Alternative to heat lamp?

[Lizz9311]

I have chicks that are due to hatch Monday. I'm working on setting up the brooder now. I do have a heat lamp (or seven) I could use, but I'd like to find an alternative as the brooder I'm using this go-round is plastic and I'm afraid of it melting with the heat lamp.

I have a seedling mat by Hydrofarm. Would that be a good alternative? How would I implement that in my brooder instead of the lamp?

I'm open to other ideas that aren't too expensive.

 

[Stiggy]

last season we had so many brooders going that we ran out of lamps, we were using lights with the old fashioned bulbs in them. we used those plastic 120 litre roller draws and cut ventilation holes in the sides/ lid and a hole in the led to put the light. with a traditional ugly lampshade on it kept the lamp from falling through into the chicks. those small table lamps can also work, they clip onto the side and can have the 'necks' moved. however these aren't always as stable

 

[pawtraitart]

I have chicks that are due to hatch Monday. I'm working on setting up the brooder now. I do have a heat lamp (or seven) I could use, but I'd like to find an alternative as the brooder I'm using this go-round is plastic and I'm afraid of it melting with the heat lamp.

I have a seedling mat by Hydrofarm. Would that be a good alternative? How would I implement that in my brooder instead of the lamp?

I'm open to other ideas that aren't too expensive.

How many chicks do you guess you'll have?

 

[Lizz9311]

Last candling showed 5 with movement, but I could have up to 10 if all remaining eggs hatch. I doubt I'll get 10, but there is a SLIM chance.

 

[QueenBubbles]

The heat lamp (250 watts) was too hot - getting to 100* & my last incandescent died but I found a halogen desk lamp that has been working well. There were some nights I had to also put a cover over the whole set up to keep the heat in.

I was also thinking a reptile heat rock would work well if I had to buy something else. Their feet are good indicators of whether or not they are cold and quiet right down when they perch on my 98* arm, so a seedling mat is a good idea as an additional heat source, but probably not sufficient on its own.
A reptile thermometer is also a handy tool and way cheap - $2.49 at the pet store.
Here is my set up:

And the whole thing:

 

[Lizz9311]

The heat lamp (250 watts) was too hot - getting to 100* & my last incandescent died but I found a halogen desk lamp that has been working well. There were some nights I had to also put a cover over the whole set up to keep the heat in.

I was also thinking a reptile heat rock would work well if I had to buy something else. Their feet are good indicators of whether or not they are cold and quiet right down when they perch on my 98* arm, so a seedling mat is a good idea as an additional heat source, but probably not sufficient on its own.
A reptile thermometer is also a handy tool and way cheap - $2.49 at the pet store.
Here is my set up:

And the whole thing:

This is perfect! Thank you! My new brooder is almost identical to that and so having input from someone with a similar set up is extra helpful! Thank you!

I have an old lamp hubby was trying to sell. Maybe I'll snag that and set it up with the seedling mat. Yay!

 

[QueenBubbles]

Yay, glad to help! Let me know how they like the seedling mat.