Heating a chicken coop in winter is one of the main problems of people involved in agriculture. Without the proper amount of heat, a population of newly hatched chickens risks freezing and dying. Birds need comfortable conditions, and this problem needs to be solved somehow. A device for heating chickens must be efficient, economical and safe so as not to burn down the utility room. Our review will tell you how to heat a bird in a chicken coop.
Lack of heat
A person can always protect himself from the cold - just light a fire, turn on the heating or put on warm clothes. Newly hatched chicks have virtually no protection as their plumage prevents them from keeping warm. Moreover, even adult birds suffer from winter cold, which leads to serious consequences:
- Immunity decreases - the bird becomes susceptible to infectious diseases;
- Activity decreases - the livestock becomes lethargic and lifeless;
- Egg production decreases - the number of eggs decreases by two or more times.
There is nothing good about hypothermia. And the chicks may even die if they don’t have enough warmth. If an infection appears in the poultry house, it can spread to the entire population.
Lack of heating leads to a slowdown in the rate of development of chickens. Feeling uncomfortable and lacking warmth, they will get sick and their growth will slow down, even if there is plenty of food. If a normal source of life-giving heat is installed in the poultry house, the livestock will feel more comfortable.
Main heat sources
When thinking about heating for chickens, you can use the following equipment:
- Electric convectors – reliable and economical heaters;
- Heat guns are noisy, but they allow you to quickly reach the set temperature;
- Wood and coal stoves are not very convenient, but they are inexpensive sources of heat;
- Infrared lamps are the simplest and most popular heat sources among poultry farmers;
- Ceiling and wall-mounted IR heaters are modern devices for heating chickens.
Let's look at these devices in more detail, examining the pros and cons.
Electric convectors will be excellent devices for heating chickens in a chicken coop. They are built on the basis of simple heating elements that warm the air and create convection in the room. These devices do not require much effort to warm up the chicken coop to the desired temperature. To control the temperature regime, thermostats are located on board the convectors.
To heat chickens using convectors, it is recommended to carry out comprehensive insulation of the poultry house. Install normal doors here, insert double windows or cover single ones with plastic film, and work on insulating the ceiling. It is clear that heaters will be able to warm up an uninsulated room, but in this case you will have to put up with high heating costs - electric heating devices consume an impressive amount of electricity.
Convectors cannot be called the most optimal heat sources, since their use leads to high electricity consumption. Plus they are slow.
These noisy devices allow the chicks to quickly reach a comfortable temperature. Being equipped with powerful heating elements and efficient fans, they fill the rooms with heat in a matter of minutes. To avoid overheating the chicken coop, we recommend using a heat gun with a built-in thermostat. 15-20 minutes from the moment of switching on - and the house becomes warm and comfortable, the chickens will be happy with such heating.
Fan heaters are compact and relatively safe, but they have one big drawback - the vast majority of models are equipped with open heating elements that burn oxygen. They also burn small particles of dust, which causes an unpleasant odor. It is also not recommended to leave such heating devices unattended. To control the temperature, do not forget to hang a thermometer in the chicken coop - you do not need to overheat the atmosphere in the room.
To heat chickens, you can use both floor-mounted and wall-mounted types of fan heaters and heat guns.
Wood and coal stoves
If there is a large supply of firewood and coal (for example, they are used to heat a house), then they will become an inexpensive source of thermal energy for heating chickens. To do this, you will have to buy or make your own small stove equipped with a chimney. We have already written more than once in our reviews about how to assemble such stoves with your own hands; look for information on our website.
A device such as a wood-burning (coal) stove has several disadvantages:
- It is easy to overheat the room - it is necessary to regulate the intensity of combustion or limit the addition of fuel into the firebox;
- You will need a large supply of fuel for the entire period while the cold weather persists;
- Fussing with firewood - you will have to constantly monitor the temperature and throw new portions of logs into the firebox.
There are also advantages:
- Firewood and coal can be obtained for free - in this case you will provide heating for the chickens with minimal cash costs;
- Possibility of heating a chicken coop from several rooms - for this you can build simple water heating or build/purchase a powerful stove;
- The absence of electricity costs is an important advantage of solid fuel devices.
