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stevefitz5

Heatt Lamp V's Electric hen

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I like electric hens because they encourage the chick to feather better and more evenly (in my opinion) they also give it a sense of night and day which means less trouble when they go to live outside

 

however...I do use a lamp for the first few days as with an electric hen you cant see under it to spot an early problem (unless you lift it several times a day) and also new chicks can nest in to the bedding and get stuck under there

 

The lamp I use is a traditional heat lamp with a dull emitter bulb which provides heat but no light

 

The only time I use infra red lamps is if I am trying to extend the chicks eating time (hatching during the winter) or if I have an adult bird drying off after a bath that I want to encourage to preen its feathers

 

I appreciate that most people only hatch a few a year and in this case I would use an electric hen but dont have the bedding too deep that they can bank it and do check underneath regularly

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I use an electric hen always now. What I do is I use shavings early on, but I buy the non slip matting stuff from pound land & put it over the top. This way they can't scoop out hollows or pile up the bedding - as Redwing mentions.

I like the night & day routine with Electric hens, plus they seem to get off heat a lot quicker.

As they grow, they do like to use Electric hens for diving board practice though! Be warned! :roll:

 

Emma.x

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I have a eco glow brooder its alright for indoor reared chicks but if they are out in a shed it maybe a bit cold at night i also use heat lamps but after my electric bill i might go with electric hens all the time i would think batcatz the eco brooder would be ok for ducklings as i only keep them on heat for about a week and then just put them in front of a radiator in a rabbit cage and move them out at 6 weeks as they are so messy leanne :)

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