Choosing the Right Chick Warming Lamp

A chick warming lamp solves two problems at once - it provides lighting and maintains an optimal temperature. But in order to make a simple and safe system, you need to choose the best equipment option and install it correctly in the brooder.

Why heat chickens with lamps

Heating with lamps is ideal for chickens.

In the first days after birth, chicks are especially demanding both in terms of ambient temperature and lighting, so heating with special lamps is the best fit. If you do not provide optimal conditions, then a number of problems may arise:

1. The work of the immune system is disrupted. Chickens are much more likely to suffer from various diseases and die.
2. The growth of the bird slows down, it develops much more slowly than it should under normal conditions, which is highly undesirable for broilers. This can take even a fairly long period of time.
   Only maintaining an ideal microclimate will ensure the normal development of chickens.
3. Chickens behave sluggishly, their activity is reduced. They hardly move around the brooder.
4. If the conditions at first were unfavorable, then the egg production of future laying hens may be reduced by half.

In addition to the temperature background, it is important to ensure the optimal length of daylight hours, so the option with a lamp is best suited. It is not difficult to determine insufficient or excessive heating, you need to pay attention to the behavior of the bird:

1. If the chickens move little in the allotted place, huddle together and press tightly against each other, you need to increase the heating temperature.
2. When chicks are often thirsty, they diverge one by one and puff up their feathers, then most likely they are too hot.

By the way! It is worthwhile to protect the space for the chicks well from drafts, as this can cause their mass death.

Temperature regime during the growth period of chickens

In the first days after the appearance of chickens Temperature control is especially importantso it needs to be constantly monitored. In order not to have to check the indicators every few hours, it is better to use an electronic control system that maintains the temperature in a given range. As for specific indicators, they are:

1. First week it is worth maintaining the temperature from 32 to 35 degrees around the clock.
2. Second week, you can reduce the indicators, the minimum limit is 29 degrees, the maximum is 32.
3. On third week the average daily temperature should be from 25 to 29 degrees.
4. Fourth week - here it is worth maintaining indicators from 22 to 25 degrees.
5. On the fifth, sixth and seventh weeks, the optimal indicators are from 21 to 24 degrees.
6. Further, the chickens are no longer so demanding on the temperature regime, but it is impossible for the indicators to fall below 18 degrees.

At first, not only temperature is important, but also lighting.

In addition to temperature, it is also necessary to ensure the correct lighting regime, since it also affects the development of the bird. Here you need to follow simple recommendations:

1. In the first 2-3 days, it is necessary to illuminate the brooder for 21-23 hours, that is, almost around the clock.
2. In the next 3 weeks, you can gradually reduce the duration of daylight hours, on the 21st day it should be approximately 16 hours.
3. Next, you need to transfer the chickens to standard conditions with lighting for 10-12 hours.

The red and orange spectrum ensures the normal growth of chickens, preventing bird cannibalism and improving reproductive function in the future.

Types of lamps for heating

A brooder lamp must meet a number of requirements. Therefore, using ordinary incandescent bulbs, as some poultry farmers do, is not worth it. It is better to use one of the two options that provides the desired conditions that are safe for the bird.

infrared

The red lamp must be made of impact-resistant material.

red lamp for heating chickens - a common solution that is popular among users for several reasons:

1. This is a large lamp with a mirror reflector that emits light in the red and infrared ranges, which is screwed into a standard base, which is convenient.
2. The device emits soft light, which provides normal visibility for chickens around the clock, which is very important in the first day after birth.
3. The infrared radiation heats up the surrounding surfaces and thus provides the right temperature for the chicks. In order not to constantly monitor temperature indicators, they usually buy an automatic regulator along with a red lamp.
4. For the price, this option is more affordable. The lamp life is approximately 5000 hours, which is not very long.

Since this option is turned off from time to time so that the temperature is maintained at the desired level, it is not worth using it without additional lighting elements. White LED light is best.

Ceramic

The ceramic version can be distinguished by its appearance.

A new type, which is used only as a heater, as it is made of ceramic, due to which it has high strength. Features are:

1. The ceramic lamp is screwed into a standard E27 base, which is very convenient. This is a fairly large element with a wide bulb that emits infrared heat that heats all surfaces around.
2. Due to the material of manufacture, the design withstands fairly strong shocks, is not afraid of vibration and works normally with changes in air humidity.
3. The service life is much longer than that of red lamps and ranges from 10 to 30 thousand hours. Performance characteristics remain the same throughout the entire service life.
4. The efficiency is 98%. This means that almost all of the electricity is used to heat the chickens.
5. There are models with power from 25 to 200 watts, which allows you to choose a lamp for a brooder of any size.

By the way! If necessary, you can combine several ceramic lamps into one system, which allows you to heat even large areas.

From the video you will learn which is better infrared or ceramic lamp for brooder.

Benefits of using lamps as heaters

You can buy a ready-made lamp in a protective case.

Infrared heaters in the form of light bulbs can be used in brooders of any size and shape, which is very important. Unlike similar solutions, they have a number of advantages:

1. The ability to automatically adjust the temperature and maintain the ideal mode without constant monitoring. No need to change the height of the heater, as is often the case with other options.
2. Infrared radiation, according to its principle of operation, is as close as possible to natural sunlight. Due to this, optimal conditions are created for the growth of chickens in the first days of their development. Optimal humidity levels are maintained, which is also important.
3. The efficiency of infrared equipment is higher than that of any other option. This is the most economical solution of those that work on electricity.
4. The lamp not only heats, but also has a positive effect on the immunity of chickens and protects against many infectious diseases.

Read also

Heating the chicken coop in winter with an infrared lamp

 

To ensure uniform heating of the desired area, it is necessary to choose the height of the lamp. The easiest way is to follow the instructions that come with the product.

Video hack: The best way to keep chickens warm.

Heating chickens with an infrared lamp is a simple but effective solution. You can install it yourself. If you immediately purchase a thermostat, you do not have to constantly monitor the temperature.