems to me like they're excessively huddling. Could they be too cold? Should I add a heat lamp? Or can I trust that they're okay? (There's still a few gentle cheeps, but otherwise, they're quiet.).

While huddling together may indicate the birds are cold, they actually do this naturally anyway. The main difference I have found is that when cold they try to huddle together, but constantly try to move positions to try to get warmer, when content they just pile up with no problem.

Look for Loud peeping, shivering, decreased movement, or huddling together for warmth. I think your birds are fine, they know where the heat source is, they'll use it as need be.

 

[viennaproto]

This is what I would do: I would remove the heating pad and put the heat lamp on and see how they do with just that. If they seem too cold (huddling or shivering again) you can put the heating pad back in, but I would make sure there is an area in their brooder where they can go that there isn't direct heat or the heating pad if that makes sense. In other words, half of your brooder should remain with direct heat and the other half I would keep just bedding and water/food etc so they can "cool off" if they need to. I have never had a problem with a heat lamp as ducklings should be kept at high temperatures until they are about 8 weeks old Let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them

 

[corriemartin]

While huddling together may indicate the birds are cold, they actually do this naturally anyway. The main difference I have found is that when cold they try to huddle together, but constantly try to move positions to try to get warmer, when content they just pile up with no problem.

Look for Loud peeping, shivering, decreased movement, or huddling together for warmth. I think your birds are fine, they know where the heat source is, they'll use it as need be.

Thanks--I appreciate this. They were just in a pile, but quiet, and since then, haven't huddled so hard.

When I went to take a picture (and turned on the light), three of them were underneath and seven of them were on top, and now they're all out and about again.

(This picture is what they immediately started doing when I turned the light on.)

 

[corriemartin]

This is what I would do: I would remove the heating pad and put the heat lamp on and see how they do with just that. If they seem too cold (huddling or shivering again) you can put the heating pad back in, but I would make sure there is an area in their brooder where they can go that there isn't direct heat or the heating pad if that makes sense. In other words, half of your brooder should remain with direct heat and the other half I would keep just bedding and water/food etc so they can "cool off" if they need to. I have never had a problem with a heat lamp as ducklings should be kept at high temperatures until they are about 8 weeks old Let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them

Thanks!!! I really appreciate the advice. This is all new for me.

 

[viennaproto]

Of course, they seem to be doing awesome in the picture you posted! Keep up the good work