Heat Lamp Alternative: Seed Propagation Pad

[sixpantsmaloney]

We're trying something different this time. We have a heavy-duty heated seed propagation mat ($40 and handy for lots of things) under a Rubbermaid container.

I've connected it to a timer so it cycles on and off so as to not overheat the chicks. Then I place it under only half the brooder so there's a warm and cool side.

What I've noticed after a week is that the chicks rest all night and are up most the day. Our first batch with a heat lamp seemed to walk and then fall over asleep. Just didn't seem right for them to have light all the time.

Plus we have them by a window so they get natural light (although you could argue that baby chicks probably aren't in light for the first few days).

Anyway, not that my way is the best but it's an alternative that I like very much thus far.

 

[momofdrew]

great idea!!!

 

[ChicknJ]

Crikey that's a great idea. Do you have a thermometer in there also? I would put one in both sides just to see what the temps are like.

as an aside, I have used a waterbed heater as a seed propagation pad for years now, I never thought to use it for the chicks. It is temperature regulated from 70-to 110 degrees. Shoot, this might work as an incubator if you could put it in a box and raise the humidity... the pads are waterproof. I think you just gave us a eureka moment.

Let us know what your temps are. I do not hold hard and fast to the 95 degrees and decrease it by 5 degrees every week, but I live in Florida, so I can cheat a little with the heat. I usually keep my new babies around 88 and everybody seems to spread out and grow happy.

 

[espressola]

I think it's a great idea, especially if it's not under the WHOLE brooder... I use one of those reptile ceramic heaters because I agree that it is important to allow them to sleep more deeply without a light shining 24/7...
Patty N. ;-)

 

[Akane]

I've never really liked the idea of 24/7 light for chicks and have tried to think of good ways to provide a range of temperatures across the brooder without using light or those expensive ceramic bulbs. For right now I'm just using infrared but I can only find that in 60w.

I bet chicks raised by hens get exposed to lots of sunlight. Even if they are hiding under the hen a little direct sunlight is very different from light through a window. It's been proven in various species that the young grow faster and healthier if given a proper day/night schedule with sunlight or even just daylight spectrum bulbs instead of incandescent.

I do not hold hard and fast to the 95 degrees and decrease it by 5 degrees every week, but I live in Florida, so I can cheat a little with the heat. I usually keep my new babies around 88 and everybody seems to spread out and grow happy.

I've noticed a huge desire in temp difference between winter and summer here. Chicks I raised in winter were not happy until my thermometer read a minimum of 95 if not 100-102F for the first few days at least and would huddle near the center of the light at that temp. Chicks I hatched last fall and just a couple weeks ago didn't even try to get under the heat lamp with the thermometer at 90-95F. Within a few days they were acting too hot and I took one of the lamps off the brooder. They probably aren't even at 85F now at 2weeks old. My house is also only kept at most 10F different between winter and summer. I pretty much ignore the standard temp suggestions for that reason.​