Heat lamp vs flat screen heaters?

[Jeff Cooper]

I have always used heat lamps with a large carboard box for baby chicks. But now I have built a 6ft X 2ft X 2ft brooder for the next batch that will hatch in two weeks.

Will one of the "flat screen" heaters work to replace a heat lamp in this brooder? There will be anywhere from 16 to 40 baby chicks in it at a time.

 

[Silexian]

I am assuming by “flat screen” you are referring to a wall mounted unit. They are basically a radiant heater to warm a small area. It would not produce enough heat or a big enough area for a brooder. A plate brooder that is hung or has adjustable legs works very well. As long as the area your brooder is in. Stays about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I have a Brinsea 50. It will handle the amount of chicks you are going to hatch.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

I bought one of the tractor supply plate types. 20 chicks under it was a stretch when they got to about 3 weeks old, but they managed. I built a towel tunnel for them and raised them outside in the coop/run. Temps from 20-55 degrees F. Not a single issue.

I think people are a little too easy on 'fragile' chicks. If you think about a broody.... they dont keep them warm 24/7. All they need is a draft free place to retreat to and warm up. Food and water close enough to the warm spot that they can come out and eat/drink and have time to make it back under the warm spot.

 

[Trish1947]

I bought one of the tractor supply plate types. 20 chicks under it was a stretch when they got to about 3 weeks old, but they managed. I built a towel tunnel for them and raised them outside in the coop/run. Temps from 20-55 degrees F. Not a single issue.

I think people are a little too easy on 'fragile' chicks. If you think about a broody.... they dont keep them warm 24/7. All they need is a draft free place to retreat to and warm up. Food and water close enough to the warm spot that they can come out and eat/drink and have time to make it back under the warm spot.

I too just purchase a brooder at tractor supply. The clerk told me I should also use an additional heat lamp just to be safe. I had use a heat lamp on 3 I bought yesterday. I woke up to dead babies. The plug fell out of the extension cord. I was so angry. I went back to to TS this a.m. and got the brooder and more chicks. Do you think the brooder is sufficient? I don’t want to bake them next. Ugh. Our night time temps are in the low 30’s right now.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

I had zero issues laying a towel over the top and leaving the opening at one long side. The food and water was put 6" from opening of the tunnel I built for the first week. About a foot from it thereafter.

In my opinion, if you use a towel to make them a tunnel and the plug doesn't get unplugged, you'd be fine. My chicks were in the coop, under their brooder plate, at 20 degrees their first night.

 

[ChickNanny13]

There's an article here somewhere written by Blooie on MHP (heating pad)
I've tried it and never went back to heat lite ... Never used the lamp, doesn't get down to the temps you all get but 40watt bulb on a clamp lamp works good here in Hawaii.

The chicks end up calmer, quieter, less skittish and better adjusted IMO. Just make sure it doesn't have the Auto ShutOff feature ... Sunbeam had 2 sized (I got both) on Amazon ... think the Model #732-500

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-732-...refix=sunbeam+heating+pad+no+a,aps,222&sr=8-5

 

[Carters Chick House]

I too just purchase a brooder at tractor supply. The clerk told me I should also use an additional heat lamp just to be safe. I had use a heat lamp on 3 I bought yesterday. I woke up to dead babies. The plug fell out of the extension cord. I was so angry. I went back to to TS this a.m. and got the brooder and more chicks. Do you think the brooder is sufficient? I don’t want to bake them next. Ugh. Our night time temps are in the low 30’s right now.

I have the Brooder plate from ts and chicks are loving it.