Is this an absurdly expensive way to handle a heat source?

[Orpingtons Mom]

http://www.sugar-gliders.com/heat-emitter.htm#controller

Look all the way at the bottom of the page ... it's the bulb, the fixture, and wonder of wonders...a thermostat. All for the low low price of $87. plus shipping and handling of course.

I'm SURE it can't POSSIBLY be just a question of $$s. This is too easy ... *sigh* I'll probably get all roos anyway, at least the way my luck is running.

Sombody tell me there is a huge flaw in my reasoning, that I'll burn down my house, kill my chicks, my plants and my cats.

 

[jjparke]

wow that is expensive. I just use a 250watt red heat lamp hung over the brooder. If the chics get too hot they move away from it. never had a problem and my house is still standing.

 

[Mervin]

I'm with jjparke. A $5-6 brooder fixture, a $4 red bulb, and $5 thermometer works pretty good. Five weeks ago I was unsure and thinking about all kinds of expensive solutions too. In 4-5 weeks they'll be feathered up and you'll be out $87. Honestly there were several days when it got into the 80s that I had to turn it off for fear of roasting the little nuggets.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Quote:
$5 thermostat?

Tell tell. Or... did you mean a thermometer?

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
$5 thermostat?

Tell tell. Or... did you mean a thermometer?

Yes I did. I just changed it.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Well, SHOOT.

Well, why can't somebody come up with a THERMOSTAT. (Well, I guess somebody did. It just costs $87.

) Ok... let's try this again. Well, why can't somebody some up with a CHEAP thermostat.

I suppose, if the brooder is big enough it doesn't matter,... right?

(Maybe I have a new mission in life.

)

 

[elmo]

If I was brooding chicks artificially again, I might go for something like that. Last May when I had a heat lamp set up in my brooder I kept waking up at night to check the temperature. I'd pay $87 to get a full night's sleep every night!

This year, I'm using broodies to raise chicks, though, and I don't worry about warmth.

 

[fratermus]

I think that's just what decent temp control costs.

Homebrewing types tend to use Love controllers for heating/cooling like this; additional wiring required.

Even the analog for-cooling-only models are ~$50. I've got one on my spare fridge holding temps at 67F for a best bitters that's fermenting right now...

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
Like I said, a couple of weeks ago I was scared too. And I do agree that if your box is big enough, they'll find their own comfortable spot. I started with a 2'x3', then I cut the ends out of two and taped them together giving me 3'x4'. Then we bought a new tub, so I had a box that was 3.5' x 5.5' and I have 12 of them in there @ 5 weeks. I just put the light toward one corner so part of the box is warm and most of it's cool. Another idea I've heard of is using a hover. Basically you hang a feather duster so the chicks can get in underneath it like it's a broody and conserve their heat. Just relax, it will be okay. 3 or 4 generations ago all of the fancy equipment wasn't an option and they made out alright. After a couple of days, you'll get comfortable and you'll better understand what your chicks are "telling" you.

 

[McSpin]

Quote:
The thermostat isn't $87, it's $38.00 which is extremely cheap, if it's electronic, accurate and reliable. Still, one isn't necessary if the brooder is large with room for the chicks to move away if it gets too hot.