Cheap fireproof brooder??

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FDaniels

FDaniels

Chirping
6 Years
Oct 2, 2013
129
0
71
Oneonta, AL
I came across a post a few minutes ago about a cardboard box that caught fire & since that was what we were going to use I'm freaking out now because I don't know what to safely use for a brooder to keep them warm when we are gone to work. We can come home & check on them once or twice but there's no getting around something having to stay on while we're gone in order for them to stay warm. What do we use?? I read about an EcoGlow but the price is more than we can afford & you still have to plug it in the wall to use. Is there a way to keep them warm & at the temp they need without using something that plugs up? and/or is there a cheap but safe way to keep something plugged in while we're gone? What's an affordable & fireproof type of brooder since cardboard is out now?
 
I don't know if there is such a thing, except for a hen!
All you can do is make sure the lamp is fastened securely & can't be tipped over. If I were to brood, I would use the Eco glow or the new premier heat plate rather than a lamp. I would have the same fears.
 
The Premier plate is less expensive and from what I've read on here, equal or greater quality. I would equate it to leaving your crock pot going while you're away at work. Of course, crazy things happen sometimes, but if it were me, I would use the Premier for safety sake. I'm sure others have lots of opinion on the matter, but I think if you're nervous about it then you should go with your gut!
 
Well it does seem to be safer to leave on unattended than a heat lamp that's for sure. What do you think would be the safest kind of brooder? We're now thinking about using either a plastic storage tub or a wire dog kennel but do you think either of those would safe enough with the unattended heat plate or would building a wood brooder box be better? Or what would you suggest? And thanks so much for helping!!
 
I like the idea of using the big cardboard produce bins from the grocery store. They are tall enough and seem to be well insulated for temporary use. Downfall, you can't clean/sanitize it. Plastic tub is washable, but it would have to be very large to last until the chicks are large enough to go outside, or you may need several different sizes to accommodate them as they grow. Keep in mind, I've never brooded. I've just done a LOT of reading on the subject.
 
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What age do they first go outside? I think I read 6 wks but can't remember if that's right. So you do think the heat plate should be ok inside a cardboard box even unattended? We have big boxes at work all the time so that would be free & great but I'm just worried about something catching fire.
 
I used an old aquarium, the glass can catch fire too easily. I also used a red 75w bulb specifically made for animal heating, i know the wattage is low but the aquarium retained the heat very well.

As long as you use a bulb made for heating you should be okay. some of the other bulbs get way too hot really fast.
 
FDaniels said:
Well it does seem to be safer to leave on unattended than a heat lamp that's for sure. What do you think would be the safest kind of brooder? We're now thinking about using either a plastic storage tub or a wire dog kennel but do you think either of those would safe enough with the unattended heat plate or would building a wood brooder box be better? Or what would you suggest? And thanks so much for helping!!
Click to expand...

I had all but stopped hatching and brooding because of my fear of fire. I recently purchased the Premier heat plate and love, love, love it. The chicks go under it when they need to get warm and run around doing their thing the rest of the time, much more like they would do with a momma hen. I am using a large wired kennel for a brooder with bed pads (human puppy pads) for the bedding. I put the front of the hot plate higher then the rear of the plate so each chick can decide how much heat they need. Smaller chicks go more toward the back and the bigger ones hang around the front. The chicks are now using the top of the heater plate, it gets warm on top but not hot and they love to hang out there.

Penny
 
Awesome!!!! Thanks so much!! Really helped ease my mind
wee.gif
 

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