Temperatures

Brooder Temperatures For Ducklings

In the farmingfriends forum we have been asked about brooder temperatures for ducklings.

the temp in his brooder is about 93 degrees F. Is that good? or should it be different? Badoodle


If the duckling is moving away from the heat lamp, is laying down alot and panting then the temp is prob too high, if the duckling is huddled under the heat lamp then too low a temp. moving around and sitting in different places usually means the temp is right. The link that Mo gave says, The duckling will need a temperature in the brooder of about 86 degree fahrenheit day one and then by day 7 about 81 degrees.

Once your duckling is dried out and strong enough it won’t rely on the heat lamp so much, like other birds such as guinea fowl.

Check out the following books about ducks and incubating and hatching eggs.

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Fluctuating Temperature In Egg Hatching Incubator

I have received an email from Jenny asking for help regarding the temperature fluctuating in her incubator.

Hello,

My name is Jenny, I have an incubutor.. but I can not get it to hold it’s temperature… it’s up and down like a yo yo..

Can you help? I have now tried it twice and got nothing each time.

Regards Jenny

Hi Jenny,

Sorry to hear that your incubator temperature is fluctuating. Where do you have your incubator positioned? Incubators are most reliable if kept in a room with a constant temperature. The kitchen is not a good place fot an incubator as the fluctuating heat as the oven is used can affect the incubator. The incubator needs to be kept away from draughts and also away from a window where the sunlight can warm up the incubator in the day and then the incubator will get colder at night.

I have read that “The bulb of the thermometer may be placed inside a blob of Plasticine or similar to reduce changes in readings due to minor fluctuations and give an average reading.”

Is the thermometer working correctly? Can you check it against another thermometer? New thermometers should be checked against one known to be accurate.

Do you have the thermometer placed near the eggs? In a still air incubator the temperature varies vertically within the incubator and there may be a difference of several degrees between the bottom and the top of the incubator. The temperature should be kept at that required by the eggs at the level at which the eggs are kept. In order to monitor this, a thermometer should be placed at the same level as the eggs.

I am sure that you are aware that the temperature will alter when you open up the incubator, the temperature will fall when the door is opened to add, remove or manipulate eggs. So turning the eggs needs to be done quickly and carefully.

For normal development and good hatchability, eggs must be maintained within a narrow temperature range. Both too high and too low temperatures maycause problems with the hatch.

Here are some useful links regarding reasons for problems with hatching:
Reasons for a poor hatch rate or no hatching eggs in an incubator
Reasons for eggs hatching late
Reasons for pipped eggs but chicks not hatched
Reasons why fully formed chicks may not hatch out

Hope you can get your incubator to give you good results. Good luck with future hatching.
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriends

Do you have any tips for Jenny to help her regulate the temperature in her incubator?

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Brooder Temperatures For Quail

Here are approximate brooder temperatures for quail at different ages.

  • The brooder temperature for newly hatched quail  and within the first week needs to be at 95 -100 degrees F (about 35 degrees c).
  • By week two the temperature in the brooder can be reduced to 90 degrees F (32 degrees C).
  • Into week three the temperature can be reduced to 85 degrees F (29 degrees C).
  • In hotter climates or when the temperature outside is warm then the heat lamp may be turned off for a few hours each day by week three.
  • By week four the heat lamp can be turned off or down  to 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) during the day.
  • The temperature can be reduced by 5 degrees F each week.
  • By week 6 or by the time the quail are fully feathered, the heat lamp can be turned off.
  • The outside temperature affects the need for heat. If it is cold outside then the temperatures may need to be maintained or the period of heat may be lengthened and similarly if it is warm then the temperature of the heat lamp can be reduced or turned off.