When can ducks leave the brooder for good?

[Biscuitchicken]

Any help will be appreciated!

 

[needlessjunk]

What are your low temps. Rule of thumb is 90 degrees for the first week and subtract 5 degrees for each week there after till you reach your night lows or till they are fully feathered around 8-10 weeks. It really depends on what your local temps are.

 

[Biscuitchicken]

Well I'm in southeast texas. A week ago out lows were in the mid 50's but now they have been around freezing all week. Should warm up next week!

 

[Biscuitchicken]

Would a pen with a shelter/heat lamp with hay for bedding be sufficient after 3 or 4 weeks?

 

[needlessjunk]

Would a pen with a shelter/heat lamp with hay for bedding be sufficient after 3 or 4 weeks?

I'm I'm central Texas, hi neighbor! A heat lamp outside is a huge fire risk. Be very, very, very careful if you decide to go that route. I think your little ones should stay in with this weather for a while. Are you running out of room? I moved mine to the garage with a heat lamp and when it was in the 70's I let them play outside during the day for a few hours once they were a few weeks old. Having babies in the winter sucks vs summer when it so hot everyone just sits in the water to cool off.

 

[Biscuitchicken]

Hi there! Yeah I'm worried about my brooder getting too small. I've got a heat lamp in my chicken coop for when it gets down this cold but it's secured really well.

 

[Biscuitchicken]

I don't have a garage only a car port. I was thinking if I build them a duck shack I could mount a place to put a heat lamp, well secured of course and then they could go outside as they please

 

[needlessjunk]

As long as it gets warm enough for them it should be okay. I'm not comfortable with using a heat lamp outside, but you know your set up better than I. They should be at 90* for the first week and then back it off 5 degrees each week so at 3 weeks they should be around 75 and 4 weeks 70 for the low temp.

 

[Biscuitchicken]

Thank you!