Using an incubator as a brooder?

[thechickgal]

Hi, I currently have had five chicks hatch. They are very little because they came out of pullet eggs. I put food and water in my incubator and lowered the temp to what chicks need. Would this work until they get too big to be in the bator? I have a couple of older chicks that are a week old, and the heat lamp almost caught on fire so I got banned from using it ever again . This was two weeks after I put these little guys in. The older chicks are 4 weeks old and do perfectly fine without a heat lamp. But as long as I provide plenty of food and water would they be fine at least for a week or two?

 

[lazy gardener]

I wouldn't risk it. There is not enough air circulation in the bator to keep them healthy. And the filth they make in the bator may contaminate it to the point that it will not get clean enough for your next incubation. What kind of bator is it? Hard plastic, styrofoam, or something else? I think that an incubator would also be a fire hazard due to the dander and dust getting in the thermostat and the heating mechanism. Can you get a heating pad that will stay on 24/7?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[thechickgal]

I have a styro bator. I told them about the heating pad thing and they still said no because it's a fire hazard is what they said

 

[thechickgal]

I don't know what I can do I'm scared for my little chicks... I don't want to harm them in any way

 

[junebuggena]

The heating pad is less of a fire hazard than the incubator heating element. I'm guessing this is your first time with chicks? Otherwise you would be well aware of the amount of dander and dust those tiny chicks can produce. The amount that cakes my incubator fan after a hatch is astounding. And they are only in there for about 48 hours. Also, as mentioned, there isn't enough air inside the incubator. They will die if left in too long.
And a heating pad is much safer than a heat lamp.

 

[lydiagirl99]

Or you could give them to someone that is able to use the proper supplies to care for babies. Post an add on facebook.

 

[thechickgal]

I wasn't told the I couldn't use a lamp until a couple days before hatch... No this is not my first time hatching but I'm only 15 and definitely not a expert. I'm taking them out of bator in the morning and putting them with my older chicks. Had them together earlier well just one new hatched chick and they sweetly accepted her and cuddled her to keep her warm I just got worried about nighttime...my older chicks are 4 weeks old and only had a heat lamp until about 1 week old... They adapted well and grew feathers rapidly, but it wasn't too colds out then and I brought them in on cold nights. It worked perfectly fine, I think I might try adding the little ones in with them and watching them closely to make sure no one gets picked on. Could this work? Do you think I could try this?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The big problem with under week old chicks and older chicks is they can be suffocated when they all huddle up. Larger chicks don't have a mothers instinct to protect the small ones. If that's all you got for heat at night then that's what you got. If I had no electricity then I'd bring 4 or 5 one week old chicks inside and brood with the new hatchlings in a cardboard box or tote. Leave the any other week old chicks with older chicks outside.

 

[thechickgal]

OK thanks I have 3 older chicks and they seem to like the little ones i will try it and hope for the best

 

[merrymutts]

makes me wonder if I am doing something wrong. I have ordered hatching eggs twice ( on eBay ) and while I know they cannot guarantee hatching rates, it would seem thant out of a dozen + eggs, I'd get more than 1 hatching.

Not trying to sound whiny...well, I am....we just had to help one chick out of shell and no sign of any of the others pipping....some feel "heavy" so I know they've been fertile. Using a new Brinsea incubator and having temp and humidity set right...and still....