If you are faced with the task of raising chickens, then you need to understand that they need special care. Creating comfortable conditions should be a top priority, otherwise it will hardly be possible to raise a healthy bird.
Raising chicks under a hen makes the job easier because there is no need for additional heating. Chicks also learn from their mother how to search for food and water. However, nothing is impossible, and it is quite possible to raise healthy chickens without a hen.
What kind of lamps are used to raise chickens?
To install in an aviary with chickens, you can use different types of lighting:
- Fluorescent lamps.
The main advantage is efficiency. The main disadvantage is the frequent flickering, which is invisible to the human eye, but the vision of chickens is much sharper. Because of this, light can irritate birds.
- LED.
They are also economical in terms of energy consumption and have no flickering effect. In addition, such lighting has a long service life, has the proper level of protection, and emits light of a different spectrum. The main disadvantage is the high cost, so not everyone can afford this lighting.
- Combined.
They give both infrared and are a good option for installation in enclosures with chickens.
- Infrared.
They help you save on electricity and are reasonably priced. According to poultry farmers, this type of heating is most suitable for birds.
To raise chickens, electric heating pads, water heating, and a stove are also used as heaters, but infrared lamps are invariably the most popular, as they help solve the problem of lighting and heating at the same time.
What is an infrared lamp?
It is the highest quality heat emitter. It has gained great popularity not only for this reason - high productivity can be achieved with minimal energy consumption, which is especially important when raising a large number of birds.
Terms of use
In order to keep the chickens safe, it is necessary to adhere to the operating rules. Therefore, the bird lamp should be used in conjunction with lamps equipped with ceramic sockets. This will help prevent moisture and flammable straw from getting into them.
Principle of operation
The IR lamp for heating chickens functions very simply - during its operation, electricity is converted into infrared radiation. The design is quite safe, since the production of the glass flask uses thick glass that is protected from moisture and shock. A special reflective material is applied to the inside of the glass to help focus and direct light and heat onto the chicks. Lamps must be installed at a height of 30-40 cm from the floor.
A heating lamp for chickens with a power of 250 W can illuminate and heat a room of 10 square meters. m. This is quite enough for raising birds. However, it is wiser to install several lamps in the chick brooder in case one of them burns out. Otherwise, if you are not around, the chickens will be left without heating, and this can turn into a tragedy for them and for you, respectively.
In order for chickens to grow, two factors must be observed: the organization of a confined space and the heat/light regime, since they are highly sensitive to temperature changes.
Chicken behavior
By observing the birds, you can find out whether they live comfortably in the brooder. If the chickens are running all over the room, then there is nothing to worry about - they are warm and cozy. If they huddle together and concentrate near the lamp, then they are cold. Then you need to set the IR lamp lower or increase the heating.
When the room is too hot, the chickens will be quiet, pant and scatter around. It is worth reducing the heating or installing the lamp higher.
You can breed broilers and egg-laying chickens. The latter are much more mobile, so that they do not waste their energy, you can build fences. It is also necessary to install a drinking bowl and feeder.
What are the benefits of a heat lamp for chicks?
- It is able to maintain an optimal level of moisture in the brooder with chickens due to the fact that excess moisture particles in the air evaporate when heated.
- Infrared lighting emits a calm and soft light that does not irritate the chickens and reduces their aggressiveness.
- Helps improve bird appetite and feed absorption.
- has a beneficial effect on the immune system of chickens.
- Such a heater has high efficiency.
- Electricity costs are 4 times less compared to other types of heaters.
- IR radiation dries the litter.
It is worth remembering that heating chickens with an infrared lamp is acceptable, but not adult birds.
How to properly organize a brooder?
The place where the chickens will live is called a brooder. Day-old chicks are immediately placed in it, care for which is most important in the first days of life.
The chickens are kept in the enclosure for 3 weeks, after which they will need to be transferred to a brooder with feeders around the perimeter.
