Raising ducklings without a heat lamp

[McChics]

Timely topic here - Our ducks are going on five weeks old - and our weather has been on the cool side with some sunny days. Sparse feathers here and there - but mostly fuzz still. I keep a heat lamp on them in the brooder at night and when we aren't home. But I've been letting them out to their future home. It gives the brooder a break too. There is a heat lamp out there too on one side of the hutch by their food and water - but they don't hang out by it. Instead, they go out and find water and wet and grass even in the breezy conditions. They find a way to get into any water they can. It was 55 yesterday and patchy sun/clouds. They showed no signs of being too cold - played and played - and when possible napped in the sun under the edge of their net. I'm worried I've let them get too cold - but then again I haven't seen them "act" too cold. My wife keeps saying that if they lived in our exact climate in the wild...they'd be making due without that heat lamp as they are too big now to snuggle under a mamma duck.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Timely topic here - Our ducks are going on five weeks old - and our weather has been on the cool side with some sunny days. Sparse feathers here and there - but mostly fuzz still. I keep a heat lamp on them in the brooder at night and when we aren't home. But I've been letting them out to their future home. It gives the brooder a break too. There is a heat lamp out there too on one side of the hutch by their food and water - but they don't hang out by it. Instead, they go out and find water and wet and grass even in the breezy conditions. They find a way to get into any water they can. It was 55 yesterday and patchy sun/clouds. They showed no signs of being too cold - played and played - and when possible napped in the sun under the edge of their net. I'm worried I've let them get too cold - but then again I haven't seen them "act" too cold. My wife keeps saying that if they lived in our exact climate in the wild...they'd be making due without that heat lamp as they are too big now to snuggle under a mamma duck.

Personally I think people go overboard with heat lamps when it comes to ducks. They get so big, so fast they really do generate a lot of body heat.
If you see them shivering or climbing on each other for warmth then they need heat, but if they are relaxed and happy they are good.
Mine are gonna be 3 weeks on Wednesday and my brooder temp is 75°F day/night.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Absolutely agree with that! Temperature isn't so important, important is that they feel well.

 

[Texag87]

I took one bulb out this evening and let some air in through the door for a while and they were still panting. This was an hour after their bath. Each bath they dry off quicker. My big problem tonight is they seem bored. They keep goosing each other. I do not remember our fall brood doing this as much.

 

[Roo5]

Though I’d up date this.I have recently took heat away from the ducklings.Their about 3 weeks and a day old.This weekend plan on putting them outside when i fix their run up a bit.They do just fine off heat.

 

[Roo5]

Even bigger update,the ducklings have been officially moved outside,THEY GOT TOO DIRTY.Had to get them outside and they absolutely love it.It was pretty cool this morning dropping in the high fifties but they seem to do fine, swimming in the water and eating.When they went up they didn’t make a peep.Just huddle in the middle of coop and say there together,total silence.I still have some working for the run.

Here they were eating mealworms in their kitty pool.

 

[Roo5]

Hope this helps someone.

 

[casportpony]

They look great!

 

[Roo5]

Update,sorry hoping this helps someone curious,today the degrees decided to drop to 48 overnight (with out luck,knowing we JUST put the ducklings outside),I was almost afraid they might not be to handle it.Yesterday it started out in the fifties and they were swimming and playing just fine but the forties,oh joy I was worried and prepared to take them in just in case,but,they seem fine,even swimming with temps being 48 .It reaches 54, with raining and winds and their outside eating and playing.Ik adult ducks can handle this with ease but wasn’t sure when that Cold Hardiness kicked in,!guess any young bird near almost feathered can handle high cool temps better then some us think!They are almost 4 weeks now!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chicks are tough and ducklings handle cold even earlier.