Heating methods

[zackcesati]

Do y'all recommend a heating table for 4 chicks or a heating lamp?? Also we have 1 chicken currently so any advice on integrating these 4 chicks once they have grown to our one current chicken?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The heat plates are MUCH better and probably more reliable. A lamp can burn out, is way too hot for a small brooder, casts light which prevents providing a daily dark period, breaks easily and uses the amount of electricity that the cost of which would nearly pay for the cost of a small heat plate during a single brooding.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I use a heating pad with the Momma Heating Pad method. There is a very informative, long thread in this forum about using the Momma Heating Pad. I brood chicks out in the barn with this method and they feather out fairly fast and are very healthy and active - even the Cornish Cross broilers do very well with this.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Heat plate or pad is a better option for a small group. Heat lamps are more effective at heating a large space or large amount of birds.

Not sure as to your set up, but some of us do early integration on here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/