Heat lamp or no

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WannaBeHillBilly said:
Agree on both, the unnecessary heat lamp and the pictures you owe us! ;)
Having a heat source is (imho) overrated for ducklings. They have a much faster metabolism than chicks, keets or poults, they are larger and they also like to pile up, regardless of heat or cold. I moved my 4 weeks old ducklings from my office to the garage in February this year. They had a heat-cave and a heat lamp and usually slept at the other end of the brooder, snuggled against each other. Remember, ducklings are wearing a built-in down jacket…
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HillBilly what is a heat cave? I like the sound of it but can you describe it?
 
Miss Lydia said:
Duckling can’t regulate heat when younger than say 4 weeks they haven’t the feathers to keep themselves warm. If they are acting cold crammed up together or peeping more than normal then they maybe cold. What temps is the room at they are in?
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I have to disagree and agree. It is true that ducklings cannot regulate their temperature as well as grown up ducks or juveniles, but:
First they have a natural instinct to huddle together, my Spring ducklings were huddling together in their Momma Heat Cave and panting. They were obviously feeling hot, but they loved to huddle and they loved to be in that cave - i turned the heat-pad down, a few days later i turned it off.
Second ducklings are huge in comparison with chicks, twice the size and therefore the ratio of surface to body volume is in their favor to keep them warmer.
Third, ducklings have a much faster metabolism than chicks, for example. Ducklings grow at an incredible rate, today they all can look over the brooder walls, yesterday they couldn't… A higher metabolism also means they generate a lot of heat themselves.

I agree, that in cold weather or during cold nights ducklings need a heat source, but in the current weather i am more concerned about my current ducklings having a heat-stroke! In the afternoon they all sit in the shade and are panting like the grown-ups do! Two nights ago they all decided to no longer sleep under mom or even huddle closely together: They are just one week old…
Just observe and react to their needs, they will tell you loud and clear when they are feeling cold!
 
Well some folks brooding in air conditioning and 2 week old duckling may be chilled if they are unusually noisy and have plenty of feed and water. I did watch my last set of ducklings closely since I usually let mama brood and they only used the heat plate the first two weeks where they got under after that it was on top . Our house is 74-75 . Like you say we just have to watch how they behave. All depends on what temps everyone is having since we’re all from different parts of this big world. I am just hesitant to tell someone they don’t need heat and then they listen to me and something happens. I’d rather err on the side of caution.
 
I think they'll be just fine without a heat lamp.
I have some Khaki Campbell ducklings about a week in a half old and they won't sit under they're heat lamp anymore. I turn they're heat lamp off during the day, and turn it back on in the night. I'm thinking about not even using it in the night anymore because I really don't think they're using it.
It's always very worrying the first time you decide to stop using it, but always ends up being ok, at least from my experience.
 

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