Heat Plates vs Heat Lamps

[seminolewind]

I wonder if I should keep raising the light until they all think it's better under the heat plate.

 

[sacchick]

I have done both heat lamps and infrared heat plates. Definitely prefer the heat plates. Very much like a broody hen in the way it heats the chicks. They pay for themselves in the difference in electricity savings very quickly.


Now I do still use a dull light if there isn't enough natural light.. These ones are in a brooder in a room that has a window, but the window faces the woods and very little natural light gets in there. I use an LED soft light bulb in there that is cold to the touch, so it just provides light. I shut it off after I am done chores. I also have a bunch of chicks in the house in very sunny location with the EcoGlow. They do not get artificial light at all except for a couple minutes around 7pm when I decide to watch chick TV. They get to eat and drink and I shut the light off, yet they still wander back under the brooder even in pitch black.

My chicks are so much healthier under these ecoglows I lose a lot less chicks this way, and I feel safe. The heat lamps make it hard for me to sleep at night worrying about what-ifs. Lost 200 animals to a fire and I just won't risk it.

I am so glad to read these posts I am new, chicks coming in 2 weeks, and I bought my Brinsea a month ago. It seems like it is the most natural and fire is a concern. Sounds like in an effort to keep these guys warm enough we are actually over heating them, a heat lamp can be pretty extreme.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree. I'm betting there are less incidence of pasty butt when using this style of brooder as opposed to a lamp.

 

[aart]

I wonder if I should keep raising the light until they all think it's better under the heat plate.

Would be an interesting experiment....or just turn it off for awhile and see what they do?

Is there room for all of them under the heat plate....if not, maybe that's why half of them are under the lamp?

 

[Onespirit03]

I use the heater bulbs like the ones used for reptile tanks. They do not emit light, heat only, so my birds can experience night and day. The lights are too much, day and night and the chicks don't like it.

 

[seminolewind]

Yes, there's room. I have 10 chicks.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I wonder if I should keep raising the light until they all think it's better under the heat plate.

Or switch it to a low wattage bulb.

 

[seminolewind]

I got the plate (Premier), used it for 4 days, and decided to stick with the bulb out of preference. The chicks use it, it works well. But I'll be moving the chicks to a hutch on the patio, and it's just easier to use a bulb in there. If someone wants it, I'll put it up for sale in the sale category. Or you can PM me for a price.

 

[aart]

I got the plate (Premier), used it for 4 days, and decided to stick with the bulb out of preference. The chicks use it, it works well. But I'll be moving the chicks to a hutch on the patio, and it's just easier to use a bulb in there. If someone wants it, I'll put it up for sale in the sale category. Or you can PM me for a price.

Really??? Hmmm.

 

[furbabymum]

I'm using a light just because I can't justify the cost of the plate. I'm also not sure if I could brood my other breeds using the plate. Can you brood turkeys and peachicks with the plate? Anyone know?