Mama hen and heat lamp?

[emimiller8]

My mama hen is sitting on the eggs and three chicks now. We have separated them from the rest of the flock and put her in a crate with food, water and a heat lamp. Is the mama hen gonna be ok and able to sleep with the heat lamp next to her. It's not directly on her it's next to her. Should I turn it off? I don't want a chick to come out at night and not be able to get back under mom and die. Basically im asking if the light will effect the mama hen? Thanks. Any response is appreciated

 

[Crazy Wife]

Hi There,

The mama will keep the chicks warm on her own. It is amazing how well these girls can take care of their babies. I wouldn't use the heat lamp at all.

Good luck with your new ones.

 

[emimiller8]

Even when she is still brooding on 5 eggs? I really don't want any casualties

 

[Brookliner]

I had a late hatch last fall on November 1st. I put a 100 watt red bulb in a reflector and hung it near the food and water. (to keep the area where the chicks would be out eating and drinking warm). The red light didn't seem to bother either the hen or the chicks. If your outdoor temps are in the 80's I wouldn't worry. I would check to make sure that the chicks are under the hen at night before you go to bed. They will go under the hen when it starts to get dark.


picture of Stella with chicks under the red light in my broody coop.

 

[emimiller8]

They are inside the house in the guest bedroom. We live in a colder climate. Will prob get down to 54 tonight

 

[emimiller8]

So we decided to turn the lamp off and have faith in black mamba our mama australorp. If anyone objects lets know I will quickly turn it back on

 

[ChickenMack]

I have a hen setting right now, too. A heat lamp is not necessary, I have had hens set in the winter and in the summer, it is unbelievable their sense of what's needed. If she feels the eggs are getting too hot, she will get off of them until they cool down and if there is a lamp, they won't be able to cool down and she might not get back on them. and if she feels that it is too cold, she won't get off those eggs no matter what. Her body heat is enough to give them what they need and she is built to do this, and if it gets too cold for her, she will just tuck her head under her wing just like if she was in the hen house. They are wonder to watch.

 

[LukensFarms]

The hen should stay for about a day on the eggs. Finish any remaining eggs in the incubator. She doesn't need a heat lamp. She may get too hot.

 

[and1223]

My mama hen is sitting on the eggs and three chicks now. We have separated them from the rest of the flock and put her in a crate with food, water and a heat lamp. Is the mama hen gonna be ok and able to sleep with the heat lamp next to her. It's not directly on her it's next to her. Should I turn it off? I don't want a chick to come out at night and not be able to get back under mom and die. Basically im asking if the light will effect the mama hen? Thanks. Any response is appreciated

No heat lamp is needed. I have 5 baby chicks that hatched on Feb 22nd and night temps were 34 and day temp in 60’s
The chicks are thriving and doing well. When they get cold, they find their way underneath her and poke their little heads out. It’s so cute to see all these heads poking out of her.!

 

[and1223]

No heat lamp is needed. I have 5 baby chicks that hatched on Feb 22nd and night temps were 34 and day temp in 60’s
The chicks are thriving and doing well. When they get cold, they find their way underneath her and poke their little heads out. It’s so cute to see all these heads poking out of her.!

I have mine in an enclosed dog crate with straw inside. They are in an enclosed chicken run but separated from the rest of the flock.