best electric hen

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rupert

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i am considering changing to a small / mediun size electric hen

i have always used heat lamps , but they are to big in my small 3ft x 2ft brooder box and the light sets off the cockerel crowing all night

any ideas on which is best to purchase as tried and tested by you

thanks rupert
 
hi you could try a 60 watt bulb under a terracota flower pot act a bit like a storage heater i wired in a digital thermostat on mine works well all the best foxy
 
Hi Rupert. We thought electric hens were a great idea but too expensive. We bought ceramic bulbs which give out no light at all. The 250W ones are not suitable for most lamps as they get too hot and (expensively) burn out. We did though get some 80W ceramic bulbs after an internet search and they were perfect for the job. Better still it created a day and night environment for the chicks, just as they would get naturally under a mother hen. We switched them to day and night regime after a week by switching two lamps around -one ceramic 80W and one white 150W set higher to warm the whole area. The chicks grew fast and strong and out of 46 hatched we had no losses.
 
Alternatively, if you would prefer not to use a bulb, you can use electric hens. Mine are 50Watts so use very little electricity, these are the ones I use, very little to go wrong..mine doesn't have an temp adjustment I just alter the legs lower at the back and higher at the front. I have been using mine for years without any problems.

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Electric_Hen_Brooder_heat_plate_40x40cm.html
 
I have the same as foxy - but check out the difference in prices including the link foxy gave you, as any of these does have offers on from time to time http://www.pandtpoultry.co.uk/index.php/fuseaction/shop.category/categoryid/3 or http://www.regencypoultry.com/heat_lamps/Heat_lamps_and_bulbs.htm, all 3 also sell on ebay so check the price there also. I have bought from all these suppliers without any problems.
 
I would just like to say Rupert that you are best avoiding the first company Nctob has mentioned. Had a load of problems with them. Bought a new unit that was faulty and they sent me a second hand one to replace it. When I complained they said they were going to charge full list for it as I hadn't returned the faulty one -at my cost!!!
 
The infrared lamps are also known as dull emitters and you can get them from Countryfayre http://countryfayre-countrystore.co.uk/incubation-accessories/cat_96.html in three sizes, 60W, 150W and 250W. I'm just testing out the 60W one over a small fishtank brooder for my quail hatch which is due at the weekend, I hope. With such tiny chicks as quails you need a very small brooder at least to start with, and the dull emitter seems OK for the job according to my trials with thermometer at different heights. .
 
Presumably Marigold your 'dull emitter' and 'infrared lamps' and my 'Ceramic bulbs' also called 'black lights' are all the same thing. Basically a heat emitting insert, no light at all, for your standard lamp fitting (screw cap). But you need to be aware that the 250W dull emitter overheats in a standard lamp unit and overheats the lamp unit as well. They are not actually designed for 250W dull emitters, only 250W light bulbs. Problem is there is no reflector in the back of the emitter so a lot of heat goes upwards as well. The correct lamp unit has much more air venting around the base of the emitter. I was just concerned Marigold that you may put a 250W dull emitter in your unit and wreck both the light unit and emitter- as we did.
 
Thanks for that, Chris. I'm only using the 60W bulb, in quite a large a metal conical lampholder (as illustrated in the reference I posted for countryfayre.) I've been testing it out the past few days to check how much warmth it provides under the lamp as well as out towards the edges, and although I think it'll be fine for a few tiny quail chicks in a small fishtank brooder, you'd need a more powerful bulb for a larger brooder, at least for the first few days i think. Quails need 37.5C to start with, though of course after a few days this reduces. I'm a bit concerned about keeping the temperature up overnight, as the house cools down once the heating goes off and then the brooder temperature drops as well. I was wondering whether to cover part of the open top of the tank with cardboard over the very cold nights - will experiment tonight and see what readings the thermometer gives me early tomorrow morning. I'm glad I've allowed a few days to play with the height of the lamp etc before my babies are born!
 
You may have noticed in my post Marigold the reference to proper day and night as soon as possible. Loads of people must run them on 24 hour daytime until they come off heat, which has to be bad for them as it is completely unnatural. Funny when they start. They wake up after the first morning starving and the very next night have bulging little crops in preparation for the lights going out! We hang our lights from a mobile clothes rail -heavy duty shop type. You can move them away from the box for access without altering the lamp height or getting burned.
 
I use an electric hen, one of these


http://www.regencypoultry.com/heat_lamps/30x30_electric_hen.htm


The smallest size fits in my small cage easily. It's simple to have two legs lower than the other two so the chicks can find their own 'comfort zone', and since it's heat not light there's no problem with letting the chicks keep natural daylight hours. (Economical to run, too! ;) :) )
 
Having seen the prices of these units everyone has shown I have to say they are very good value. I paid £35 just for a 25W heat mat! They actually work out much cheaper to buy than using a two lamp system, use less electricity as well, which is a major factor in chick rearing costs -we are on economy 7 so daytime electricity is very expensive. I have been converted so must add to France shopping list!
 
surely if its cold they would die if you turn it off??
i have always left my bulbs on for 24 hrs until they are big enough to go out
 
Hi, I also use an electric hen sounds the same ad foxys'
Got it on e-bay, was only £35.00 and have very successfully used for the past 3 years. Would defiantly recommend it.
 
I have bought 6 electric Hens from PandP and never had any problem - one heat lamp (traditional red) costs the same to run as 5 of my smaller electric hens, (40chick size) I've found the chicks to be healthier, feather up quicker and an electric hen resembles more a broody hen - I would never go back to my heat lamps (that the chicks can't get away from the heat even if they wanted to) or my previous electricity bills - which were frankly frightening
 
chrisarvor said:
surely if its cold they would die if you turn it off??
i have always left my bulbs on for 24 hrs until they are big enough to go out
Click to expand...
You don't turn the electric hens off, you just raise them on their legs higher and higher above the birds, until the chicks are fully feathered and able to be off heat. :) I'm assuming that was what you meant about 'turning it off'?
 
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