If you are willing to endure the shortcomings, feel free to choose solid fuel stoves to heat your chickens.
IR heaters
Ceiling and wall IR heaters are simple heating devices that operate using infrared radiation. IR rays, reaching surrounding objects, cause them to heat up. The same thing happens with living tissues - they feel comfortable warmth. A device for heating chickens in the form of an IR heater saves energy and creates cozy living conditions for poultry.
IR heaters for heating chickens are located at a distance of at least a meter from the cages. If the ceilings in the poultry house are low, we recommend choosing a wall-mounted model to avoid overheating. You will also need a built-in or remote thermostat to ensure that a comfortable temperature is maintained. By the way, the optimal temperature in the chicken coop is about +15-16 degrees Celsius.
IR lamps
An infrared lamp for heating chickens is one of the most popular sources of thermal energy. Here are its advantages:
- The light bulb can be easily moved from place to place;
- Minimum electricity consumption – lamp power is 100-250 W;
- The heat is not wasted, but warms up the areas where the chickens huddle;
- Easy to install - just screw the light bulb into the socket and hang it in the cage;
- Fire safety - IR lamps do not require supervision.
These lamp-shaped devices create optimal conditions not only for chickens, but also for laying hens sitting on eggs.
Conclusion
Thus, the most optimal device for heating chickens is an infrared lamp. During the period of bitter cold, many poultry farmers and farmers prefer it. IR lamps are used in zoos and menageries to warm newly born animals. They do not overheat cages and birds, do not harm the health of living organisms, and create a soft and comfortable atmosphere. In addition, infrared bulbs illuminate poultry houses with a cozy reddish light.
Remember that you should not rely on various devices - be sure to think about insulating the poultry house. In winter, sprinkle hay on the floor to protect chicks and adult chickens from the cold coming from underground. This is the only way you can protect your livestock from frost and preserve the bird’s egg production.
Video
When raising young chickens at home, you should worry about creating comfortable conditions for the chickens. In particular, about the required temperature regime. Today it is possible to heat chickens using lamps such as infrared. In an enclosure with it is permissible to use fluorescent, LED and combined lamps for lighting. We will tell you what temperature indicators chickens need, how heating is carried out in the first days, what the lighting mode is, and how an infrared lamp is used for chickens.
For newborn babies, high temperatures in the poultry house are provided. If there is a hen, she is the one who stays with the offspring for the first 3 days and warms them up. On warm days, it is customary to let the family go to the walking area. Birds that were obtained at home using an incubator require special attention. Since they are almost unable to withstand changes in humidity and temperature levels on their own. They need to find a warm place with dry bedding that is properly lit and can protect the young from drafts.
In the first 5 days, the temperature in the poultry house should be between 29 and 30 degrees Celsius. The air is gradually cooled, bringing the baby to + 26 degrees by the 10th day of life. Until 1 month, the temperature is reduced by another 3 - 4 degrees so that it is no more than 18 - 20 degrees Celsius. A good thermometer will help you monitor the temperature level in the poultry house. But you should also focus on the condition of the chicks. 
If they are quite active, drink and eat with pleasure, and do not gather in groups, then you are doing everything right. Because if there is a lack of heat, the young animals will tend to huddle in groups and be closer to lamps or other heaters. If the air is too hot, the birds are able to open their beaks wide, drink a lot and greedily, puff up their down and feathers, and stay away from their brothers.
Video “Heating for chickens”
From the video you will learn how to properly heat chickens in a brooder.
Heating systems in the first days of life
In order to provide heating for their chickens, many owners place various devices in the place where they are kept, which work well in practice. In a cage or box you can place electric or water heating pads, bottles filled with warm water, which are wrapped in a couple of layers of cotton or wool material, or cotton wool. Incandescent lamps or a couple of reflectors will also help create heat, the fastening of which must be carried out in a place where curious kids cannot reach. 
Remember that regardless of the choice of heat source, air heating usually occurs unevenly. And the temperature near the device will always be 3–6 degrees higher than at the other end of the box or cage. To save energy and help the chicks conserve strength, it is recommended for egg-laying chickens to divide the house into parts. Heating is necessary for babies up to one month of age. Next, the cells should be kept at a temperature of +18 degrees. When kept on deep litter, it is usually possible to maintain the indicator at + 15.
