Chick heater recommendations

[HopeSprings]

I purchased an infrared bulb and lamp with guard, but am thinking I'll return it after reading the fire danger involved in this set up. Now I'm looking at heating plates and would like input, please!
I'm getting 17 chicks the third week of May and really don't want to spend a fortune on this (tho I think I can repurpose it to seed germination).
Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

I had a 150 watt ceramic heater bulb. No light. Just heat. I brooded them in the garage so needed a little extra heat but my chicks primarily used they're brooder plate and really did well. I stopped using the lamp after 1 well.
I only raised 11 chicks though. It got tight under the plate by the time they were 3 weeks old but it still worked.
I'm sure they sell larger models than the one I used. It's about 1 sq ft.

 

[Pork Pie]

I used a heater plate - Premier are better than Brinsea, imo in the sense that the height adjustment is better.

 

[cmom]

I use a heat lamp with a melon box as a brooder and it works great.

I put a post up to hold up an old sheet to keep it away from the lamp on the cooler nights to help hold in the heat. If people are having fires, I wouldn't blame the lamps, it's how carefully you place the lamps so things won't catch on fire. I don't use the melon boxes so much any more but once in awhile during hatching season.

 

[PirateGirl]

Where will the chicks be raised, inside your house, barn, garage, chicken coop? Where they are may impact how much heat is needed and what your safest option is.

The heat lamp danger primarily comes from electrical cord damage (which can happen with any heater when rodents are present) or a broken bulb (the glass is hot and can ignite the dust/bedding/feathers in a coop). In a chicken coop there are birds that can hop up and down, flap a bit, and potentially bump and shatter a heat lamp. If you have chicks in a brooder with a wire lid between them and the light and there are not other animals in the room (so it's in your house perhaps a room that other pets/people don't go in) there's not too much risk of something happening to it. Also your house is generally climate controlled and they may be able to be off heat sooner than if they are outdoors.

Some designs are better than others, but browse through this for some inspiration.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/incubators-brooders.27/

Also @Blooie has some good info on brooding, outdoors, cold temps, etc.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors.68067/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/brooding-with-mama-heating-pad.67728/

 

[moniquem]

Try the MHP (Mamma Heating Pad), look it up on this site. I did this with my chicks and when they were done needing it I just wiped it clean until next time.

 

[BY Bob]

We loved the heat plate. It gave them the ability to get warm when they wanted and they learned the day/ night cycle. I'm ot running around but I'll get a post a photo of which one we bought. I got it on Amazon I think. I highly reccomend it.

Found it in my old amazon orders.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CJMV8XG/?tag=backy-20

 

[Tortoise]

I have raised tortoises from eggs and have adult tortoises. I use lots of bulbs that get very hot including the ceramic heat emitter ones. I have placed many of these very hot bulbs on plastic over a hole. Tin foil on the plastic keeps it from melting. Do not use the clamps that a lot of fixtures come with and use tin foil to protect things from melting or burning and the bulbs can be used safely.
I haven't done chicks yet but when I do it will be 2 to 5 chicks to get 2 pullets and won't be raising any more. I will be using my extra tortoise heat bulbs and a plastic tub.

 

[Doc7]

This 15 dollar heat pad, a cookie sheet from your kitchen and a couple 3” chunks of 2x4.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IV4N/?tag=backy-20

That’s all I use and plan to put day old chicks outside in the mid 30s no problem.

 

[Molpet]

I use the MHP also
need 2 set up if you have more than 15 chicks