No Heat Lamp Brooder

[alohamade]

Hi Everyone!

I recently picked up a flock of 10 silkies about a week ago, and 3 of them are adorable little two week old chicks. I've never had experience raising chicks (and it's definitely not my last!). I wanted to go with a different route on the brooder set up.
I decided on raising these chickie babies without a heat lamp And so far its been great! I've been monitoring them very closely, and they're top shape!
This youtube video shows you how an off the grid brooder with no heat lamp involved can have you successfully raise chicks!

Of course it depends on where you live (weather, temperature,etc) but I thought it was safe enough to give it a try since I live in a pretty warm state. #808State
So far my chickie babies are nice, healthy and always have the option to stay warm. I also used a folgers can to keep the water inside nice and hot. This is a great method!

Has anyone tried this same method with good results?
Or maybe a similar method that you'd like to share?

Comment away

 

[sawilliams]

I think it would be much harder to keep a constant temp for the chicks.

 

[alohamade]

I think it would be much harder to keep a constant temp for the chicks.

It definitely is a lot of work, I wake up about 2-3 times a night to keep the water warm enough for them. But I don’t mind.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Mama Heating Pad. Will never go another way! Thanks to @Blooie

 

[alohamade]

Mama Heating Pad. Will never go another way! Thanks to @Blooie

If 1 of my hens were broody that would’ve definitely have been the best choice
Thanks for sharing!

 

[azygous]

Any source of heat will work. The brooder itself doesn't need to be kept at a constant temperature.

Baby chicks consume calories and generate body heat just as we do. The problem baby chicks have is conserving that body heat because they lack insulating feathers. Down doesn't quite get the job done.This is why baby chicks need a heat source unless the climate is warm enough that they don't lose any of their body heat. (Tropics)

Notice the chicks aren't glued to the heat source. They only need it occasionally to replace lost body heat. They lose less heat at higher ambient temps. In the olden days before electricity, they would brood chicks in the kitchen beside a wood stove. They also used kerosene heaters under the brooder. I wonder how many chicks they would lose to fumes.

As chicks grow real feathers, they need far less heat to replace lost body heat because they aren't losing as much as they were when in down. By age three weeks, chicks no longer need a heat source during the day if it's above 50F. They'll need heat at night for another few weeks since they aren't consuming calories during the night when asleep.

I and many others here use a heating pad as a heat source. It supplies just enough heat without drawing down a lot of amps like a heat lamp. It's a lot safer, too.

I have tried the hot water containers as a heat source when my power has been out. It works fine as long as you're careful not to have the water hotter than 100F or it can burn chicks' delicate skin. You can also use a wool hen and a huddle box as long as the climate isn't very cold.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I'm on the Big Island also & I love my sleep too much to be interrupted to check water temp. It is "warmer" here but it's still too chilly for young ones. When I joined BYC, learned of MHP I converted, glad I did. Have noticed a difference in the chicks; they learn the difference between night & day, alot quieter & not so skittish.

MHP = Mother Heating Pad, not a broody hen. There's a thread here that Blooie started on the subject from her experience. It's long and very informative. Heating pad should be without the automatic shut off. I'm using the Sunbeam 732-500 (Walmart or Amazon) size is 12 x 24, check out the form MHP...

 

[alohamade]

Thank you, azygous & ChickNanny13 for your info!
I didn’t know there was a difference between a broody hen and a MHP. I will look that up
So much great information being shared, I love it! Thank you all!

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[Pork Pie]

Charcoal brooders are still commonly used in many parts of Africa (and I'm assuming elsewhere) - charcoal chick brooders

Here's a link to the woolly hen, mentioned by Azygous -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1133855/a-wool-hen-creating-one-today