Heat source for brooding meat bird chicks?

[jennyf]

What do you all use? I'd love to not risk a heat lamp. Will 12 Cornish X chicks be able to fit under a Ecoglow 20? It says it will accommodate 20 chicks but I'm figuring that may be layer chicks. Will be my garage starting in late February so I will definitely need a heat source--may end up with both the heat lamp and the Ecoglow depending on temps.

 

[Beekissed]

What do you all use? I'd love to not risk a heat lamp. Will 12 Cornish X chicks be able to fit under a Ecoglow 20? It says it will accommodate 20 chicks but I'm figuring that may be layer chicks. Will be my garage starting in late February so I will definitely need a heat source--may end up with both the heat lamp and the Ecoglow depending on temps.

Here's a thread to explore: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

I've used a heating pad to brood 10 meat chicks at the beginning of March in an outside brooder, in my hoop coop. It can warm even more than that in DP breeds and even in the meaty chicks. Does the trick and you don't have to worry about heat lamps.