The brooding box/ pen needs a heat lamp. So, do chickens need a heat lamp? If you wish to use a traditional heat lamp, that's absolutely your choice - and you can buy one by clicking this image. But how long do chicks need a heat lamp? Once out of the incubator…what do I need for them? (The gold coloured candle holders were there to raise the heat lamp a bit- not for decoration!) We cover how to set up a heat lamp as well as alternate heat sources, and we'll tell you not only how to set up the heat, but also how long your chicks need a heat lamp and at what temperature. Until the ducks are fully feathered around 7-9 weeks old, they have trouble regulating their body temperature and need heat. The lamp is normally hung about 18" from the bedding where it should be 90-95 degrees. We raised it higher as they got too hot under it and then reduced it to a 60 watt one the next week. they must be heated until a certain age, i do not know what it is for ducks but chickens i believe is about two months. Ducklings should have a heat lamp until they atart to show some feathers. Just be very careful indeed not to put your chicks at risk. If they are too cold, they will cluster under the heat source. Our crew moved to a larger pen later, when the heat lamp was no longer needed. If baby ducks aren’t being kept warm by their mother, they need extra heat for the first couple weeks of life. Thank you! we have chickens and if you turn off the heat lamp at night they will freeze to death. I am hatching ducks ( white ones) in my classroom. After that you will not need a lamp. 5. An ordinary 100 watt bulb in a metal brooding lamp was enough for our ducklings. Few pet stores sell baby chicks at Easter, and farm stores are reluctant. The fire in the photo below resulted from a heat lamp that fell. Sorry for all the questions! Regular light bulbs will not supply enough heat. If home temperatures range around 75 degrees, you won’t need a heat lamp past week four. Ducklings should have a heat lamp until they atart to show some feathers. Usually just a day or two. Depending on the type of lamp, the best are at a poultry stor which the lamps are made for poultry. Warm ducklings will scamper around the brooder. Provide a heat source for your baby duckling, such as a heat lamp with an infrared bulb. Both are a terrible fire hazard, especially if the coop is not wired specifically for lighting. The benefits of the radiant heat lamp. After that you will not need a lamp. do not turn it off at night. Expect your ducklings to be a bit wobbly for at least the first day which can be very comical as you will see from Sheldon's Diary. put a large rock in their home as well under the heat lamp so if it goes out since th rock absorbs heat it will keep them warm. (Just keep an eye on them. So for about a month of age. How to Take Care of Ducklings. Keeping chicks during summer months can be easier than winter because your house may be hotter. Young chicks don’t need a heat lamp, which tends to keep the whole box very warm. And how long can I keep them before they need to go? During the day we filled a gallon milk jug with hot tap water and draped it with loose flaps of polar fleece. no! So for about a month of age. On average, a four-bulb, 250 watt lamp can warm up to 150 ducklings whereas a one-bulb, 250 watt heat lamp can warm up to 30 ducklings. You need to hang a heat lamp above the storage container or bed. Ducks are extremely cold-hardy due to a nice thick layer of body fat and soft down under their waterproof feathers. Ventilation is HUGE. Truth be told my heat lamps for in-the-house brooded ducklings have never been on for more than a week. I’m officially convinced heat lamps aren’t as vital as I thought they were… However, there are still a few things I’m doing to ensure my flock stays comfortable and safe during the winter months: Ventilate it! One heat lamp can handle about 35 ducklings, 20 goslings, 40 guineas or 60 pheasants. Ducks do NOT need a heat lamp in their coop. Do ducks need heat in winter? Ducklings that have just hatched from their shells need a warm, safe environment to grow up strong and healthy. The layers of fat and feathers that ducks are equipped with keep them warm, even when they are wet. Even those who consider they have their heat lamps well secured have been startled to find they really weren't. I have someone that raises ducks and will take them. What We’re Doing Instead of Using Heat Lamps. A box with heat lamp and bedding? If you have baby chicks, we've put together a guide to keeping your chicks warm. I do have ducking specific feed.