Duckling Temperature Chart and Common Heat Problems

Depending on your particular climate, ducklings will need a supplemental heat source, like a heat lamp (not our recommendation due to fire hazard) or ducklingbrooder (what we use and recommend), in their enclosure until they’re a fully feathered young adult duck. When raising ducks, you’ll need to make sure that you’re adjusting the brooder temperature weekly! Here's a beginner guide on how to slowly adjust the temperature from the first week until they’re ready to go outside. Help your ducklings grow up to be healthy, happy waterfowl.

​Day 1 Brooder Temp: 90° F	​Week 4 Brooder Temp: 69 - 63° F
​Week 1 Brooder Temp: 90 - 84° F	Week 5 Brooder Temp: 62 - 56° F
Week 2 Brooder Temp: 83 - 77° F	​Week 6 Brooder Temp: ~55° F
Week 3 Brooder Temp: 76 - 70° F	​​Week 7+ If fully feathered and it's not extremely cold, ducks are ready to live outside.

Too Hot → Ducklings are pressed up against the perimeter of their enclosure, making little to no noise, possibly panting and spreading their wings.

Too Cold → Baby ducks are crowded in the center, possibly making distressed noises and in a huddle for the majority of waking hours.

Drafty → Young ducklings are sticking to one area of their enclosure. Check for drafts or uneven temperature distribution.

Just Right → Baby ducklings are roaming around their enclosure and are evenly distributed during waking hours because their body temperature is in the ideal state.

Raising Ducklings Brooder Setup and Supply Recommendation

• Pine shavings (wood shavings, except cedar do not use)

• Brooder* (Usually labeled for baby chicks)

• Kiddie pool

• Low water dish with clean water

• Duckling feeder

• Unmedicated chick starter (also labeled as chick feed or starter feed)

• Brewers yeast for extra niacin (chick starter doesn’t have enough)

*They don’t need a duck house yet. They’ll spend a good amount of time sleeping under the duck brooder. You’ll need to raise the height as the baby ducks grow taller so they can continue to fit underneath.