Lighting mode for young animals
The lighting system, along with proper heating, is important for the normal growth and full development of young animals. The creation of daylight hours within 9 - 10 hours is carried out in stages by the time the babies reach the age of 2 months. At the same time, the little ones benefit from walks in the fresh air and the opportunity to receive solar heat.
This is an excellent prevention of rickets and an opportunity to harden growing organisms. Creating the recommended temperature, sufficient lighting system, and a balanced nutritional diet will allow you to raise viable and healthy chicks.
The use of red lamps for heating
The use of red or infrared lamps is becoming increasingly popular. An infrared lamp for heating small chickens is usually subject to such requirements as having a safe and reliable design, protection from moisture, possible impacts, and inaccessibility to the bird. The lamp for heating chickens must be covered with a lattice casing for protection purposes and suspended at a height safe for pets. Such designs are presented in several versions on the market. 
Mirror is usually made with a red or transparent bulb. In the first case, it is not only a source of heat, but also light. This lamp has a high degree of power, and its guaranteed service life is about 5 thousand hours. By choosing it, you don’t have to worry that the lamp will stop working at the wrong moment. This design is very reliable and can ensure uninterrupted operation.
Lamps with a ruby dome bulb heat up very quickly and are endowed with reflective properties. They make it possible to save up to a third of all incoming electricity. Light from such a heat source is normally perceived by the chicks. It is recommended to use the device from the first days of babies’ lives until they grow into adults.
When installing a light bulb, it is necessary to take into account that the parameters of the light flux depend on how high the radiation source is located. The height from the moment of birth until the chicks reach the age of 1 week should be about 50 cm. At 2–3 weeks, it is recommended to raise the device to a level of 75 cm from the surface of the litter. Next, the radiation source should be located at a height of up to 1 meter. As a result, the ambient temperature decreases, and the heating and lighting area increases. 
The use of infrared devices leads to increased appetite of chicks, better weight gain, and strengthened immunity. It allows you to create the effect of receiving solar energy while walking freely.
In addition to red lamps, combined devices are often used. They are capable of producing an ultraviolet spectrum, which ensures high-quality disinfection.
Video “Proper nutrition and maintenance of chickens”
From the video you will learn how to properly feed and keep small chickens.
Creating comfortable conditions for newborn babies is a top priority when raising chickens. Under normal conditions, for the first few days this work is performed by a brood hen. But in the case when she is not there, her role will have to be replaced in all possible ways. One solution to the problem is a chick warming lamp.
Birds are highly sensitive to light, but in the dark they see practically nothing. They can navigate well only in sufficient light. These features are widely used in poultry keeping technology. By changing the lighting intensity, you can help chickens find water and food, manipulate the bird without stressing it, and more.
Let's look at the different types:
- Fluorescent lamps. The lamps are economical, but the frequent flickering, invisible to the human eye, can irritate birds.
- Energy saving. They are free of flickering, economical in energy consumption, have a long service life, but are quite expensive. The brightness of the lamps cannot be adjusted.
- LED. Good light spectrum, low power consumption, long service life. The disadvantages are that the lamps are expensive, but they pay for themselves much faster than energy-saving lamps.
- Combined. They produce both infrared and ultraviolet radiation. They are a good option for installation in aviaries with chickens. Ultraviolet radiation disinfects the room where young animals are kept, has a positive effect on the nervous system, and stimulates the physical development of chickens.
- Infrared. They help you save on electricity and are reasonably priced. According to poultry farmers, they are one of the best heat emitters, and as a type of heating, they are most suitable for birds.
- Regular incandescent lamps. The most “budget” option in price, a good spectral range of light along with spot heating. You can regulate the degree of incandescence using thyristors. Protective devices are required to prevent bird burns. High energy consumption.
Operating principle, rules of use
The main result in fluorescent, energy-saving and LED lamps is illumination with reduced heat transfer. Therefore, in this case, infrared or combined lamps are more acceptable for raising young animals, since they provide both heating and illumination.
During the operation of an infrared lamp, electricity is converted into infrared radiation, and in combined lamps - into ultraviolet and infrared. A thin layer of reflective material is applied to the inner surface of the glass of the lamps, allowing heat and light to be directed directly at the birds.
