Surprise Duckling Shipment Mid-Winter

[Jpat]

Thank you for your insight and I will make sure to heed your advice. As discussed by @Jpat I plan to move the heat lamp(s) to only one side of the brooder. The 2x2 box was a panic build to make sure we had a warm spot for ducklings right on arrival. We recently built a full new pen so we have access to the old pen and plenty of scrap wood to expand as needed. I'm glad to hear that I can expect to move them into the garage after about a week, the old pen should be plenty large enough. I'd like to clarify, when you say a week are you estimating the time until the Pekin's outgrow the small brooder or when I can safely keep them in the garage with heat lamps? Hoping you mean the latter. If not, I will start redesigning a larger indoor brooder tomorrow.

pekins ween off heat quickly, they might pant sooner than other breeds of ducks, and they grow fast but ide think that 2x2 will be fine for the week or two youll have them in your bedroom

Ide argue that heat lamps are great, and mabye even the best and most cost effective way to warm baby birds, But other heat sources work best for other people

i use a porcelin bulb thats garenteed shadder proof

 

[aart]

when I can safely keep them in the garage with heat lamps?

Just that birds are pretty tough in cold weather..as long as they have a warm place to be when they need it.
I've had a broody hatch out chicks in single digit weather with no supplemental heating.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don’t think I’ve ever had any of my duckling under 90* heat Pekins can over heat so be sure to keep a thermometer in the brooder to keep tabs on how warm it is.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

About a month ago I decided that I wanted to raise three more ducklings to join my current bachelor flock of three. I went on pure poultry and ordered three sexed male Pekins to be delivered in April. I raised three Khaki Campbell ducklings last April, and felt like the weather here (Rhode Island) at the time was manageable with heat lamps and an outdoor coop.

This morning (mid snow storm) I got an email that my three ducklings with hatch date April 6th just shipped. I called them immediately and they stated that it was an error on their side and they would gladly still send us the three ducks in April, but the ducklings they sent today were already in transit and there was nothing they could do about that.

I have since then been frantically trying to prepare for the new group's arrival in the middle of winter. I understand that now that I have to raise these ducks indoors until they have grown their adult feathers. The following is a photo of the box I intend to raise them in upon arrival.

View attachment 1973586

I plant to place this box in my room (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit all day) with both heat lamps on because I read they need to be at about 90 degrees during their early life. I bought a small drown-proof water container for them to have fresh water and will line the bottom with clean hay. The bath tub will be their pool while they are inside.

If I get some answers on a few of my questions, or just comments on my plan overall I would appreciate it.

1.) I suspect that the Pekin's will quickly outgrow this 2x2x1 box and I will need to upgrade. My plan is to wait until they are ready to move into my garage in our old 4x4x4 duck pen (just upgraded) with two heat lamps until they have their full feathers. How long should I expect to have to wait before the birds are ready to be in an unheated garage with only heat lamps?

2.) With 70-75 degree indoor temperatures and the two heat lamps am I risking the ducklings becoming too cold/warm?

3.) Here's a link to a thread with my current flock and their new pen:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/adding-new-ducks-going-poorly.1339465/#post-21931132

I have a divider in which I can easily split the coop into two parts separated by chicken wire (see not touch method) to assimilate the ducklings in with the young adults I currently have. Any idea what age I would be able to get these guys outside in the outdoor pen? I would not plan to let them join the other ducks outside during the winter.

4.) Pure poultry credited me $80 for my purchase and scheduled another delivery of three in April which I plan to cancel. Are there any other essential duckling supplies I am missing that I could use this store credit on?

Sorry if a lot of this information is easily accessible and I have not searched yet... I was planning on doing thorough research before April but the surprise shipment has caught me unprepared.

1. I’m worried that the two heat lamps inside and so closely pointed into the box still be too hot. We get a thermometer from the dollar store and put it in the box to see what needs adjusted. I don’t think you’ll be able to keep the guys inside long because I just had pekin duckings and they grow fast. Maybe a week.


2. The garage..perhaps you could put some cardboard ou plywood on half way up the side of the cage. Use the thermometer again, extra hay. But really, watch the ducks. If they are hot, they move away, or cold they move towards the light.

 

[DiYMama540]

Thinking one of the heat lamps should be sufficient. Is there any way you could get a hold of a baby pool of some sort? They make great, cheap brooders...and with ducks, they'll use it later when the weather warms. Ducklings grow overnight which I'm sure you've seen, I think 3 pekins will be busting the 2x2 at the seams within 2 weeks.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Thinking one of the heat lamps should be sufficient. Is there any way you could get a hold of a baby pool of some sort? They make great, cheap brooders...and with ducks, they'll use it later when the weather warms. Ducklings grow overnight which I'm sure you've seen, I think 3 pekins will be busting the 2x2 at the seams within 2 weeks.

The baby pool is a great idea, but, remember, these guys can hop! My new pekins were out of an empty pool fast when I was giving them a first swim! So, I’d put some sort of netting over it..chicken wire, etc.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Baby pools are great unless you have dogs or cats that may like to snack on tiny ducklings then you'll def need fort knox around the pool.

@DuckyDonna has some great ideas on how to fortify a kiddy pool

 

[DuckyDonna]

Hi, everyone. I've hatched 4 times and found the pool to be the best option for brooding. I actually use 2 sizes of pools for it depending on how many ducklings I have. I have 2 dogs, and one is a puppy and she wasn't able to disturb them.

I have one of those dog pens from Walmart that has 8 sections and folds up flat. I put around it around the pools. That keeps the dogs out but until they get a bit bigger the ducklings can walk right through the holes of the fencing. So I went to Sam's club and got some big pieces of cardboard that they have between the product layers on the pallets. I just stood them up between the pool and the fencing and it worked great. I did cut some of the height off so it wouldn't be hard to reach in and grab and duck for loving on.

In the picture I hadn't gotten the cardboard yet but I think you can see the idea just the same. Keeps dogs out and ducks in!

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Hi, everyone. I've hatched 4 times and found the pool to be the best option for brooding. I actually use 2 sizes of pools for it depending on how many ducklings I have. I have 2 dogs, and one is a puppy and she wasn't able to disturb them.

I have one of those dog pens from Walmart that has 8 sections and folds up flat. I put around it around the pools. That keeps the dogs out but until they get a bit bigger the ducklings can walk right through the holes of the fencing. So I went to Sam's club and got some big pieces of cardboard that they have between the product layers on the pallets. I just stood them up between the pool and the fencing and it worked great. I did cut some of the height off so it wouldn't be hard to reach in and grab and duck for loving on.

In the picture I hadn't gotten the cardboard yet but I think you can see the idea just the same. Keeps dogs out and ducks in!

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I love that the computer is right there , I’m sure so you can jump on here for easy access to threads!