Outdoor brooder

chlostur · Feb 20, 2022

Opinions on outdoor brooders? We don’t really have room to have our chicks inside our place so an outdoor brooder will probably be their situation.
We have a Rent A Coop heat plate (I refuse to use heat lamps, our friends barn burnt down from a heat lamp and too scared to use one since). The temperature will be around 39 at night and 40/50 during the day. Should we be bring them in at night or will they be fine in the outdoor brooder with the heat plate?

3KillerBs · Feb 20, 2022

My brooder is outdoors with a heat lamp. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

You can check with the manufacturer of the heat plate, but at least one brand specifically says that it is for use only in temperatures above 50F.

Heat lamps *can* be used safely. Unfortunately, they are too often used carelessly with tragic results. What makes me confident in the safety of my heat lamp is that I use only as high a wattage bulb as I actually *need* for the current temperatures, that I throw away the clamp and secure it with a chain, and that I never hang it closer than about 15-18" from anything flammable.

I'm thinking of getting a dimming thermostat like reptile keepers use to make it even safer.

ChickNanny13 · Feb 20, 2022

Climate here isn't at severe as you all, I don't use a heat lamp. Instead I use a 40 - 60watt incandescent bulb with a clamp on lamp and also a MHP (heating pad). Start off in the house in a plastic bin before moving out to the brooder in the patio (2wks).

Blooie · Feb 20, 2022

I brood outdoors with Mama Heating Pad…every batch, every year for the last 6 or 7 years.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors.68067/

rosemarythyme · Feb 20, 2022

As long as the brooder has dry, draft free space with heat where chicks can warm up, they should be fine outdoors around the clock at those temperatures. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

Caveat, I use a heating pad. Check your heat plate for any temperature restrictions for use.

ChickNanny13 · Feb 20, 2022

@Blooie I started using the MHP since I read your article & never regretted it. Chicks are quieter and not skittish, better adjusted than with the lite. That's what's so great about this site, we learn from each other :hugs

Blooie · Feb 20, 2022

Thank you!! I’m thrilled that you found it helpful.

I‘m now 71 years old. I hope I never stop learning

Iluveggers · Feb 20, 2022

3KillerBs said:
My brooder is outdoors with a heat lamp. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

You can check with the manufacturer of the heat plate, but at least one brand specifically says that it is for use only in temperatures above 50F.

Heat lamps *can* be used safely. Unfortunately, they are too often used carelessly with tragic results. What makes me confident in the safety of my heat lamp is that I use only as high a wattage bulb as I actually *need* for the current temperatures, that I throw away the clamp and secure it with a chain, and that I never hang it closer than about 15-18" from anything flammable.

I'm thinking of getting a dimming thermostat like reptile keepers use to make it even safer.

Agreed. Heat plates need to be at temps greater than 50 degrees & out of drafts to be effective as the only heat source. A mama heat plate is different and can be used outside if guidelines are followed correctly.

chlostur · Feb 21, 2022

3KillerBs said:
My brooder is outdoors with a heat lamp. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

You can check with the manufacturer of the heat plate, but at least one brand specifically says that it is for use only in temperatures above 50F.

Heat lamps *can* be used safely. Unfortunately, they are too often used carelessly with tragic results. What makes me confident in the safety of my heat lamp is that I use only as high a wattage bulb as I actually *need* for the current temperatures, that I throw away the clamp and secure it with a chain, and that I never hang it closer than about 15-18" from anything flammable.

I'm thinking of getting a dimming thermostat like reptile keepers use to make it even safer.

I checked the manufacture and it doesn’t say anything about using it above certain temperatures so I’m assuming it will be fine?

chlostur · Feb 21, 2022

Iluveggers said:
Agreed. Heat plates need to be at temps greater than 50 degrees & out of drafts to be effective as the only heat source. A mama heat plate is different and can be used outside if guidelines are followed correctly.

I checked the manufacture and it doesn’t say anything about using it above certain temperatures so I’m assuming it will be fine? I’ll be looking into the mama heat plate anyways and maybe use the mama one instead of the RentACoop plate when it’s below 50

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