When using lamps, you must follow safety rules. The number of lighting devices used should be proportional to the number of young animals. In addition, if one of the lamps burns out, the kids will be able to warm up with other working lighting devices (for heating at this stage, a pair of infrared lamps with a power of 250 kW is enough for 70–75 chickens in a room of about 10 sq.m.).
IMPORTANT! All devices must be equipped with protective covers: to prevent direct contact with birds, and lamps must be equipped with ceramic sockets: to avoid the ingress of moisture and flammable straw, hay or sawdust.
Lamps should be placed at a height sufficient for uniform heating and lighting (30–40 cm from the floor).
Chicken behavior
Whether the chicks are housed correctly can be judged by their behavior. When the babies are quite active (vigorously rummaging in the litter), eat well, consume a sufficient amount of water, it means that their living conditions are close to being close to the mother hen. When placed comfortably, chickens sleep on their tummy, stretching out their necks and spreading their wings. After a short sleep, they reach for food and drink. Even at night they are active, but sleep is a little longer.
When there is a lack of heat, the chickens huddle in groups, trying to stay close to heat sources and trying to keep warm. In such a chaotically formed heap, injuries are possible, and often, under the multi-layered weight of their fellow birds, the death of a bird is possible.
ON A NOTE! If the chicks open their beaks wide, puff up their feathers, drink a lot and greedily, it means the room is too hot for the chicks.
To monitor temperature conditions, keep a thermometer on the floor of the cage or box where the chicks are kept.
How to properly organize a brooder with your own hands?
In this case, you should pay attention to a brooder (English brood - sit on eggs) - a house for chickens, specially equipped and organized for raising young animals.
The brooder must be equipped with:
- A good heating system, lighting, high-quality feeders and drinkers. Strength and ventilation are provided by fine-mesh gratings on the sides and floor of the cage (mesh size about 10 mm).
- All chick waste should easily fall through the floor grate into a metal or plastic waste container that can be quickly removed, washed, or disinfected. The entire structure of the brooder should also be well and easily cleaned, washed and treated with disinfectants.
- To raise young animals in the first days of life, protect them from drafts and maintain a higher temperature, it would be good to provide removable side walls made of easily washable materials, PVC panels or fiberboard, plywood, thick cardboard in cases of one-time use. For the first time, it is possible to install additional removable mats with dry bedding for half a cage.
- The brooder should be equipped with several infrared lamps; it is also desirable to have a thermostat that responds to changing conditions outside and adjusts the temperature inside the brooder.
- The door should be of such a size that it is possible to clean the inside of the brooder without much difficulty.
Well, the last point: the correctly calculated area of the brooder for the number of young birds. If the planting is too tight, it is possible that they may peck at each other, die, or develop leg pain due to insufficient movement.
Light mode
The length of daylight hours plays an important role in raising young animals. Setting the correct lighting regulates the physiological activity of the bird.
The temperature in the poultry house during the first days should be quite high (33-34 degrees Celsius), since even small hypothermia can kill even small chickens. You can use various lamps for the enclosure.
In the first weeks of life, the room where the chickens are kept should be illuminated unevenly. The wakefulness zone is created around drinking bowls and feeders - they must be illuminated all the time. Above them you need to place low power lamps (15-20 W) with reflectors. The chickens see the lighting zones and peck food and drink water around the clock as needed. In the first days, babies prefer to sleep in twilight.
IMPORTANT! Recent research in this area proves that in the first three weeks of life, birds need 24-hour lighting. It stimulates greater activity and increased muscle mass.
In the future, constant lighting causes oppression of the bird, and it must be intermittent. Combined lighting is possible using different types of lamps and placing zones of different illumination.
Raising chickens is a complex process. If there is a hen who is constantly with the chicks, this issue is greatly simplified, since the hen herself creates the necessary temperature regime for the chicks and ensures their full development. But what to do when the chicks hatch in the incubator? In this case, it is necessary to artificially create the necessary conditions for their growth and development. And the most important thing in this process is to ensure that the brooder is heated for the chicks.
To raise chickens after the incubator, it is very important to maintain temperature and light conditions. Most often, devices for heating chickens combine both of these functions.