In the first days, newspapers or cloth should be laid on the floor of the brooder to keep the chicks warm and not blown in from below. It is also necessary that the heating lamp for chickens emits heat at 30 degrees, this will help dissolve the yolk in their bellies. The growth and health of the birds will depend on this. Such conditions must persist for 5 days. Further on the 10th day, the temperature should be at 26 degrees, then every week it is necessary to reduce it by 3 degrees. To quickly navigate the heat level, it is worth installing a thermometer.
A brooder for chickens can be made with the following parameters: length 70 cm, width 50, height 40. It is better to choose plywood as the material for the side walls, and roofing iron for the bottom.
While the chickens are growing, they are kept in 100-200 units in an enclosure; after they reach three weeks of age, they are seated in groups of 50 in new enclosures.
Light mode
If you have day old chicks, care and proper lighting will have a big impact on their performance.
Experienced poultry farmers raise chickens in windowless enclosures with ever-decreasing daylight hours. By reducing daylight hours by 30 minutes each week, you can delay the puberty of chickens, but this will also promote good growth, the end of molting before laying, which will help produce larger eggs with a strong shell.
On the farm, this regime is only appropriate for chickens taken for rearing in June, when it lasts 15-16 hours. If chickens from the April-May brood are raised, they should be kept in an aviary with curtained windows and walked after sunrise. Long daylight hours provoke premature laying of eggs, and this leads to a decrease in productivity.
Thus, it is worth paying attention to every little detail to achieve success in raising chickens. It is worth remembering that the heating lamp for chickens is of particular importance in poultry farming. In addition, it is used in raising livestock.
Infrared heaters have recently entered our everyday life, but have already gained popularity. This is a relatively inexpensive and effective method of additional or main heating, allowing to reduce energy costs. Today it is used both in apartments, offices, street spaces, and in buildings where pets are kept. In small spaces in poultry and livestock farming, an alternative option is also used - infrared lamps. We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of heating chickens with an IR lamp in this article.
What is an infrared lamp
An infrared lamp is an ordinary light bulb that is screwed into a standard E27 ceramic socket. Inside the glass flask, which can be transparent or colored red or blue, there is a tungsten filament placed in a flask with an argon-nitrogen mixture.
The radiation of such lamps does not affect the entire room, but rather objects and living organisms located in its immediate vicinity. Infrared rays, coming into contact with them, are absorbed and converted into thermal energy. Heating does not require time - an object or living organism feels heat immediately after turning on the lamp. 
The principle of operation of an IR lamp is similar to the action of the Sun, whose rays, reaching objects, heat them, and then they begin to give off heat to the environment and warm up the air.
Technical characteristics of infrared lamps:
- maximum power - 50–500 W;
- maximum temperature - 600 °C;
- IR wave range - 3.5–5 µm;
- supported voltage - 220 V;
- service life - 6 thousand hours.
IR radiation does not harm either humans or animals. On the contrary, this heat source has a number of advantages: - compactness;
- ease of operation;
- possibility of spot heating;
- uniform heat distribution;
- rapid heating of objects and living organisms - heat arrives after just 27 seconds;
- noiselessness;
- high efficiency, approaching 100%;
- environmental friendliness;
- positive effect on animal behavior - calming the nervous system, strengthening the immune system, increasing the growth rate, increasing appetite;
- increasing hygiene and cleanliness in the premises where animals are kept;
- Possibility of installation in the bottom, walls, or ceiling of the poultry house;
- affordability.
There are much fewer disadvantages of using lamps: - increased energy costs - when using a 250-watt light bulb, about 0.25 kW per hour is consumed;
- some discomfort when staying at the site of the light bulb for quite a long time - the mucous membrane of the eye dries out;
- If handled carelessly, there is a possibility of getting burned when touched.
Did you know? Infrared rays were discovered by English scientist Frederick William Herschel in 1800. He was researching the Sun and was looking for a way to protect a research instrument from overheating. Thus, the scientist accidentally discovered that objects that are exposed to saturated red rays heat up the most.
