Using an older incubator as a heat source for my chick brooder?

[Zayan]

Hey, I’m getting ready to hatch chicks and I was wondering if I could use an incubator as a source of heat for the chicks. I have a heat lamp but I heard they catch fire sometimes and I don’t want to spend $80 on a heating box. I figure I can just put the incubator in the brooder box and turn it on. The heat from it could sustain them. Any ideas on if this will work?
Thanks,
Zayan

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd want to see which incubator and what the brooder looks like but in general I'd think it a bad idea. The incubator is set up to keep a small enclosed box a certain temperature. That's quite a difference to a typical brooder. Where that has a possibility is that you do not need to keep the entire brooder warm, they just need a warm spot to go to when they need to warm up.

Your brooder needs to be set up for easy cleaning, an incubator is not. You need room for food and water, let alone for the chicks to grow. I have a lot of trouble coming up with a way for that to work, but I don't know what your brooder or incubator look like. It may be possible.

 

[Zayan]

I'd want to see which incubator and what the brooder looks like but in general I'd think it a bad idea. The incubator is set up to keep a small enclosed box a certain temperature. That's quite a difference to a typical brooder. Where that has a possibility is that you do not need to keep the entire brooder warm, they just need a warm spot to go to when they need to warm up.

Your brooder needs to be set up for easy cleaning, an incubator is not. You need room for food and water, let alone for the chicks to grow. I have a lot of trouble coming up with a way for that to work, but I don't know what your brooder or incubator look like. It may be possible.

Hey thanks for the reply! This is kinda the gist of what I was thinking of doing. I can put some blankets or something on top of the incubator and if the chicks want heat the can stand on top of it. What do you think? Thanks so much for the help.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks for the photo, at least I see what you are thinking.

I'm not sure that would supply enough heat, but maybe,. I'd worry more about ruining the incubator. A blanket over it might keep chicken poop out of it enough, but the incubator is set up to warm the area to a certain temperature, then shut off. When it cools off again the thermostat kicks it back on. In that set-up it would be running constantly, never shut off. I'd think you'd burn out the heating element.

I personally use a heat lamp but in that set-up a heat plate or heating pad might be a better solution. A heat lamp or regular incandescent lamp might keep the entire brooder too hot. That is as dangerous than it being too cold.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Terrible idea imo. Like ridge said incubators are meant to maintain a certain temp in a small enclosure. With what youre trying it would be running the heating element full time. That sounds like more of a fire hazzard then a bulb would be.
Plus ive never tried to use or know of anyone using a heat source that the chicks would be expected to get on top of. Idk if they'd figure it out and if they did that thing would get dirty in a hurry so require constant cleaning.
I'd just go with a bulb myself. Ive used them for decades. Theyre not a hazzard if installed correctly.

 

[Zayan]

Thanks for the photo, at least I see what you are thinking.

I'm not sure that would supply enough heat, but maybe,. I'd worry more about ruining the incubator. A blanket over it might keep chicken poop out of it enough, but the incubator is set up to warm the area to a certain temperature, then shut off. When it cools off again the thermostat kicks it back on. In that set-up it would be running constantly, never shut off. I'd think you'd burn out the heating element.

I personally use a heat lamp but in that set-up a heat plate or heating pad might be a better solution. A heat lamp or regular incandescent lamp might keep the entire brooder too hot. That is as dangerous than it being too cold.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will go with the heat lamp or see if I can get a heating pad. Thanks!

 

[Zayan]

Terrible idea imo. Like ridge said incubators are meant to maintain a certain temp in a small enclosure. With what youre trying it would be running the heating element full time. That sounds like more of a fire hazzard then a bulb would be.
Plus ive never tried to use or know of anyone using a heat source that the chicks would be expected to get on top of. Idk if they'd figure it out and if they did that thing would get dirty in a hurry so require constant cleaning.
I'd just go with a bulb myself. Ive used them for decades. Theyre not a hazzard if installed correctly.

Thanks! I'll go with the heat lamp then. Take care