During the first days of the chicks' life, the chick brooder should maintain a temperature of 30 degrees. It is important that during the first five days of life there are no jumps and the temperature does not fall below 29. You need to monitor the temperature using a thermometer located slightly higher than the mat with bedding.
Starting from the sixth day, you can gradually cool the room. You can reduce the heating by one degree per day so that on the tenth day the chicken brooder is heated to at least 26 degrees.
For the next twenty days of the chicks’ life, the temperature should be gradually lowered by 3-4 degrees per week, so that by the first month the babies feel comfortable in a temperature of 18 degrees. The chicks are not yet ready for lower temperatures, so heating the chicks should continue.
Advice! When raising small chickens at home, it is very important to monitor the temperature and their behavior. For small birds, not only low temperatures are detrimental, but also too high. Therefore, when trying to warm them, it is important not to overdo it.
You can monitor how well the heating is provided by the behavior of each chicken. If the ambient temperature is normal, the chick will run around and interact with others. There will be activity in the brooder. If the temperature of the surrounding space is lower than necessary, the chicks will huddle in groups and try to warm each other. If you notice children huddled together, you need to urgently increase the heating intensity. Excess heat is also bad for the chicken. If the chick puffs up its feathers, opens its beak, and often and greedily drinks water, then you need to remove the device for heating the chicks to reduce the temperature in the brooder.
In addition, it is worth remembering that if you use one device for heating, the room will warm up unevenly and the far corner will be cold. Therefore, it is better to buy two heating lamps and distribute them on different sides. In addition to better heating, this will help avoid sad consequences if one of the lamps suddenly burns out.
In addition to lamps, you can make your own chicken heaters. Heating for chickens can be provided by heating pads filled with hot water or plastic bottles. It is important to wrap them with cotton wool and soft cloth so that the chicks do not get burned.
In addition to heating, it is equally important to organize proper lighting for the chicks. Just like lowering the temperature, chickens are introduced to ten hours of daylight gradually until they are at least two months old.
Heating lamps
To maintain good thermal conditions and maintain the desired temperature, several types of lamps are used. Each of them has both positive characteristics and negative points. Which type is better? Which light bulb should I use to provide optimal heat for my chicks? Each breeder decides this question individually based on his preferences. Let's look at each type of lamp in more detail.
Fluorescent lamps
This type of lamp is one of the cheapest. They have a very low level of energy consumption and will help you save on electricity. But their use for heating chicks is not always justified.
A characteristic feature of lamps of this type is a high flicker frequency. This is invisible to the human eye, but the chicks react much more sharply. The flickering irritates them, they become nervous and most often go to those places where the intense flickering is not so noticeable. Due to this, the rug in those places becomes damp and begins to emit an unpleasant odor.
LED bulbs
Continuing to list the options, it’s worth moving on to this type of lamp; most often it is used to heat the poultry house. They also tend to save energy. But unlike the previous type, they do not flicker. In addition, they have a large list of positive qualities:
- long operation;
- it is possible to adjust the light level;
- non-toxic;
- allows you to regulate the behavior of chickens by emitting light from different parts of the spectrum.
Due to the large list of positive aspects, this type of lamp is repelled by its high price, therefore, as already mentioned, only a large poultry house can afford them.
Combination lamps
This type of lamp is most useful when raising chickens. In addition to the fact that they have an infrared film, they also emit ultraviolet radiation. And it is known to have good disinfectant properties. It kills pathogenic bacteria in the air and disinfects the rug. And it has a positive effect on the nervous system of chicks, and also stimulates the development of vital organs.
Infrared lamps
The most commonly used infrared lamp is to heat chickens. This is due to the fact that this type of lamp emits heat best, while also taking care of energy saving. They will make the best heaters, but keep the safety of the chicks in mind. It is necessary to protect the lamp from flammable substances, and also place it in a place inaccessible to chicks.
A red lamp for heating chickens can be made independently; for this, they use not white flasks, but ones covered with red film. They convert electricity into infrared radiation, while ensuring maximum safety. It is better to place such lamps 30 centimeters from the floor on which the rug is located.
