Brooder heat options

greenaus · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:18 am

Ummm...there was a topic here somewhere.

greenaus wrote:

Other than switching to another heat source, are there any options to stop bulbs blowing so regularly? eg. If it's due to chick fluff and stuff, will some kind of moisture-proof enclosure help?

And, the main point of discussion...
What kinds of heat sources are there for small home brooders?

Ahhh...there it is. :lol:

[FWIW, I don't spend much time on any other forum, so I don't know what people are referring during their little tiffs most of the time.

If you want to fight and argue, do it on another forum or in the members area. I'll go and start a thread there now. ;-)

]

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

This really is a friendly forum with great members. We seem to have had a 'blip' there but that's life!

It's been very cold here this week so the topic of heat sources for brooders is a very current one. I'd love to hear about more ways to do it.

b&p · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:20 am

I amm interested in the electric blanket box as well. Have a Q/S electric blamket here with only one side working so it could definately be recycled into something for the birds.

More info would be great.

Cheers

greenaus · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:25 am

I was tempted to slice our old one open, but since it still works I was worried I might change my mind when it's too late. Putting it back together wouldn't be as easy.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:25 am

I would also like some more ideas on brooders that are light through the day and dark at night. I find keeping the chicks under lights all the time they take ages to feather up.

I really like the sound of the electric blanket heating coil being used. HAs anyone got some visual ideas? How would one attach it to the box? What sort of box would one need to get or build? I just want to learn guys.

Thanks b&p, I also like the idea of the clay pot. I was wondering though if one could make it bigger and use higher wattage globes as that one seems to be for only a few chicks. What if you had 20 or more chicks in the brooder or one wanted to put a pot like this on a much larger space? How would that work?

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

Just 1 thing about the electric blanket, I still have vivid images of putting out a fire at my parents when I visited, they didn't know how to use the extinguisher, so god knows what would have happened if I wasn't there. They would have their lecie blanket checked each year & only turned it on about 7 at night, but they make a great fire starter.

With the pots, great idea, I wonder how small you can get those herb/strawberry pots with the places you can put plants all over them?

b&p · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:48 am

County Lodge wrote:

Thanks b&p, I also like the idea of the clay pot. I was wondering though if one could make it bigger and use higher wattage globes as that one seems to be for only a few chicks. What if you had 20 or more chicks in the brooder or one wanted to put a pot like this on a much larger space? How would that work?

Just buy a bigger pot if you want it bigger....no big deal. I have used this one for upto 25 Polish chicks without any problem as the chicks just snuggle right around it and into each other. or as someone else suggested raise it a little (especially 1st few days) and they can also get under it. I have used a 40w bulb no problem with this size pot.

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

The pot idea sounds like a good one. I might give it a try also. If 40W is enough heat for 25 chicks, that's pretty good. Also b&p, I know you breed polish - it must be better not to have the hot bulb that polish can wreck their crests on. I had some chicks under a bulb which they could almost touch, and then I noticed their crests getting damaged. I moved them to the commercial brooder and the crests grew back.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:54 pm

My silly light sussex chicks can be very very active, they like to jump and try to fly around the brooder. They have smashed a bulb or two in the brooders before which is why I really like the clay pot idea as well. It keeps little chickies away from fragile glass. :-?

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