The Gander Gab

BROODING DUCKS & TEMPS FOR DUCKLINGS

Brooding. Much of the information on brooding chicks, available in poultry textbooks and other sources, can be applied to ducklings. If ducklings are hatched artificially, rather than by a broody duck, the caretaker must provide the newly hatched ducklings with a warm dry brooding area free of drafts, with a source of heat; such as brooder lamp with a 100 watt bulb, and feed and drinking water located near the heat source so that the ducklings learn to drink and eat soon after they are placed in the brooder. If ducklings have not learned to drink within a few hours, it may be necessary to dip their bills in the drinking water in order to coax them to start drinking. During their early stages of growth, ducklings eat frequently, much like chickens. In the case of earth or cement floors, the brooding area should be bedded with clean dry litter such as wood shavings or chopped straw. If drafts are a problem, straw or wood chips may be put down on wire floors for the first few days. Use brooder guards to keep the ducklings confined to the area where the heat, water and feed are located. The brooder guards should allow enough room so that the ducklings can move away from the heat if it gets too warm. See Table 1 for recommended temperatures, which are gradually lowered as the duckling grows. In addition, ducklings should be allowed access to more of the floor area of the pen as they grow older. When outside temperatures are above 70°F (21.1°C), ducklings can be allowed outdoors part of the day after about 14 days of age.

Optimum temperatures for ducks. At the time of hatching, ducklings require a high temperature of about 86°F, They are not yet able to regulate their body temperature and must have supplemental heat such as that provided by a brooder. As they grow older, they become better able to produce and conserve heat and regulate their body temperature. After a duckling is fully covered with feathers and down, they are able to maintain proper body temperature even when the outside temperature is low. The recommended temperatures for ducks at different ages are given in Table 1. Also it is important to remember that if you are hatching your ducklings in an incubator that you do not allow ducklings to get wet, or swim. Young ducklings incubated have not been born with the protective oils that Mama's hatched ones have. A duckling without the oil will remain wet, get chilled and die quickly. If you allow them to swim even in small amounts of water they will saturate and you run the risk of them simply drowning for they will sink. Only give them the amounts of water that they have to have. Anything over that amount becomes play time and mess time to a young duck. You can tell when ducklings have had more water than they need for they will start slinging their heads and the water and drilling and playing will begin. As they grow older they are able to store increasing amounts of feed in their esophagus at each feeding, and thus need to eat less frequently. It is important to provide about 1 inch feeder space per duck for about the first 3 weeks. Afterwards, this can be gradually reduced to about half this amount so long as there is no crowding at the feed hoppers.

Table 1. Optimum Temperatures for Ducks
Age in days	°F	°C
1	86	30
7	81	27
14	73	23
21	66	19
28	59	15
35	55	13
42	55	13
49	55	13
Developing breeders	55	13
Laying breeders	55	13

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