beingmaisie Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I have just bought an electric hen, its 40cm square. I plugged it in at 9 today and its still not gone above 30 degrees C. I have it set at about 3-4 inches about the floor. What am i doing wrong. Should it be lower? It seems amazing to me that they could live under something that low already. The egss are due to hatch on Sunday so i really want to get things sorted before then and make sure it warmed up okay. Any advice appreciated, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I never knew electric hens existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Nor me !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKH Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 nor me too !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I've got battery hens, so why not electric ones? (Groan -- I haven't heard of an electric hen either. We aren't helping the questioner much, are we?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchB Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Hi there I nearly got one of these but everyone had sold out when I had plucked up the courage. To start with I had a terracota plant pot with an ordinary bulb inside, then we went to a heat lamp for my chicks so that I can raise the height as they grow. This was from a chick breeding site:- When using a brooder, start the chicks at 90° to 95° F, measured 2 inches off the floor under the edge of the hover. Reduce the temperature by 5°per week until the supplemental heat is no longer needed. Observe the chicks to gauge their level of comfort. If they crowd together under the brooder, increase the heat, but lower the temperature if they tend to move away from the heat source. Allow 7 -10 square inches of space under the brooder for each chick. Start the brooder the day before the chicks arrive and adjust to proper operating temperature. Mine, now 4 wks old today spent 10 mins outside on Sunday afternoon and 2 hours out this afternoon in the sunshine so far. Hope this helps Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 You've GOT to post a piccie! I wanna see the electric chicken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 try googling " electric chicken".... Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 try googling " electric chicken".... Tricia just pics of fishing lures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I think I know what one is. I square perspex thing, like a lid - that gives off heat. Am I right? It does sound like it should be a sort of chicken shaped glow light thing though! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 when I googled it I got this.... "The Lonesome Electric Chicken is a time and life wasting application that spews forth a gathering of quotations. That's it. Don't look any farther into it than that." Ooh er..... Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 when I googled it I got this.... "The Lonesome Electric Chicken is a time and life wasting application that spews forth a gathering of quotations. That's it. Don't look any farther into it than that." Ooh er..... Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I've got one but I never thought to measure the temperature. It felt hot and my chicks survived, maybe by more luck than judgement I found it was a pain to alter the height of it, surely they can find a way of making it easier, clamps instead of bolts maybe? Anyway, I just made sure it was low enough to be in line with their backs. I've raised two hatches so it can't be too cold I guess. I found it heated up really quickly, within 15 minutes or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 I never record the temp.....it depends on other factors too, such as outside temp. I just observe the chicks behaviour. If they're huddled and cheeping loudly they're too cold, if they're sleeping in a ring under, but not far away from the heat source they're fine, and if they're sleeping on the perimeter of the brooder, too hot.......just watch and see what they tell you With an electric hen they should be happy to come in and out to feed and drink randomly, but again not be permanently huddled under it, or outside avoiding it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 I have the same model as fees. Set up and ready. I think 3-4 ins might be a bit too high for starters. As the chicks get bigger you would want to raise it. I have set mine at about the same level as fee's and that is about 5cms /2ins-ish. It is pleasantly warm underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 If I was designing an electric hen............It would be a big round fluffy, feathery cushion, which made bok bok noises and warmed to exactly the right temperature, and would tuck the little ones under!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 sorry to mislead......that's not my electric hen, just a pic I pinched. I use a ceramic dull emitter bulb that hangs outside the brooder. It doesn't give off any light so the chicks get used to natural day and night-time. I don't like the idea of them having artificial infra-red or white light during the night. I shorten the chain on the lamp by a link or two each day until they're off heat by 3 weeks (in the house). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
