4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[karlotta]

After reading a couple of threads mentioning electric hens I wondered if those who use them could tell me the advantages. I use a heat lamp in my brooder currently, but would be interested if an electric hen is better and why?

 

Is it used just for a couple of weeks? I don't quite get how chicks would fit under it after a little while?

 

What brands/types are people using?

 

Thanks so much!

[Egluntyne]

I've never used a lamp so wouldn't be able to say whether I thought an Electric Hen is better.

However, one disadvantage of lamps so far as I can see is that the bulbs seem to blow quite frequently, from what I read.

 

Re the chickens fitting under, you raise the height of the EH as the chickens grow.

 

I got mine via ebay.

[Redwing]

I have one of these

 

http://www.homefarmfowls.co.uk/epages/BT2808.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT2808/Products/%22Electric%20Hen%20(mini/Interbrooder)%22

 

As Egluntyne says you raise the height as the chicks grow

 

The big pro is the cost of running, an electric hen is so much cheaper to run than a lamp, also because there is no light emitted the chicks experience a more natural day/night cycle from the beginning

 

The cons are that its fiddly to adjust the height and you cant clearly see the chicks when they are under it, they can also get on top of it and poo on it so regular cleaning is a must

 

If you do choose to use a lamp do consider a ceramic bulb (dull emitter) this is a bulb that does not give out any light, these are cheaper to run than other bulbs but not as cheap to run as an electric hen, they are more expensive to buy but should last years as they are far less likely to blow than a standard bulb

[Egluntyne]

I use a mirror to see where the chicks are under the EH.

 

It is true, adjusting the legs is a bit of a faff.

[Falkor]

oooh a mirror! What a great idea! **em runs upstairs to claim the little mirror from the bathroom**

 

I have an EH which is currently in use. I also have a lamp incase the EH decides to die on me.

 

I prefer the EH as everything is contained within the brooder. Currently trying to work out how to make a stand to suspend the lamp from.

[karlotta]

That does sound good... how high does it go and does it get wobbly when it's at it's highest? I'm hatching large breeds (orps etc) and my last lot got pretty big, pretty fast.

 

Hanging of a lamp isn't a prob for me - I have a mini WIR style brooder in the garage with a ring enclosure inside and the lamp hangs from the roof of the run (with a dull emitter).

[Falkor]

I have the 40x40cm version and just happen to be sitting next to the brooder right now (chickens have even taken over our office). The legs on mine are 25cm tall. I have not had it at it's highest yet but find as long as the legs are all level it is pretty sturdy

 

Oooh and of your WIR brooder

[Redwing]

I have put my EH at pretty much the top level before, yes it does go wobbly if its on a smooth surface (newspaper/cloth) but if its on shavings or aubiose its much more steady - even if its wobbly it wont fall over though

 

Em - I made a stand for my lamp

 

[Madchook]

The hen in with my ducklings and chick hasn't been raised recently as they seem to prefer sitting on it anyway and the chick can still get under.

I have read chicks tend to feather up faster under them, maybe it is a more natural temperature gradient in the brooder.

Space is a bit of an issue with me and I can't be doing with contraptions suspending lamps etc - when I looked ino it , to buy the lamp, bulb and stand it would have cost more than the hen (but obv not if you diy parts of it).

[craftyhunnypie]

My hubby bought me one of these - I am eagerly waiting to try it. I'm sure it wil e better than the heat lamp. We normally use an old disco speaker stand - with slight adaptation, for hanging the lamp from. Works well for raising the height of the lamp. Will be great to get chicks into a bedtime routine from an early age.

 

Emma.x