A ceramic lamp with infrared radiation will be an excellent heating solution. They are more durable and resistant to various negative environmental influences. But it is worth remembering that they require a special type of cartridge.
To reduce the intensity of heating as the chicks grow, the heaters should be moved further away. And as a precaution, two heating sources should be used. This will help preserve offspring in the event that one of the lamps suddenly burns out or is damaged. It is especially unpleasant when this happens when there is no person nearby. With a second lamp, the chicks will simply huddle under the second heat source rather than die from hypothermia.
Rooms for chicks
In addition to the heating itself, the very room in which they are kept has a significant influence on the growth and development of the chicks. The chick brooder must be well prepared so that day-old chicks that require special care can be immediately placed there. After three weeks of life, the chicks should be placed in a brooder with feeding trays around the perimeter.
It’s not that difficult to build an aviary for chickens with your own hands. The main thing is to maintain the dimensions and provide it with heating. As a rule, the enclosure has the following parameters: length and width 70 by 50, height 40 centimeters. The side rails are best made of plywood, and the floor is made of roofing iron. It is important to remember that in the first days of life, the bottom of the brooder should be insulated with newspapers and soft cloth so that there is no air from below and the chickens are comfortable.
Here are the main requirements for housing for chicks in the first weeks of life:
- a dry and non-slip floor, for this purpose it is laid under the fabric with newspaper that absorbs moisture;
- if possible, it is better to organize a container below for waste and excrement;
- good ventilation, but no drafts;
- maintaining moderate humidity;
- desired temperature;
- lack of access for chicks to a heat source.
It is important to note that the size of the structure is primarily determined by the number of chicks that will be contained in it. The previously indicated dimensions of the enclosure are designed for approximately 40-50 chickens; if a larger number of chicks is planned, then it is worth expanding the room or building another additional brooder. Savvy poultry farmers make aviaries from old bedside tables and mezzanines.
The first days of a chick's life are the most important. The further viability and development of young chickens depends on their organization. Proper heating and light conditions, especially in the first five days of life, give rise to everything else, and if in natural conditions this is provided by the hen, then incubator chicks need special care and are more picky.
We must not forget that in addition to heating, chicks also need sunlight and walks in the fresh air. Before you start keeping young chickens in a barn, they need to be prepared for their environment. Short walks are great for this. In addition, walks contribute to the accumulation of vitamin D and better development of chicks.
Chicks with a hen practically do not require additional heating - the hen provides them with the desired temperature regime and level of comfort. With hatchery chicks, everything is more complicated - you will have to create heating for the chicks yourself.
Newborn hatchery chicks
After hatching in the incubator, it is important to provide adequate heat for the chicks. Chicks are not adapted to high humidity and temperature differences - they require average humidity and warmth. What heating level is suitable for newborns?
For the first 5 days after hatching, it is imperative to maintain the heating of the chicken room at a level not lower than +32°C. The regime must be maintained constantly - this can be done manually, guided by the thermometer readings, or you can purchase an electronic device. In the first case, you will have to look into the room every 3-4 hours.
Table 1. Optimal temperature for keeping chickens
| Age of chickens, days | Recommended temperature, °C |
|---|---|
| 1-7 | 32-35 |
| 8-14 | 29-32 |
| 15-21 | 25-29 |
| 22-30 | 22-25 |
| 31-50 | 21-24 |
| 51-58 | 18-20 |
| 59-70 | at least 18 |
Too high and too low temperatures are equally dangerous for chicks. In the most serious cases, the brood may even die.
Cold can lead to:
- malfunctions of the immune system - chickens will be susceptible to infections;
- decreased activity - the chickens will move little and sluggishly;
- decreased growth - chickens will slow down in weight gain for a long time;
- low egg production in the future - the indicator will drop by half of the norm.
How can you tell if your chickens are cold or overheated? The main thing you need to pay attention to is the thermometer reading. However, for a complete picture, take a closer look at the condition of the chickens - it will become a reliable signal of optimal heating. If the thermometer breaks or begins to give incorrect readings, the behavior of the chicks will indicate whether the heater needs to be adjusted.
If all the chickens gather under the lamp, there is not enough heating
Signs of incorrect temperature conditions:
- The chicks hardly move, they constantly stand in groups, huddling together. This is a sign of freezing - turn up the heat.
