Temperature conditions for ducklings: a table of indicators from the first days of life

Environmental conditions are of paramount importance when raising chicks in a duck yard. Ensuring the optimal temperature regime is necessary for the harmonious development of ducklings, the gradual formation of offspring resistance to external factors. High temperatures are just as detrimental to the brood as low temperatures. At each stage of growth of young animals, it is necessary to maintain thermometer readings at certain values.

Table of required temperature for keeping ducklings

In the first days of life, ducklings that are vulnerable in the absence of a mother duck or hatched with a mother duck during the cold season are placed in a brooder.The design has the shape of a box and allows you to create a favorable microclimate for the chicks. The thermometer readings for daily ducklings and chicks of the first week of life should be quite high, without sharp changes in values. It is necessary to provide the birds with warmth, to exclude drafts and dampness.

Incandescent lamps, special heat lamps, heaters, heaters are used for heating. Appliances are placed at a distance that ensures safety and the necessary level of heat.

Temperature conditions for growing ducklings of different ages:

Indoor temperature, °СTemperature under the brooder, °СTemperature in the duck house, °С Up to 7 days 2 weeks 3-4 weeks 21-2316-1818-20 or no heating16-185-8 weeks -14-17-14-17

Age	Season autumn-winter		Spring-summer season
	Temperature under brooder, °С
28-33	22-26	28-30	22-24
23 -25	20	21-23	20

You should be guided by the readings of a thermometer installed at a height of 6-8 centimeters, which corresponds to the growth of ducklings. The behavior of the chicks is also taken into account: at low temperatures, the brood crowds, and at high temperatures, it often approaches the water, is not interested in food, and characteristically opens its beak.

Hardening begins gradually, from a week of age. The temperature is lowered daily by 1 °C until the optimum values of 22-24 °C are reached. Thermoregulation in duck offspring is established by the 14-20th day of life. Two-week-old ducklings in the warm season can already be left without additional heating; in the cold season, heating is completed later - at the age of 4-5 weeks.

It is recommended to transfer a brood from a brooder to a regular poultry house from the age of one month.By this time, the grown chicks become crowded in a small area. In the warm season, after the relocation of 30-day-old young animals to the poultry house, there is usually no need for additional heating, and in the autumn-winter period, the temperature is maintained by installing heaters or heat lamps.

The air temperature in the poultry house where grown-up ducks are kept (from 50 days of life) should not fall below +8 ° С.

What will happen if you do not observe the temperature regime

Violation of the temperature regime when raising ducks is fraught with serious consequences. In the cold, the chicks quickly weaken, they become prone to disease, and their physical development is disturbed. In an attempt to keep warm, the ducklings huddle together and can pass each other.

Excessive heating also has negative consequences. The ducklings are not active, eat poorly and grow slowly. Chicks coddled in warmth are hard to adapt to normal conditions.A weak degree of resistance of an untrained organism causes various diseases. Comfortable living conditions are evidenced by:

• mobility and curiosity of the brood;
• even distribution of chicks over the territory;
• interest in food and water;
• harmonious physical development;
• high growth.

In a favorable environment, young animals grow quickly. The weight of a daily chick, equal to 48-50 grams, increases by the age of one month, on average, up to 900 grams.

At what temperature can ducklings be released outside

Fresh air and minimal restriction of mobility stimulate the growth and development of young animals.But you can let the brood out on the street under certain conditions. In the first week of life, ducklings are most susceptible to the influence of various factors. Before reaching the age of 7 days, it is recommended to keep the chicks under a brooder, maintaining the optimum temperature and air humidity from 65% to 75%.

In the warm season, when the weather is calm, it is possible to accustom ducklings to the street from the age of 10-14 days, limiting exposure to fresh air during daylight hours. For the early release of young animals for walking, the air temperature should be at least 20 ° C at the initial stage.

By the age of 30 days, the chicks are getting stronger. Monthly ducklings can be released outside in the cool season, but the air temperature should not be less than +14 ° C. The development of duck offspring is favorably affected by full bathing. Ducklings growing near a reservoir become strong, hardy and gain weight well. In the summer months, in warm weather, it is allowed to release ducklings for swimming from a month old.

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