Just how important is "exactly 95 degrees" for day old chicks? (Confusion with the ecoglow brooder)

[Rooster_Tyranny]

I am a first time chicken owner, chicks ship on Sept 10th (for the fun of it: two Silver Laced Wyandottes, Two Buckeyes, a Buff Laced Polish and a White Crested Blue Polish). I have read lots of articles that tell me that day old chicks need exactly 95 degrees with -5 every week, or they will die.

That said, I looked at the ecoglow 20 brooderhttp://www.brinsea.com/p-375-ecoglow-20-chick-brooder.aspx, which has countless positive reviews including many that come from this forum. In fact I don't think I've been able to find a single bad thing about it. But that brooder doesn't have an adjustable temperature, and isn't exactly 95, I've even read somewhere that it's 125 degrees, which should be way WAY too hot.

This brooder looks like a great, cheap, option, and maybe it's obvious, but I'm confused. So many places say exactly 95 but yet this brooder seems to be very very successful.

 

[New2Chicks97]

The Brinsea Ecoglow provide radiant heat which allows the chicks to come and go as needed to regulate their temperatures much like they can do when with a mother hen. The height is adjustable so that as they get older you can raise it to allow access. My chicks loved it.

The 95 degree temperature is a guideline for people who use heat lamps. To me there seemed to be more room for error with me getting it either too hot or too cold with a heat lamp not to mention the fire hazard.

 

[rosemarythyme]

95 degrees the first week is just general advice, for those using heat lamps. I've never used a thermometer with a heat lamp and instead watched the chicks body language to know if it's too hot or cold.

If using a heat pad or brooding pad, you can throw the temp requirements out the window. As long as the chicks can freely access and use the heat source, they can decide for themselves when they need heat and when they don't. The temperature of the pad will not match what the ambient temperature recommendations are.

 

[imnukensc]

The Premier1 heating plates are a better, less expensive alternative to the the Brinsea plates, IMO. Much easier to adjust the height on and can be angled front to back.
https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heating-plates-and-covers?cat_id=227
Either brand of the plates will work fine, but an even less expensive option is the MHP (Mama Heating Pad.)
The 95 degrees for the first week, -5 degrees each week is a guideline. It's not set in stone.

 

[Kessel23]

That brooder will be perfect for them, it promotes feather growth in chicks along with other benefits that a heat lamp does not provide. The chicks will go under it when they are cold and come out once they are warm.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Read up on Blooie's article/thread on MHP, I'm so glad I switched from a light bulb. Easier & not adjustments needed with the temp, chicks are quieter & calmer. Love watching them running in and out, in about a week or two, they're on top, ha ha

 

[WyandotteH]

Hi I have an ecoglow 50 I find that the adjustable height works really well as I adjust the front higher than the back. As mentioned above the chicks maintain the correct temp on positions and having two different heights (front to back) increases the ease of this. I have found this from my experience others opinions will vary. I have both Brinsea incubator and several brooders and cannot fault them.

 

[CannedMonster]

I brooded my recent batch of 12 chicks with a Premier 1 heat plate and it worked fantastic!
I raised my first batch under a lamp and I’ll never use a heat lamp again.
As others have said, it’s radiant heat and you don’t need a thermometer.
Just adjust the height as they grow and they will go in to warm up and come out to eat and explore.
You’ll be amazed at how quiet the chicks are.
They feel very secure because if something frightens them they go under the heat plate to feel safe as well as warm up.