Chick brooder temperature is critical for raising healthy baby chicks. As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to heating a brooder. Here are two of the most commonly used heat sources for maintaining good chick brooder temperatures and what you should know.
Is a Heat Lamp for Chicks Safe?
Heat lamps are the most popular heat source used to keep a chick’s brooder temperature snug and warm. Let’s take a look at a few of the heat lamp pros.
3 Heat Lamp Pros
#1 Created Equal
One of the main reasons heat lamps are chosen to maintain a chick brooder temperature is that all are created equal. Unlike some heating sources, heat lamps are generally crafted the same way and work fairly well, maintaining a snug 95°F. to keep chicks warm.
When it comes to the ease of maintaining chick brooder temperatures, heat lamps are hard to beat, as they work extremely well, are easy to set up and adjust, and usually last for several years.
#2 Budget Friendly
Heat lamps are one of the least expensive heat sources to maintain chick brooder temperatures, with costs usually falling between fifteen and thirty dollars. The combination of low cost and reliability is why so many chicken keepers choose heat lamps for brooding purposes.
A bonus to the affordable pricing on heat lamps is that it is more affordable to have extra lightbulbs and more than one heat lamp on hand in case of a malfunction.
#3 Availability
Another plus to choosing the heat lamp is the ease of availability. If you find yourself with a dead lamp and without a spare on hand, a new one is just a trip to the feed mill or farm supply store away.
Some farm supply stores carry heat lamps all year round, while others do not. Being prepared is always the best option, but if you do find yourself in a pinch, heat lamps are almost always available for purchase.
3 Heat Lamp Cons
Heat lamps have a lot of pros, and while they may be the most popular heat source for maintaining chick brooder temperatures, they also have some cons.
#1 Fire Hazard
It’s commonly known that heat lamps are a fire hazard. If you ever performed a quick internet search or picked up a book on how to raise chickens, you probably already know this.
The high wattage in heat lamps (what creates the heat from the lightbulb to keep chick brooder temperatures from falling) is hot enough to cause a fire, especially if the heat lamp malfunctions or is accidentally knocked over.
Heat lamps are easy to knock over, even on a stand, so avoid using them in areas with high foot traffic (kitchen, living room, or whatever rooms of your house or garage that are most frequently visited) and areas with small children and pets.
Never use heat lamps in a barn where they are most likely to cause accidental fires.
#2 Artificial Light
Another consideration when choosing a heat source to keep chick brooder temperatures steady is whether you want to introduce your chicks to artificial light.
Unless you plan on supplying your chicks with artificial light throughout their entire life, at some time you will need to remove the light source at night. Chicks find the transition to the dark to be frightening and will frantically chirp when the brooder becomes dark. This can be stressful for owners, as nothing is more heartbreaking than hearing your chicks chirping in distress.
#3 Stressed Chicks
Chicks raised with artificial light (even as a heat source to maintain chick brooder temperatures) are often more stressed and prone to behavior problems such as pecking order disputes and cannibalistic behavior than chicks raised without artificial light.
What is a Chicken Brooder Plate?
In recent years, brooder heat plates have started to gain popularity as a way to keep a chick brooder temperature steady without the risks of a heat lamp.
3 Heat Plate Pros
#1 Natural Lifestyle
One of the main reasons backyard chicken keepers choose to use a brooder heat plate to keep a chick brooder temperature cozy is a natural lifestyle.
Chicks can go under the heat plate whenever they are chilled, and then once warmed, come out to resume exploring the brooder. This behavior imitates how chicks raised by a mother hen bury into her feathers when chilled.
#2 Happy Chicks
Yes, chicks really do seem happier when raised with a brooder heat plate versus other heating sources.
With a brooder heat plate, chicks can monitor their own body heat (when to go under the brooder heat plate and to come out again once warmed), without you needing to worry about them overheating.
With no artificial light, chicks can rest well at night and experience lower stress levels.
#3 Worry-Free Heat Source
Brooder heat plates allow you to brood chicks successfully without a mama hen and keep the chick brooder temperature stable without the risk of a fire hazard.
Heat plates create a softer heat than heat lamps, offering a safe, worry-free brooding experience for you and your chicks.
These handy chick brooders are also less likely to knock over and are safe to use around children and pets.
Note: Brooder heat plates should not pose a fire hazard, but if you brood chicks in a barn, be sure to keep the area clean from dust to prevent barn fires, as the large amounts of dirt, dust, and flammable materials such as hay and straw in a barn make any electricity usage more risky.
3 Heat Plate Cons
While there are many pros to using a brooder heat plate to maintain chick brooder temperatures, there are also a few cons. Below is a list of the most common problems poultry keepers face when using this heat source.
#1 Not Created Equal
Unlike heat lamps, brooder heat plates are not all created equal. While some work well for maintaining chick brooder temperatures, others give off very little heat, causing chicks to become chilled and stressed.
After purchasing a brooder heat plate, be sure to test it out before setting it up in your brooder. Raise the legs to the height of a newly hatched baby chick and place a thermometer underneath for several hours. Check the thermometer reading multiple times during the tryout period to see if temperatures are holding a steady 95°F.
Reading reviews online can help you avoid purchasing lesser-quality brooder heat plates with problematic features, such as inadequate heat, lack of height adjustments, or other malfunctions.
#2 Pricey Purchase
Most brooder heat plates are more expensive than heat lamps. However, if you do not want to worry about the risk of fire while ensuring the chick brooder temperatures are warm enough for chicks to thrive, the peace of mind is well worth the cost.
There are many kinds of brooder hot plates available; check out reviews to see what other poultry keepers are saying. A general rule of thumb when purchasing a brooder heat plate is you get what you pay for, so purchasing the most budget-friendly heat plate may not be a wise choice.
#3 Scared Chicks
While this isn’t usually the case, some chicks are scared of the brooder heat plate and refuse to go under to get warm. Have a spare heat lamp or other heat source as a backup just in case a chick doesn’t take to the brooder heat plate.
This behavior seems to only happen with certain brands, so research a brand well before making a purchase.
Chicks seem to prefer darker-colored heat plates, so stay clear of brightly colored ones.
Choosing a heat source to keep your chick brooder temperature warm is an important decision. While these heat sources have pros and cons, they both work well to help you raise your next generation of chickens successfully.
This article about your chick brooder temperature was written for Chickens magazine. Click here to subscribe.
