Incredibly stupid question about a brooder

[Contessa]

You can laugh at me, just please don't be grumpy. I am this dumb. I have read two books about keeping chickens and have not yet seen this addressed.

Is there any reason why a light is the heat source of choice? I was wondering whether something like a heating pad would be sufficent.

Just curious. I am mentally trying to figure out how I could use a lamp, where I would place it and how I would raise and lower it to adjust the temps.

I have not yet even ordered chicks so none have been harmed by my ignorance. Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

That's not a stupid question. Actually a good one if you ask me.

People tend not to use heat pads because they won't be able to tell if the chick is over heating or too cold. With a light you'll know because they will either huddles under the light (too cold) or they will try to get as far away from it as possible (too hot). I suppose if maybe only half of the brooder was covered with a heating pad then that would be fine. But that is why people mostly use heat lamps.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

The only stupid questions are the ones left unasked. I would not use a heating pad, as they can spark fires, especially when you are using shavings as bedding, and at the temps they would have to be kept at to have a 95 degree brooder that first week. I use a heat lamp that directs the heat to one spot, so if the chicks are too warm, they can move away from the heat. The kind I use has a clamp on it, and I use a rabbit cage for a brooder, with a big door on top that lifts open, so I can hook the lamp where I want on the door to raise or lower it. When they are almost ready to be heat-less, I close the door completely, and set the lamp on top, at an angle, so they really have to seek out the warmest spot in the brooder, once they stop sleeping in that spot, I know they are ready for me to take the heat source away. (They are in my house, so ambient temp in the chick room is around 66-68 degrees).
The type of rabbit cage that I use for my brooder is the kind with the plastic bottom and wire top, the plastic comes up the sides about 5-6 inches, so it keeps them from flinging shavings all over the place too.
Hope this helps!!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
your question is great, you use an over head heat source because the chicks can chose where they want to go and how warm they want to be, I do not use lights I use heat emitters, the babies get a more normal day and night. not light all the time. the other problem with pads they get full of chicken poop.

 

[Keri78]

AWWWE...you're a "Chickie Dork" ..just like the rest of us WELCOME!!!! We don't laugh at you we laugh with you...because we have all been there and just when you get the answers to your first 20 million questions you'll surely have 20 million more!!!

That's why this site is such a success!!!

Anyway...I've heard it explained that the lamp offers a heat source from above just like a Mama hen would be over the babies. As far as adjusting the temp. I just bought a cheap little digital therm. on ebay(free shipping)...great deal..next day arrived! I will be using this little baby to save me hours of agonizing over "Are they too hot...Are they too cold"...paranoid Mama syndrome!!!

I just use a rubbermaid storage tote and a piece of chicken wire on top. You can either hang your heat lamp or just set it on top of the wire may have to staple the wire to framing boards so it's nice a secure ... or haven't tried this but just thought of it...you could cut the top out of the rubbermaid lid and replace the plastic cut out section with your wire and somehow secure the wire to the plastic...not sure what you would use???have to ask Hubby. But this is an idea!!! Yes...I did already admit to being a Chicken DORK!!!

I always keep my lamp only on one end of the brooder and food and water on the other end and this way if they need to get away from the lamp they can. Sorry don't know if I helped answer you're question or created 20 more if nothing else...I'm sure I boosted your confidence that if SHE can do this I KNOW I can!!!

Blessings, Keri

 

[Keri78]

Quote:
your question is great, you use an over head heat source because the chicks can chose where they want to go and how warm they want to be, I do not use lights I use heat emitters, the babies get a more normal day and night. not light all the time. the other problem with pads they get full of chicken poop.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/19130_heat_emitter.jpg

OOOOH...AAAAAAH..where do you get the heat emitter thingie??? PetSmart? I LOVE this!!! I always felt so bad that they had to sleep in the bright light!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
That's what I did with some orphan ducklings...I used plastic hardware netting, and poked holes in the plastic lid, and used small bolts with washers & nuts to secure it! Worked great!!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Any pet store that carries reptile supplies, I use the 150 watt one, they are more expensive, but last alot longer I've got 4 and this is the 3rd year. The box says you need to use their lamp holder but all you need is a lamp that has a porcelain socket

 

[Keri78]

OH you GUYS are THE BEST!!!!

My poor Hubby!!!

When he gets home...he's going to be taking me to get a "heat emitter" and some plastic netting bolts screw...good thing we're about to get snowed in AGAIN!!!!

Now the heat lamp could not sit directly on the plastic netting so maybe I will just stick with a metal wire or screen would work too right? He'll have a project to work on!!!

Love my BYC friends!!! Blessings, Keri

 

[PandoraTaylor]

the easiest way I have found for hanging the light is to attach a eye hook to the ceiling above the brooder,
then attach light to the hook with a cable, then I can raise or lower it according to temp needed and chicks behavior.
I thought about a pulley system, but I have not tried it yet.