- The chicks drink a lot of water, try to stay alone, puff up their down, spread their wings. This is a sign of overheating - “screw down” the heater.
Heat affects the brood no better than cold, causing a blow to the immune system and reproductive system. To get healthy young animals, regularly monitor the thermometer readings or take care to install a thermostat.
How to set up a brooder for chickens
- a spacious box in which the brood is kept for several weeks after birth. It should create optimal conditions for raising chicks:
- humidity 60% (no feeling of dampness);
- heat according to the table above;
- Illumination (at 1 week) is constant, general, then decreases.
You can buy the device at specialized retail outlets. But in order to save money, it is better to make a brooder yourself. You will need simple tools and materials:
- jigsaw;
- self-tapping screws;
- screwdriver;
- plywood 20-25 mm thick;
- timber beam 30x30 mm;
- 2 piano hinges for doors;
- plastic cloth (bottom of the litter tray);
- floor mesh with a cell of 10x10 mm;
- plastic or metal mesh for door inspection windows;
- electric lamp;
- cable with socket for electric lamp;
- thermostat.
How to make a brooder from scratch:
Step 1. Calculate the dimensions depending on the number of chicks. For example, a box 70x50x40 cm can contain 100-150 chickens. Make a drawing.
Step 2. Cut the plywood according to the drawing.
Step 3. Cut 4 equal strips for the walls and 2 for the end. They should be 2 cm shorter than the walls.
Step 4. On the back and side walls, install slide guides for the bottom grille: fasten the slats along the edges of the walls (1 cm from the side cut, 3 cm between two slats). Fasten the bars to the sides to create stiffening ribs. The top edge of the bar should be level with the edge of the side walls, the bottom should be 3 cm above the top bar.
Step 5. Assemble the 3 sides of the box so that the grooves match.
Step 6. Cut the front piece out of plywood. Attach the door hinges to the sides of the frame. Screw the blind parts of the doors into place. Mount the structure completely.
Step 7 Make a removable mesh bottom. The mesh is attached between plywood slats like a frame to make the structure durable and practical.
Step 8 Make the litter tray in the same way as the mesh bottom, only a light, hygienic plastic panel is used as the base.
Step 9 Replace the bottom grid and tray.
Step 10 Remove the front panel with doors. Use a jigsaw to select the central part of each door and attach a mesh to the resulting frames - these will be the windows for monitoring.
Step 11 Secure the front panel with doors in the same place.
The brooder is ready! But a “bare” box is not enough for chickens - additionally, adjustable lighting and heating need to be provided. How many lamps are needed and what power they should be depends on:
- box dimensions;
- its location;
- external conditions.
There are no special requirements for the starting material - the brooder can be made from old furniture, boxes, etc. The finished structure must be comfortable and warm - these are the only conditions that must be met.
The next stage before introducing birds is the installation of drinkers, feeders and thermometers for precise temperature control, as well as pre-heating of the structure.
The box will be used for 3 weeks - after which the birds are seated in different rooms. The recommended number of chickens in each jigging “batch” is 50 pieces.
Warming chicks
You can generate heat and maintain the desired temperature using store-bought equipment or homemade structures. The simplest heater can be a bottle of heated water, but it is better to use an infrared lamp.
Attention! Any heat source will heat the box unevenly. The difference in performance between the device and the most remote areas with one heating source will be 3-6˚C.
It is easy to determine the lack of heat - if the chicks are cold, everyone will try to climb into the warmest place without scattering around the brooder. To ensure that all chickens receive enough warmth, you can:
- install 2 or more lamps in the box;
- lower the already installed lamp lower;
- install a more powerful lamp.
Advice! Even if the power and coverage of one lamp is enough, it is recommended to install a pair - in case the main one burns out.
If the heat is too high, the birds will move to the coolest parts of the brooder (usually the corners). In this case, it is also recommended to change the temperature - raise the light source, turn off some heating devices or reduce their power.
Video - Heating chickens with a lamp at home
Heating equipment
Let's look at the different types of heating devices that are traditionally used in brooders. Most often used:
- infrared lamps;
- LED lights;
- Fluorescent lamps.
