Heat lamp? Cheaper way to heat?

[click cluck]

THIS!



Part of raising chicks is weaning them from heat. So many folks forget that crucial step. Starting in the second week, if the chicks are using a heat lamp, and especially if they are inside, it's important to turn that lamp off for increasingly longer periods of time. Consider this: Mama broody has her chicks out running all over the yard by the time they are 2 days old. They do not have a heat lamp, and they only scoot under her now and then to warm up a bit... Then, they are off and running again.

Since you have not started weaning them, I suggest that you step down to a 60 - 75W bulb. And immediately start weaning them from the light. By the end of the weekend, they can and should be off the light completely if they are in your house.



@click cluck I do hope that you don't feel like you are being attacked by all of this advice. You are caught in the middle between being a cautious new chick owner, and believing the hype of the feed store employees who are anxious to sell those heat lamps and those 250W bulbs, versus the experience of those of us who have brooded multiple batches of chicks and have learned from experience that there is a better and safer way. Thing is, many of those employees have NEVER raised a chick, and don't have the knowledge to differentiate between farm style chick management: Where chicks are being raised 50 to HUNDREDS at a time IN A BARN. In that case, if heat lamps are employed, the 250W bulb would be necessary. Compared to back yard style: where the typical home owner puts their chicks in a rubbermaid tote and broods them in the living room. BTW, IMO, plastic tote + heat lamp are often called Easy Bake Ovens b/c of the likelihood of overheating the chicks.

My chicks are brooded outside with MHP. They wean themselves off heat without my intervention. By the time they are 4 - 5 weeks old, they are completely off heat, with night time temps going down to 30's!

Thank you! And not to worry I don't feel like I'm being attacked, I really was shocked at the response to my post in such a short time! Where I live (California) people don't talk a whole lot, My family be one of the exceptions lol. By the end of this week Ill have them weaned off. Do they still need light at night? Im sure not much if any. I really appreciate ALL of the reply you guys took time to make! Thanks again!!!

 

[click cluck]

I started with heat lamps outdoors. I found the 175W I had too hot for the relatively small container (18"*4', I think it was). I used a 100W after week one. And this was in freezing cold weather! My biggest issue was when the weather would warm up during the day and 100W was too much. It was still cold at night so I'd have to shut it off and then remember to turn it back on at dusk. This year, I built a MHP and it was SO MUCH EASIER and as others have found, they abandoned their MHP in favor of the cold roost at 4-5 weeks (I had mixed ages but they moved as a group). I understand your reluctance to build one or buy a pre-made contact type heater for the brief period remaining. But, if you will raise more in the future, it would be easy enough to move them to their coop with the new MHP and be done with the living room mess as well as ready for next time. Just my 2 cents.

I will do that if I raise another batch! Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it!

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

I use a radiant heat plate. Not only are they cheaper to run they also reduce the fire hazard risk. Chicks love it!

 

[click cluck]

View attachment 1281657 I use a radiant heat plate. Not only are they cheaper to run they also reduce the fire hazard risk. Chicks love it!

Awwww! will do next time!

 

[lazy gardener]

Thank you! And not to worry I don't feel like I'm being attacked, I really was shocked at the response to my post in such a short time! Where I live (California) people don't talk a whole lot, My family be one of the exceptions lol. By the end of this week Ill have them weaned off. Do they still need light at night? Im sure not much if any. I really appreciate ALL of the reply you guys took time to make! Thanks again!!!

No, they won't need heat at night. When you have them weaned off the light during the day, the next step is to take it away at night, b/c it's a bit cooler in your house at night. Now would be a good idea to introduce them to a wool hen or a huddle box. You can do a thread search for both topics. However, assuming that your brooder box is small, don't leave a wool hen or huddle box in there when they have a heat lamp going.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Funny, first thing I thought of when I saw the radiant heat plate is the PRESTO cool touch griddles. Some of them are twice the size and half the price. On warm/low setting I wonder if they would work the same?

 

[debid]

Funny, first thing I thought of when I saw the radiant heat plate is the PRESTO cool touch griddles. Some of them are twice the size and half the price. On warm/low setting I wonder if they would work the same?

My griddle has a "low" of 200F. Too hot plus bulky and heavy (if it were knocked off the support, it would be tragic...) The heating pad I used for my MHP was only $13 and worked fabulously. Plus, it's light enough that the wire contraption I built with my wrecked tomato cage was ample support for the pad even when the chicks decided to use it for a landing platform coming down from the roost.

 

[Apis mellifera]

My griddle has a "low" of 200F. Too hot plus bulky and heavy (if it were knocked off the support, it would be tragic...) The heating pad I used for my MHP was only $13 and worked fabulously. Plus, it's light enough that the wire contraption I built with my wrecked tomato cage was ample support for the pad even when the chicks decided to use it for a landing platform coming down from the roost.

It may depend on the model you have, mine is very light. I put a digital thermometer on it and the low is between 88.3 and 91.2 in a warm room.

 

[3riverschick]

Personally,
I think the mother heating pad is a bacteria cave and don't endorse it.
That said, just a 75 watt incandescent blub should do for you now. Probably even a 60 watt.
Heat plates are handy, save energy and can be cleaned . Premier, Ecoglow and Sweeter Heater come to mind.
Have you had these chicks in your living room since they had chick down? if so ,you're probably noticing a fine dust all over your living room. that's not dust, that's chick down and it's covering everything in your living area . You are sitting in it, eating in it, your kids are playing in it. Get these birds out of your house!! good luck dusting it . it needs to be wiped down. if you try to dust it, it just spreads the down around. been there, done that ,never again .
Best,
Karen

 

[click cluck]

Personally,
I think the mother heating pad is a bacteria cave and don't endorse it.
That said, just a 75 watt incandescent blub should do for you now. Probably even a 60 watt.
Heat plates are handy, save energy and can be cleaned . Premier, Ecoglow and Sweeter Heater come to mind.
Have you had these chicks in your living room since they had chick down? if so ,you're probably noticing a fine dust all over your living room. that's not dust, that's chick down and it's covering everything in your living area . You are sitting in it, eating in it, your kids are playing in it. Get these birds out of your house!! good luck dusting it . it needs to be wiped down. if you try to dust it, it just spreads the down around. been there, done that ,never again .
Best,
Karen

Yes they have been in my house since 3 days old (that's when I got them). As far as the dust goes, yes I have seen it but I wipe down my house every day anyway because where I live the dust level is ridiculous, so much wind! My eating table and kitchen are in another room so not to worry there. They will be out soon enough, thanks for the advice!