The New Chick Brooder February 8, 2019 @goldenoakfarm

When we started raising day old chicks in 2008, we built this brooder from plans from 1942. It had 2 heat lamps underneath, on a thermostat.

Then one day a couple years back, we found the thermometer smoldering. It had gotten pushed up against one of the lamps. That was scary! But we had no money for the heat plate type brooders, so we were just very careful.

After the thermometer episode, I had checked out alternatives, but we just didn’t have the money for what we would need. We’d need 2 of the large heating plate and covers to protect them. They were offered at Premier1 Supplies, an excellent company.

But things changed last year, and when I made up the chick order for this year, I also made up an order to Premier1. No more taking chances with fire!

I also got the thermostat controller for each one.

In the layer coop we do use heat lamps, double secured, the safe ones Premier1 offers. They also have premium bulbs that don’t twist out of their sockets. We’d used our last one this winter when we set up. The heat lamps are plugged into Thermo-Cubes. These turn on for temperatures less than 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees. It’s good to have backups on them.

It is awfully nice to have good safe equipment!

We’d had problems with waterers in the brooder enclosure. Trying to keep them clean and from leaking had been a major headache. We had them set up on small thick boards.

With the new smaller heat plates, there was more room in the enclosure and this feeding stand will go a long ways to keeping the water clean.

So we will have a nice set-up for the 90 chicks due to hatch on May 1st.

Sources:
Heat plate and cover: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heating-plates-and-covers?cat_id=226

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