Heat lamp outside at night?

[bbomber]

Since it's getting so cold at night,I'd like to hang this infrared heat lamp far above my two Pekin ducks in their outside pen for warmth. When it's not cold I would like to keep a low watt light on by them at night so I can see them from my back door. My concern is..would this light attract predators because they could see my ducks better at night?

[Evy]

Know those down jackets that Cabelas & LL Bean sell for $175 + ? Ducks come equiped with them. All they need in winter is fresh water , a windbreak...a few hay bales or plastic on the pen will do...and a dry place to sit. A heat lamp is a waste of electricity & a light messes up their biological schedule. The only ducks that need special consideration in winter are Muscovy. Being of South American origin, they need wind protection to keep the caruncles on their faces & necks from freezing.

[bbomber]

Thank-you :roll:

[daisyduck42]

HI, Not sure how old this post is the dates don't seem to work here for some reason.Anyway I wouldn't worry about a heat lamp for full grown duck's.I know the first winter I had my starter flock I tried everything to get them into the horse stall at night.That original flock slept outside all winter and we have cold winters In Virginia.They slept in the snow and everything didn't seem to bother them a bit.The flock I have now of around 20 7 calls and the rest crested or larger mix go right to the building and sleep with some of the bantams that hang out there.Duck's are very resilient once they get their good down coat.Predators will come at night whether you have light or not so they should have a faily secure nesting area if these aren't just pond ducks that hang out and free range.

[bbomber]

Thanks Daiseyduck42. I have been convinced. Thanks again Evy.

[duckiedi]

I use two infared heat lamps in my duck palace to try and take the chill off it gets really cold in there I have 8 ducks and none of them like the snow or the cold temps.

[Evy]

I use two infared heat lamps in my duck palace to try and take the chill off it gets really cold in there I have 8 ducks and none of them like the snow or the cold temps.

Waste of electricity & not good for the ducks. All they need is water, not heat. Even little Calls do fine in below zero temps with shelter & dry bedding.

[lmd]

That`s my problem - dry bedding. Where I keep the water supply, the ducks make mud out of everything - indoors. Then they gunk up the water. How often do I need to refresh their water? And does anyone have any idea why they quit laying this year - the first time in 30 years?

[callduckguy]

keeping the water outdoors is a must, keeps things dry inside and less mucky.

we have the water dishes, esepcially know that we have 3 feet of snow as far away from the door as possible so they dont attract any mud, dirt, anything into the sheds...

fresh water in the winter for ducks is important so they eat, if they always have water, they eat, if they dont they stop

we use heated water bowls here and fill them daily, also use larger water tubs so they can still get in and have a dip.

[lmd]

Well, with 2 feet of snow in our area, I have to keep the ducks inside the barn on a cement floor. They seem to carry dirt from anywhere, and dump it into the water. Seems like they want a collection of stuff in their water. I change water a lot, but even more when they are inside. Glad we didn`t get the 3 feet.

[duckiedi]

I use two infared heat lamps in my duck palace to try and take the chill off it gets really cold in there I have 8 ducks and none of them like the snow or the cold temps.

Waste of electricity & not good for the ducks. All they need is water, not heat. Even little Calls do fine in below zero temps with shelter & dry bedding.

Actually the lights have not changed my electric bill, my shavings are cleaned daily and they are dry but I know when I am in there cleaning their place I totally freeze and I am dressed for winter so I could just imagine how they feel my one male will lay and shvier and I feel bad for him. I am actually thinking of putting one of those eden pure heaters in there to help keep it above 32 degrees so their water doesn't freeze.
Their feet do not have feathers so I am sure they get really cold?

[HeadmUP]

I am actually thinking of putting one of those eden pure heaters in there to help keep it above 32 degrees so their water doesn't freeze.


Your hearts in the right place, but heating the building is not really a good idea. Warm air holds mositure more than cold air does and breathing considerable water vapor in the winter tends to be big trouble for livestock. I've heard lots of stories about people bringing the poor cold little guys in the house to warm up for the night, just to have them die in the next couple days. My friend almost killed an entire flock of sheep by trying to close them inside a heated barn. Inside a shelter with plenty of shaving and straw on the ground, (especially if it is cement) and they will be fine, even in below zero temps.

[bbomber]

Sooo,when do you know they are too cold or freezing to death? Take their temperature? I'm serious. Tonight I wraped black tarp 3/4 around their 10x12 pen to block wind. They have a great little dog house for my 2 Pekins. I bought a heated water bucket that works GREAT. Straw everywhere. I have felt under their wings and oh.....it's nice and warm. Tonight here in southern Indiana it will be 20 degrees. From what you (EVy and others) have really stressed upon is the bitter wind. And I have blocked that today and feel my two pekins, named DUCK>>DUCK are safe. I as a human would rather be to cold than to hot. But back to my first question,how do you know when enough is enough?

[duckiedi]

I am actually thinking of putting one of those eden pure heaters in there to help keep it above 32 degrees so their water doesn't freeze.


Your hearts in the right place, but heating the building is not really a good idea. Warm air holds mositure more than cold air does and breathing considerable water vapor in the winter tends to be big trouble for livestock. I've heard lots of stories about people bringing the poor cold little guys in the house to warm up for the night, just to have them die in the next couple days. My friend almost killed an entire flock of sheep by trying to close them inside a heated barn. Inside a shelter with plenty of shaving and straw on the ground, (especially if it is cement) and they will be fine, even in below zero temps.

Thanks for this input I never realized that! I did know that I just could not bring them inside for the night then back out the next day in the cold, but was unaware of what I considered doing would harm them, i just can not believe they are warm enough when their water buckets get ice in them. There are heated disks that you heat in the microwave and they are to stay warm for up for 12 hours I was conidering them also - but again how do you know when i is too cold for them? I know I freeze even bundled up taking care of them.

[tinag210]

I used to put my ducks in at night but since we got our LGD and don't have predator problems I leave the door open. I feed of an evening and they go in and eat and then right back out to the pond. Even in the coldest temperatures they prefer to be outside. They will hunker down around the edge of the pond when it's windy, but still would rather be outside. They manage to keep part of the pond thawed by swimming around unless it stays in the single digits for several days. I do keep a tub of water with a heater for them for drinking water during those times. Evidently nature has provided them well for cold weather. I agree that by provided heat you are not helping at all.