A more Green Way To Brood Chicks.

[usschicago1]

Hello,
I have 7 chicks due to hatch soon, and for the first time I wont have a broody hen to take them. I Am looking for a greener way to brood them. An Alternative way to keep the temperature up rather than using a lamp.
Thanks
Mark

 

[UGAchick]

Not sure about an alternative to the lamp. I suppose you can try and energy efficient bulb, but they really do need the heat. If money isn't an object, maybe you can invest in a small solar panel to run the lamp (way to pricey for me). I do recommend using coffee chaff instead of pine shavings as a greener alternative. I read about this from another BYC who got the idea from Mother Earth News. It is recycled material from the coffee roasting process and it smells delicious!! Most coffee roasters will give it to you for free. It is much lighter than shavings, so it flies all over, but I think it is worth it.

 

[True Grit]

Do you have a female collie?

 

[zazouse]

I brood mine in my green house,if it gets to cool i can turn on the heat lamp because i work at home.

 

[pgpoultry]

I have brooded a couple of chicks in a cardboard box on top of an Aga stove. The temperature on the base achieved is 95 degrees Fahrenheit (so like underfloor heating!). As the chicks get older, then I put in additional pieces of cardboard to gradually lower the temperature.
This worked well, and the advantage to the chicks were that they had periods of dark and light. However, it does depend on having a suitable stove, could only be used for a small number of chicks, and does get in the way a bit!

Sandie

 

[azygous]

You could do what I do during power failures: fill gallon milk jugs with hot water and place them around the edges inside the brooder. But they cool off after several hours, and you'd need to refill them to maintain the temp. This method would preclude you being able to go off and leave the chicks for the day.

 

[usschicago1]

Thanks EVeryone, I like the Eco friendly Light bulb idea, Didnt even think about that. And i also like the water idea, i will test the water out today, and then the bulb.
Mark

 

[Ravie]

You could do as I did. Have chicks arrive during weeks of intense heat and keep them in an uncooled garage. They never really needed a heat lamp at all and they did great!

 

[crj]

Think about it
The more energy efficient your bulb is the less heat it will provide.
You will consume more energy and waste water by constantly reheating water jugs.
Just use the lowest wattage INCANDECENT (Did I spell that right?) bulb you can to maintain the temp and keep them out of drafts.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
True

I guess thats the way ill go then . Darn