Infrared lamp for chickens and its uses
Infrared lamps are economical, heat well and create lighting that does not lead to excessive activity and aggressiveness of young animals. With such a lamp, the birds' appetite and immunity will be better.
Important! IR radiation can be harmful to adult birds, so use it exclusively for young birds.
This is the most popular and simplest source of heat for chickens, which you can make yourself by inserting a light bulb into a glass container coated with a red reflective coating.
The lamp may have:
- a red flask, which heats up quickly but saves 1/3 of electricity, is used from the first hours of a chicken’s life;
- a transparent bulb that will solve the problem of heating and lighting and will work uninterruptedly for almost 5 thousand hours.
The advantages of the lamp are obvious - there is no need to heat it manually, like a heating pad or bottle, and the heat spreads over a larger area (up to 10 m²).
Other advantages of IR lamps:
- “monitor” the humidity level;
- emit a pleasant, non-irritating light;
- increase the appetite and immunity of chickens;
- are characterized by high efficiency.
For safety reasons, the lamp should not come into contact with birds - it is hung at a distance of 40 cm from the floor, and many more chickens can bask under it. Every week the heating device is raised higher. After 19-20 days, the lamp should be located at a height of 75 centimeters from the bottom, starting from 28 days - at a height of 1 meter. The infrared light source should be covered with a mesh cover for the safety of the brood. The ceramic cartridge protects against the ingress of flammable materials and water.
Important! Use two IR lamps per brooder so that if one fails, the chicks can bask under the other.
With equal success, you can use a combination lamp that can combine infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
LED heaters for chickens: suitable or not
The only drawback of LED brooder heaters is their high cost. If this doesn’t bother you, then such a heater is the best choice for a number of reasons, since LEDs:
- do not flicker;
- work for a long time;
- economical;
- safe for health;
- flexibly adjusts the color and intensity of lighting;
- perfectly protected from external influences.
Such lamps cannot ignite - they are the safest for the brood.
Fluorescent lamps for brood: pros and cons
Fluorescent devices are usually used for lighting. They are very rarely used as heaters for poultry.
Their flickering (on average 100 times/sec), not noticeable to the human eye, has an irritating effect on chickens that are more sensitive to it. Birds will feel discomfort near such a lamp, will try to move as far away from it as possible, and will begin to gather in places where the flickering is not so harmful to their eyes.
The litter in such places will quickly become dirty, wet and release too much ammonia. At the same time, there must be clean, dry bedding under the feet of chickens of any age, otherwise they eat little, grow poorly, and often get sick.
Video - Heating chickens using a lamp
Other heating sources
“Electric mother” for heating chickens: how to make and use it
“Electromamka” is a homemade chicken heating pad that can become an additional means of heating if the power suddenly goes out or additional heat is needed.
Homemade “electric mother”
How to do it:
- prepare a 15-25 W light bulb with a socket and a cord with a plug;
- take a 1-3 liter jar with a PET lid;
- cut a hole in the lid to the diameter of the cartridge thread;
- unwind the cartridge;
- put a PET lid with a slot between its halves;
- twist the halves;
- screw the light bulb into the socket (the light bulb should be inside);
- put the lid on the jar;
- wrap the structure from the sides with a dry soft cloth;
- put it in the brooder, connect it to the network.
Video - How to design an “electric mother” for a chicken brood
Other options for creating a microclimate for the brood
You can also set up a brooder or chicken coop with a heater by:
- Electric convectors. Pros: reliability, ease of operation, environmental friendliness. Cons: slow heating and high electricity consumption.
- Heat guns. Pros: fast heating (up to 20 minutes). Cons: noise, rapid oxygen burning, unpleasant odor, need for constant monitoring.
- Wood and coal stoves. Pros: If you heat your home with wood or coal, the materials are cheap; One stove can heat several rooms, there are no electricity costs. Disadvantages: the need for constant monitoring, danger, difficulty in manipulating coal and firewood.
Infrared lamps continue to be the most popular means of heating chickens. They are inexpensive, simple and practical. A bonus to any heating system will be additional insulation measures - sawdust or peat moss on the floor. But if you are not afraid of spending, try LEDs - at a high cost, they will quickly pay for themselves.