My 1st Flock (Ducks)

[moniquem]

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

@WannaBeHillBilly made a really cool one but his was much taller, probably a foot at least.

Link to my Momma Heat Cave for the Spring Ducklings.

I have my heat pad on 6(highest setting) with a tea towel over it. There is poop in the bed and then a trail of poop to the food & water dishes so I know they are using it pretty much all the time except for when eating.

I had my heat pad on full power too for the first two days and then noticed that some of the larger ducklings (White Layers) sat outside, just leaning against the warm wall and turned it down to level 3 out of 4. It seems that the heat inside a Momma Heat Cave is very different from the heat under a heat lamp:
A heat lamp provides warmth only by radiation, that means only the parts of the duckling that are exposed to the rays, coming from the bulb are warming up. The underside of the bird is not being warmed, also the air the ducklings breathe is not warmed.
In a heat cave the whole environment is warm, the ground, the walls, the ceiling and the air, so much more warmth enters the duckling.
On the second day, with the heat-pad set to 4, the WL ducklings were panting inside, with a temperature of 32° (90F) - which is recommended for them during the first week.
After reducing the heat to 25°(77F) everybody was comfortable.
If you are using a Momma Heat device of any kind throw your thermometer away!!!
Listen to what your birds tell you. They will notice you when they are cold, loud and clear.
For ducklings it is important that they can huddle together. They rather overheat than stop huddling.

 

[Kholts]

Link to my Momma Heat Cave for the Spring Ducklings.

I had my heat pad on full power too for the first two days and then noticed that some of the larger ducklings (White Layers) sat outside, just leaning against the warm wall and turned it down to level 3 out of 4. It seems that the heat inside a Momma Heat Cave is very different from the heat under a heat lamp:
A heat lamp provides warmth only by radiation, that means only the parts of the duckling that are exposed to the rays, coming from the bulb are warming up. The underside of the bird is not being warmed, also the air the ducklings breathe is not warmed.
In a heat cave the whole environment is warm, the ground, the walls, the ceiling and the air, so much more warmth enters the duckling.
On the second day, with the heat-pad set to 4, the WL ducklings were panting inside, with a temperature of 32° (90F) - which is recommended for them during the first week.
After reducing the heat to 25°(77F) everybody was comfortable.
If you are using a Momma Heat device of any kind throw your thermometer away!!!
Listen to what your birds tell you. They will notice you when they are cold, loud and clear.
For ducklings it is important that they can huddle together. They rather overheat than stop huddling.

I read that article while researching heat caves. I based mine off that article actually. The basket I got doesn’t stand as high so I’m wondering if that’s why they won’t go under it but they seem super pleased with it as a bed and huddle together while on it.

Will they get loud if cold?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I read that article while researching heat caves. I based mine off that article actually. The basket I got doesn’t stand as high so I’m wondering if that’s why they won’t go under it but they seem super pleased with it as a bed and huddle together while on it.

Will they get loud if cold?

Yes they will get loud! VERY LOUD! And very persistent…

 

[Kholts]

Well tomorrow morning it will be 1 week since getting my duckies. In only a week the little stinkers have become my 3 year olds obsession. He reminds me at least 3 times a day that we have to take the duckies outside for some Funtime.

I feel like they have doubled in size already! I can also tell daily that I’m filling the water/ feed dish more and it seems they have cracked my morning routine and by the time I get down there they are laying by their feed/water platform for the fresh goods. As soon as that door cracks open it’s “peep peep peep” up and running for the feed/water dishes.

Here’s a recent photo.

 

[Kholts]

Well yesterday evening we had the ducklings down in the backyard for some grass time. They were some excited babies and seemed enjoy the grass and even the family dog.

 

[quackiemama]

That is so sweet. They are beautiful

 

[Kholts]

Well the ducks are now 4 & 5 weeks. They now spend days outside and come in at nights.

They are in that disheveled stage where they are getting their 1st feathers but also holding on to some baby down and I think it’s cute!

My blue Swedish is starting to get a honk and I don’t think it will be long before I get a quack out of her or a rasp out of him.

 

[Kholts]

Alright can anyone answer to when these ducklings are suppose to start quacking?

My blue Swedish found her/his honk almost 2 weeks ago and the other 3 are still peeping. What gives? They are now 5 & 6 weeks old (blue Swedish is a 5 week old).

 

[Kholts]