Heat lamp alternatives needed.

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

Just had my brooder caught on fire *once again* and fill the house with smoke because my lovely cats knocked it over this time. Definitely my fault for not being able to secure it today while setting it up but still awful and I’ve always had paranoia about a heat lamp starting a fire or shattering so it’s definitely time to find a good alternative. All chicks and cats are thankfully fine by the way The chicks are still just a day old so I just placed them back in the incubator and then I’ll have to figure something else out tomorrow morning.


Ok so I’m going to start the rest of this off by saying that I am not from America meaning there is no tractor supply and there is no Amazon so suggestions from there will not work. I’ve looked into brooder plates before but everything available here is just so insanely overpriced so that’s not too much of an option either


Now for some context on my setup and a bit of what I’m looking for: I run a tiny hatchery during spring-summer (most chicks get sold at under a week old) and breed show chickens as well so I can end up having quite a lot of chicks in the brooder at once and of different sizes too which isn’t ideal. We also used to keep the brooder inside but everything was just so dusty then and its not ideal at all, because of this I’ve come up with the idea of cutting off the top of some flow bins (keeping the walls quite high to help block out wind) and placing them on the porch (3/4 of it’s walls are closed with only one open wall) (with some cat proof covers so the neighborhood cats can’t get in) so something that could work with that would be nice. If still using heat lamps the plan would be to hang them from the roof of it and have something on the brooder hold it in place and secure it so that the wind couldn’t blow it from side to side. Any critique and advice is appreciated!

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many chicks and what temperatures are you dealing with? "Quite a lot" does not help with scale.

To me, the obvious solution is to secure the heat lamp so the cats or chickens cannot knock it over. Do not depend on the clamp that often comes with it but think in terms of chain or wire and screws or nails.

Would a hover work? Hot air rises. Think of a box open at the bottom and hanging over the brooder or raised on legs. Search the internet on "ohio brooder" for more information but this link gives you an idea.

https://www.plamondon.com/wp/build-200-chick-brooder-two-hours-20/

Knowing nothing about your details this is the quickest easiest thing I can come up with.

 

[SnackMeat]

We use seed mats. Either I use some hardware cloth and have it over the edge of a shallow brooder box and covered with towels with the end of the brooder box open to have a cooler spot, or we have pinned the edges to create a tunnel for the birds to go in or lay in different spots according to how warm/cold they are. Silkies love it at the back where it is warmest. Initially, they'll all push middle or so, and then slowly start sleeping at the opening or slightly past the opening. (This obviously depends on how cold it is there.) We rarely have issues with poopy butts this way.

We have also buried the seed mat in the pine shavings, maybe half an inch or so deep. So there is a warm place they can sleep on. Haven't had any issues in the months we have been doing this.


Alternatively, you can create a cave. They can cuddle puddle together and stay warm. Only downside is if one falls in the water source and gets wet, you have to recognize that because they can't keep warm like with a heat source, in the cuddle puddle. At least with what I have seen.

 

[ChickenChick46]

We use seed mats. Either I use some hardware cloth and have it over the edge of a shallow brooder box and covered with towels with the end of the brooder box open to have a cooler spot, or we have pinned the edges to create a tunnel for the birds to go in or lay in different spots according to how warm/cold they are. Silkies love it at the back where it is warmest. Initially, they'll all push middle or so, and then slowly start sleeping at the opening or slightly past the opening. (This obviously depends on how cold it is there.) We rarely have issues with poopy butts this way.

We have also buried the seed mat in the pine shavings, maybe half an inch or so deep. So there is a warm place they can sleep on. Haven't had any issues in the months we have been doing this.


Alternatively, you can create a cave. They can cuddle puddle together and stay warm. Only downside is if one falls in the water source and gets wet, you have to recognize that because they can't keep warm like with a heat source, in the cuddle puddle. At least with what I have seen.

I love the seed mat idea. I use them for the obvious, but also for keeping fermentations warm in the winter. They'd work great for chicks though. Thank you for sharing.

 

[SnackMeat]

I didn't think about my fermented mash this winter so I learned something too. Thanks.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I didn't think about my fermented mash this winter so I learned something too. Thanks.

It saved my kombucha during an abnormally cold spell. Not like my house isn't heated, but it's 125 years old and pretty darn drafty. Having the kombucha on the mat kept the SCOBY alive.

 

[saysfaa]

Wool hens are good alternatives to heat lamps.

A wool hen is basically an insulated box on its side (so there is a roof and an open side) with strips of fabric hanging down from the ceiling. I used strips from an old wool shawl. It took a bit of experimenting to get a width/thickness of strips that I liked - it needs strips rather than strings... they might try to eat strings or get tangled in them. And a bit of experimenting to get the spacing I liked... they need to be able to move through the strips but also to be touched by strips. On further thought, they might not need to be touching strips if the brooder is in a warm enough space. It doesn't have to be in a warm space; someone successfully used one through snow storms with chicks only a few days old.

It needs the strips hanging to about to top of their legs when they stand. That puts the wool touching their bodies at least when they stand and close when they lay. If the strips hang too low, they can get their legs tangled in them.

It works best for small groups of chicks - up to a dozen at least. I think up to 25 or so but am not sure. Too many chicks and they can't find their way out of the box easily enough.

 

[Penpal]

Please add your country in your information. In the future it will be helpful to know where you are. I live in Michigan, U.S.A. Hot summers, cold winters, snow, tornadoes.

 

[Penpal]

Scroll down and look for "Mother Bottle", poster is Greenwolf.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What I prefer for brooding is a "mama heating pads" which is simply a heating pad WITHOUT shut off placed on a frame to work like a heat plate. A fraction of the cost and they work in bigger temperature ranges versus the typical brooder plate.