Heating Element

[Henniezues]

Hello!

We got 5 baby chicks this weekend and bought a heat bulb and lamp. The more I read, the more I realize more people recommend something else. I also have a flat screen chicken coop heater I bought for the hens this winter. This seems to be much safer but I don't believe it will produce to 90 degree heat they need. I would prefer not to spend a large amount of money on the heating plate but can if it is recommended. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Liz

 

[Deenok]

Hello!

We got 5 baby chicks this weekend and bought a heat bulb and lamp. The more I read, the more I realize more people recommend something else. I also have a flat screen chicken coop heater I bought for the hens this winter. This seems to be much safer but I don't believe it will produce to 90 degree heat they need. I would prefer not to spend a large amount of money on the heating plate but can if it is recommended. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Liz

I used a 125 watt red heat lamp in their brood for three weeks because it’s summer time. At a month old I took it out completely. A lot of people make a big fuss over it but as long as they have each other they will stay warm.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hello!

We got 5 baby chicks this weekend and bought a heat bulb and lamp. The more I read, the more I realize more people recommend something else. I also have a flat screen chicken coop heater I bought for the hens this winter. This seems to be much safer but I don't believe it will produce to 90 degree heat they need. I would prefer not to spend a large amount of money on the heating plate but can if it is recommended. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Liz

When I had baby chicks I used a ceramic reptile bulb and bought a couple different wattages so I could swap them out every couple weeks. They don’t give off any light, only heat and I bought them off of Amazon. I can’t remember how much they were but they were not very expensive.

 

[Henniezues]

I used a 125 watt red heat lamp in their brood for three weeks because it’s summer time. At a month old I took it out completely. A lot of people make a big fuss over it but as long as they have each other they will stay warm.

Ok, thank you

 

[Henniezues]

When I had baby chicks I used a ceramic reptile bulb and bought a couple different wattages so I could swap them out every couple weeks. They don’t give off any light, only heat and I bought them off of Amazon. I can’t remember how much they were but they were not very expensive.

Ok, thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not sure where you are located, what temperatures you are facing, or if you are brooding in your climate controlled house or somewhere else. It's hard for me to get too specific when I don't know what you are working with.

To me the ideal brooder has one area warm enough in the coolest conditions and an area cool enough in the warmest conditions. My chicks are really good at finding the right conditions for themselves as long as they have that option.

People have been using heat lamps for over 100 years to raise chicks. In my opinion, if they are installed properly they are pretty safe. I use heat lamps. If any other heating method is not installed or used properly they may not be all that safe either.

I suggest you throw away that clamp that comes with it and use wire to hold it in place. Not string that can burn or plastic that can melt, but wire that will hold it in place. You just made it a whole lot safer.

Another risk if heat lamps is that they overheat the chicks if you don't set them up properly. Don't use a tiny brooder, even if you only have a few chicks. Use one big enough that you can heat one end but let the far end cool off. Good ventilation can help with that. You can adjust the heat by how far away it is, by using different wattage bulbs, or maybe putting a dimmer control in the circuit. I cringe when I see a 250 watt heat lamp on a small aquarium. Those chicks have to be suffering from the heat.

There is nothing wrong with heat plates, heating pads, or any of the other ways to provide heat as long as they are set up properly. Any way you can provide a place warm enough and another spot cool enough you are in good shape.

 

[Henniezues]

Thank you, we are in GA and it is really warm outside but we have them inside in a huge rubbermaid tote with the heat lamp on one side so they can travel around to the other side if they get too warm.I put a chicken wire top on it in the afternoon and bring them outside for some natural light/heat in the afternoons. Thats a great idea about the clamp-its difficult to find a good place to clamp it where it will stay put.

 

[pibb]

I use heat lamps. A 250w bulb gets pretty hot, a 125w bulb gets pretty warm. I use (2) 125w bulbs in my ohio brooder. This time of year I could get by with less wattage. I have a dimmer on mine so I can turn it down if I were brooding.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you, we are in GA and it is really warm outside but we have them inside in a huge rubbermaid tote with the heat lamp on one side so they can travel around to the other side if they get too warm.I put a chicken wire top on it in the afternoon and bring them outside for some natural light/heat in the afternoons. Thats a great idea about the clamp-its difficult to find a good place to clamp it where it will stay put.

A tote by nature will hold in heat, and is also fairly small as far as air volume. Advisable to switch to a bigger brooder (for 5 chicks I'd personally aim for 8-10 sq ft of space) and a lower wattage bulb, possibly even switching it off during day if it's hot out. If you're taking them outside on a hot, sunny day, very important to provide the chicks with a source of deep shade for relief from the heat.

Too much heat will kill chicks faster than too little heat.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hello!

We got 5 baby chicks this weekend and bought a heat bulb and lamp. The more I read, the more I realize more people recommend something else. I also have a flat screen chicken coop heater I bought for the hens this winter. This seems to be much safer but I don't believe it will produce to 90 degree heat they need. I would prefer not to spend a large amount of money on the heating plate but can if it is recommended. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Liz

I have a lamp and mine have done just fine go with what you got