Safely Heating CX Chicks

[Creede]

Does anyone have experience with heat supplement that isn't a bulb waiting to burst in flames?

I use the radiant heat plates for my eggers. However, this is usually a significantly lower quantity of birds (4-10). Has anyone successfully used the Sweeter Heaters for CX chicks? I plan on raising 25 this first go round. Before investing in something expensive, I want to know if it will support that many chicks until they are fully feathered. Would be nice to know if it could support up to 50 as well. Sizes come in 11"x16" for $121, 11"x30" for $160 and 11"x40" for $175. That's pricey, but if the one heater does the job well, I'm willing to invest. Reviews are limited. Forums always mention lamps and bulbs...

I'll check my birds at least twice a day, but I want to be able to go to work and not worry if my shop is catching on fire.

 

[debid]

Honestly, a batch of 25 meaties is the occasion when I would use a bulb and I am an avid heat plate fan. I'd just use a quality bulb in a quality fixture and secure the ever loving crap out of it. Not that they are going to be so likely to try and fly up to perch on it... But out in an enclosure away from other structures so if the worst happens, it's only that structure getting torched. My 2 cents, knock together a simple enclosure and make it as minimal as possible, no need to ruin a building you use for other things housing the little poop machines.

 

[Creede]

Honestly, a batch of 25 meaties is the occasion when I would use a bulb and I am an avid heat plate fan. I'd just use a quality bulb in a quality fixture and secure the ever loving crap out of it.

Not what I wanted to hear, lol. Do you have recommendations on bulbs and fixtures? Currently brainstorming on a different brooding area now...

 

[debid]

Not what I wanted to hear, lol. Do you have recommendations on bulbs and fixtures? Currently brainstorming on a different brooding area now...

The only bulbs I ever trusted are the hard,. dimpled glass kind. Mine are Phillips with the red lens. The fixture has a ceramic socket and an aluminum surround with safety wires over the face so if it were to fall, the wires prevent the bulb making direct contact with bedding.

 

[FunClucks]

CX grow SUPER fast. Like 2-3 x as fast as eggers. I looked at using a heat plate, but went with a bulb because of the challenge of adjusting the heat plate properly for them as they grew. The heat lamp covers more area, is easier to adjust (on one chain/wire, so simple up and down as opposed to moving feet), and you only need it for about 4 weeks. Also it helps dry out their droppings in the area they like to sleep (below the heat lamp), which are 3x as wet as egger droppings - helps prevent disease in between shavings changes. I've had to adjust the heat lamp daily for day/night temperatures when we get random cold spells. With a heat plate, there would be that plus height as the chicks grow. I don't want to get such a large facefull of CX and their poop so often. I wear a respirator to clean out the brooder every day/ every other day, and take a full shower after, didn't want to quadruple my work there.

I double secure things, wire them up using the actual handle of the lamp, not using the clamps which can fail, and have a secondary method as well. Also check with meat thermometer every area of the brooder to make sure temps are appropriate for brooder materials as well as chicks.

 

[Creede]

CX grow SUPER fast. Like 2-3 x as fast as eggers. I looked at using a heat plate, but went with a bulb because of the challenge of adjusting the heat plate properly for them as they grew. The heat lamp covers more area, is easier to adjust (on one chain/wire, so simple up and down as opposed to moving feet), and you only need it for about 4 weeks. Also it helps dry out their droppings in the area they like to sleep (below the heat lamp), which are 3x as wet as egger droppings - helps prevent disease in between shavings changes. I've had to adjust the heat lamp daily for day/night temperatures when we get random cold spells. With a heat plate, there would be that plus height as the chicks grow. I don't want to get such a large facefull of CX and their poop so often. I wear a respirator to clean out the brooder every day/ every other day, and take a full shower after, didn't want to quadruple my work there.

I double secure things, wire them up using the actual handle of the lamp, not using the clamps which can fail, and have a secondary method as well. Also check with meat thermometer every area of the brooder to make sure temps are appropriate for brooder materials as well as chicks.

All of that makes sense. Thankful for the advice! I'm struggling to come up with a makeshift brooder now. The idea of having it in my shop was going to be cheap and efficient. With a bulb, I don't think I'm willing to risk it with all of my other tools and equipment... I live in town with a small backyard.

 

[Creede]

The only bulbs I ever trusted are the hard,. dimpled glass kind. Mine are Phillips with the red lens. The fixture has a ceramic socket and an aluminum surround with safety wires over the face so if it were to fall, the wires prevent the bulb making direct contact with bedding.

Thanks, I'm going to see what I can find

 

[NatJ]

I'm struggling to come up with a makeshift brooder now.

Where do you intend to raise them after brooding?

I suggest you brood them in the same space. Maybe cover some sides with tarp to stop drafts while they are very young.

If it is a chicken tractor you plan to move, I would put it in one place for the brooding period, ideally somewhere you want a compost pile now or a garden in a few months. Then add bedding, heat lamp, and chicks. Add more bedding as needed, until the chicks are big enough that you are ready to move the pen to other places.

 

[Creede]

Where do you intend to raise them after brooding?

I suggest you brood them in the same space. Maybe cover some sides with tarp to stop drafts while they are very young.

If it is a chicken tractor you plan to move, I would put it in one place for the brooding period, ideally somewhere you want a compost pile now or a garden in a few months. Then add bedding, heat lamp, and chicks. Add more bedding as needed, until the chicks are big enough that you are ready to move the pen to other places.

The plan is to build a chicken tractor (cattle panels bent over with a 20mil tarp and hardware cloth. The front and back walls would be open, except for wood framing and hardware cloth.

I could easily hang heat lamps inside the chicken tractor. Probably need to reduce the square footage inside the tractor for the brooding stage. The last question I would need answered is electricity. The lot I'll be using is not on my home property.

That's a good idea. Thank you.

 

[Creede]

@debid @FunClucks @NatJ

Okay, last question, hopefully. How many lamps is recommended per birds? This answer might be different with their rapid growth rate, so could you answer for a 3–4-week-old stage?