Heat Lamp alternatives

[KnobbyOaks]

"But think about all the electricity a 250w heat lamp takes" I've been thinking about that. The ecoglow looks better and better. I don't expect to get chicks very often but next time I think I will go the ecoglow way.

 

[Sallysec]

Wish you could rent one right? I'm debating on calling up the local elementary school and letting them use it if I purchase it...just to get "my money's worth". My son is in preschool and I think they are too young at his school.

 

[RonC]

In a smaller area like the plastic tubs that seem popular the Ecoglo would be a very good idea. I can't imagine trying to micromanage the temperature of a heat lamp in one. I used a heat lamp on one end of my 2x4 brooder and it worked ok and was above the mesh top so couldn't fall into the bedding. When mine were very small I used a heating pad and they seemed to love that also. It just warmed a small area for them and left the rest of the brooder at room temperature.

 

[Sallysec]

In a smaller area like the plastic tubs that seem popular the Ecoglo would be a very good idea. I can't imagine trying to micromanage the temperature of a heat lamp in one. I used a heat lamp on one end of my 2x4 brooder and it worked ok and was above the mesh top so couldn't fall into the bedding. When mine were very small I used a heating pad and they seemed to love that also. It just warmed a small area for them and left the rest of the brooder at room temperature.

When thinking about options I actually wondered if anyone had ever used a heating pad or hot water bottles wrapped in towels etc....
I really am worried about the use of the heat lamps. We had a fire two years ago from a candle being knocked over and I still cant shake the horrible feelings of sitting outside the house helpless watching. At the time my son was two and now I have a newborn in the house....so it just makes more sense to me to go with safety first. I worried with the heating pad that it might get too hot...did you have it on low or how did you control the temperature to be precise? Glad to know other people are thinking about options.

 

[RonC]

I had it set on medium heat and wrapped in a towel. The towel was mainly to make things easier to clean but did seem to reduce the heat a little. Guess the setting would be dependant on your heating pad though. I also had a small candy box wrapped in a towel to make a nest on top of the heating pad also. Took a while to heat the whole thing to temp but stayed a steady heat once warmed up. After about a week had to move them to an escape proof brooder and they were outgrowing the "nest" rapidly. There are six in there, the others were under the covered part of the "nest".

 

[featherz]

In a smaller area like the plastic tubs that seem popular the Ecoglo would be a very good idea. I can't imagine trying to micromanage the temperature of a heat lamp in one. I used a heat lamp on one end of my 2x4 brooder and it worked ok and was above the mesh top so couldn't fall into the bedding. When mine were very small I used a heating pad and they seemed to love that also. It just warmed a small area for them and left the rest of the brooder at room temperature.

I used my ecoglow 50 in a huge barn so it's not just for small areas - although the little one is just big enough to fit into a large dog crate, which is a perfect brooder!

 

[Sallysec]

I used my ecoglow 50 in a huge barn so it's not just for small areas - although the little one is just big enough to fit into a large dog crate, which is a perfect brooder!

Do you know the dimensions?

 

[featherz]

Do you know the dimensions?

The little one is pretty small.. something like 12x8. The big one is 22x16.

 

[SunnySkies]

I love my EcoGlow. The heat lamp made me really nervous with all the kids around, and I can't babysit the thing all the time. I put it in the bug brooder box we made (like 4x5 feet) set the water and feed dishes in there, and the chicks did great. It's radiant type heat, so when they are cold, they press themselves up against it, just like with mom.

I'll be pulling mine out for the third time this weekend! I use Contact paper on the top so when they perch on top and poop, it is easy to clean off.

 

[RonC]

I agree the ecoglo would be good for a large area also. I just meant that in a confined space it would not overheat the whole brooder.