ThreeBlackSheep
In the Brooder
- Nov 8, 2017
- 4
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- 14
Long story, don't know if it all makes sense, perhaps too much information.
We have free range chickens, ducks, and a turkey. They come back to their coop at night and lock them up for night. Then in the morning open up the coop again for the day. We have always had chickens with their own coop. This past Spring we purchased some khaki campbell ducks and built another coop for them. The duck coop does not have any windows in it but the chicken coop does.
About 6 weeks ago two of our chickens went broody. One did it in the chicken coop, and then another one actually did it in the duck coop on the duck nest full of eggs. So we pulled an egg from the duck coop and put it under the chicken going broody in the chicken coop and just left the chicken in duck coop on top of the duck eggs hoping that the eggs were fertilized from our drake.
Low and behold 6 ducks were hatched. Five from one chicken and one from another. We left the chicken in the duck coop with the five, and then moved the chicken with one into the "brood chamber" for privacy and safety. We then moved the adult ducks into the chicken coop so both chickens could raise the baby ducks without any issues.
So about a week ago we noticed that the chicken with the five ducks was going outside more for her dust baths, in which the babies followed (normally she would never leave the coop). We decided to bring the one out of the brood chamber too. Chaos erupted. The two mama chickens were protected their "adopted" babies from the other chickens. Even the mama chickens were attacking the other ducklings. Fighting happened, and the ducklings were running everywhere. We made the decision that the baby ducks had to be separated from their chicken mamas. Which of course the mamas freaked out about.
So we now have the all of the baby ducks completely separated from the rest of the free range fowl in the duck coop not only for safety, but to get them weaned off from their mothers. They are in there with a red heat lamp 24-7, going on about almost a week now. Our overnight temps have been in the 30's lately. We go in there probably 4 to 5 times a day to check on them; water, feed, etc. Now before you say that's cruel to keep them in a small coop without going outside, the coop is about 8 ft tall, 8ft in length, and about 6 ft wide. Our plan is keep them in there a little while longer and slowly introduce them back to the others.
The coop has no windows, but we run a red heat lamp 24-7. The only time they see daylight is when we open the door and go in there. So here is the question; does the heat lamp provide them with enough "light" or do I still have to provide them with a natural light source because of it being a red bulb?
We have free range chickens, ducks, and a turkey. They come back to their coop at night and lock them up for night. Then in the morning open up the coop again for the day. We have always had chickens with their own coop. This past Spring we purchased some khaki campbell ducks and built another coop for them. The duck coop does not have any windows in it but the chicken coop does.
About 6 weeks ago two of our chickens went broody. One did it in the chicken coop, and then another one actually did it in the duck coop on the duck nest full of eggs. So we pulled an egg from the duck coop and put it under the chicken going broody in the chicken coop and just left the chicken in duck coop on top of the duck eggs hoping that the eggs were fertilized from our drake.
Low and behold 6 ducks were hatched. Five from one chicken and one from another. We left the chicken in the duck coop with the five, and then moved the chicken with one into the "brood chamber" for privacy and safety. We then moved the adult ducks into the chicken coop so both chickens could raise the baby ducks without any issues.
So about a week ago we noticed that the chicken with the five ducks was going outside more for her dust baths, in which the babies followed (normally she would never leave the coop). We decided to bring the one out of the brood chamber too. Chaos erupted. The two mama chickens were protected their "adopted" babies from the other chickens. Even the mama chickens were attacking the other ducklings. Fighting happened, and the ducklings were running everywhere. We made the decision that the baby ducks had to be separated from their chicken mamas. Which of course the mamas freaked out about.
So we now have the all of the baby ducks completely separated from the rest of the free range fowl in the duck coop not only for safety, but to get them weaned off from their mothers. They are in there with a red heat lamp 24-7, going on about almost a week now. Our overnight temps have been in the 30's lately. We go in there probably 4 to 5 times a day to check on them; water, feed, etc. Now before you say that's cruel to keep them in a small coop without going outside, the coop is about 8 ft tall, 8ft in length, and about 6 ft wide. Our plan is keep them in there a little while longer and slowly introduce them back to the others.
The coop has no windows, but we run a red heat lamp 24-7. The only time they see daylight is when we open the door and go in there. So here is the question; does the heat lamp provide them with enough "light" or do I still have to provide them with a natural light source because of it being a red bulb?
IMO it's not enough light. Perhaps a regular light bulb on a timer to mimic night & day? Or cut some windows out? Would you have a wire cage you could put them in during the day, so they can get some natural light?
