Switch Heat Source from Heat Lamp to Brinsea Eco Glow

[SonyaMcCormack]

Our set-up - how's it look?

 

[EggstremeHen]

I have used the eco-glow ever since I started hatching chicks about three years ago and I love it for its superior advantages over the heat lamp ( pros and cons have been already listed in the thread !). It does emulate the underside of the mama hen and I think the birds really like that and you can combine the various sizes depending on your hatch

 

[SirSanio]

Anyone do this successfully? We have 9 1 week old chicks, but can’t sleep at night with that heat lamp on. Thinking of purchasing an eco glow. Thoughts?

we have been successfully using plant heating mats. the chicks like it the best when you put the mat over 1/4" chickenwire, put an old pillowcase over it and then bend it to a little cave they can either cuddle into or sit on top of. it emulates the mother hen, they feel secure and when they get too warm they walk out or sit on top.

ps:
plant heating mat on amazon $15.
some duct tape to keep it in place on the chicken wire.
some old cloth to cover the mat and wire and make it cozy (we noticed they really like fleece)
all in all maybe $20 vs the $100 of an eco glow, though that really looks like a good solution as well

 

[Punkybrewster]

I use a Sunbeam heating pad no auto shut off, draped over a wire shelf. Both from walmart. Works great.

 

[t3wine]

I have my brooder in my attached garage, and the thought of a fire hazard was/is real to me too. My solution was to suspend my heat lamps by chains above the brooder, which has a 1/4 inch hardware mesh top. If a heat lamp should fall off the chain (very unlikely), it would just fall onto the wire mesh and never get close to the pine shavings. I don't trust the clamps that come with some heat lamp reflectors, which is why I only use the chains. The 1/4 inch mesh is a second safety barrier that would prevent any hot bulb from getting anywhere near the pine shavings bedding. I sleep well at night in regards to worrying about potential fire hazards. Still worry about the chicks on other issues....

I know lots of people here on BYC have great things to say about the heat plates. I suppose they are well deserved. BUT, there are also a number of BYC threads where people are trying to figure out why so many of their chicks are dead in the morning under the heat plate. It may or may not have anything to do with the heat plate, but they just don't know.

I still use heat lamps because I already had the equipment and I was successful last time I raised chicks under the lamps. I like being able to look into my brooder and see the chicks under the red light and judging if they are hot, cold, or just right. I also keep a thermometer in the brooder under the light so I always know the temp.

I really don't know how you monitor the chicks under a heat plate because you cannot see through it. Also, how do you monitor the heat from the heat plate? Yes, it should regulate itself, but what if the equipment fails and is not heating the chicks?

I know there is a big usage difference between a 250 watt heat bulb and a 40 watt heat plate. However, the actual cost for my electric bill is $0.60 per day for the heat bulb compared to about $0.10 per day for a heat plate. After the first week, I went down to a 125 watt heat bulb which is only $0.30 per day. I just could not justify spending another $90 on a heat plate to save about $10 on my electric bill for the time the chicks are in my brooder.

Finally, I just want to say that none of our local stores that sell chicks are selling the heat plates. They all only have the heat bulbs and reflectors. Perhaps I just live in a more rural area where chickens are kept more as livestock then pets, or maybe we are just slow to catch on to the benefits of the heat plates. Anyway, I believe that heat lamps can be used safely and my setup with chain and wire mesh provides a double fail system that allows me to sleep well at night. Best wishes.

Good points and info, thank you!

 

[SonyaMcCormack]

Thank you for asking!! They are thriving - doing great. Even got some fresh air this weekend.