Types of lamps for use in poultry farming
In addition to infrared, you can use other types of lamps to heat chickens, for example, fluorescent, LED, and combined. We suggest you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Luminescent
A fluorescent lamp is a light source in which electricity is converted into ultraviolet rays. Low energy costs, low heating of the bulb, and long service life are the undoubted advantages of using this light source in the poultry house. 
However, chickens feel uncomfortable in such lighting due to the frequent unpleasant flickering and its brightness. These lamps are still best used in poultry houses with adult birds.
LED
LED lamps convert electricity into optical radiation. Such light sources have a number of advantages:
- low power consumption;
- long service life;
- ease of installation and operation;
- low heating of the device;
- high mechanical strength;
- compactness;
- environmental Safety;
- regulation of bird behavior when emitting light of different spectrums.
Combined
Combined light sources emit infrared and ultraviolet rays. There is an opinion that such devices are the most beneficial for the body of chickens, since, in addition to heating, they also disinfect with ultraviolet light and also have a positive effect on the development of vital organs.
How to use infrared lamps
Like all newborns with still imperfect thermoregulation, chicks need warmth. The need for it will decrease as the yellow lumps grow. To control the temperature, a thermometer should hang in the room where babies are kept.
Newborn chicks will require a very high temperature of 35–37 °C. In the future, it will need to be reduced weekly by 1–2 °C. Thus, at 9 weeks, babies will feel comfortable at a temperature of 18 to 21 ° C. You can regulate the temperature by moving the heat source away/closer to the heated objects. 
To select the lamp power, you must proceed from the calculation of 1 kW per 10 sq. m. At a room temperature without heating of 10 ° C per 10 sq. m, one 600-watt light bulb is enough. You can also calculate the power and number of required heat sources using calculators located on the Internet.
In order to find out how far from the chicks to place the IR lamp, before the birth or acquisition of young animals, you should place the heat source at a distance of 30–40 cm from the place where the babies will be. After some time, the temperature should be measured. If it exceeds 37 °C, then the source should be located higher.
Important! The room must be heated to the required temperature before the chicks are placed there.
You need to understand that the household must have 2 IR bulbs. If something happens to one, it can be replaced in time without harming the health of the young. The best option There will be simultaneous use of 2 light bulbs. 
After one batch of young animals is firmly on its feet and no longer needs a heat source, you should wipe the cooled bulb with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.
When purchasing cheap models with a thin bulb, in order to avoid mechanical damage to the glass and injury to children, you should protect the light bulb with a metal mesh.
When using IR bulbs, you must ensure that they are screwed only into ceramic sockets (plastic ones will melt very quickly), so that they are not exposed to moisture or flammable materials, such as straw, hay, feathers, etc. You should also Avoid moving the light bulbs - this will significantly reduce their service life.
When heating a poultry house using infrared methods, adults should be kept separately from children. Otherwise, most of the heat will go to mature birds, and the babies will be cold. 
Chicken behavior
The behavior of the chickens will tell you whether they are comfortable in a room heated by infrared rays. If the temperature in the chicken coop suits them, then they will be evenly distributed over the area. They will squeak fervently while eating food or water. If they either crawl in different directions and behave sluggishly, or, on the contrary, huddle together and are restless, then the conditions do not suit them.
Huddled together
When babies act this way, it means they are feeling cold. It is necessary to measure the temperature and increase it by 1 or 2 degrees by reducing the distance between the IR heat source and the location of the chicks.
Important!Since infrared lamps are very hot, it is forbidden to touch them - this can result in severe burns.
Scattering to the sides
The chickens try to crawl to the sides so as not to touch their bodies with each other, they exhibit sluggish behavior and heavy breathing - these are clear signs that the babies are hot. The IR heat source should be placed higher. 
To raise chickens, specially equipped boxes called brooders are used. Making them yourself is quite simple. You can use a variety of available materials (for example, cardboard or plastic boxes). However, in order to raise healthy broilers or layers, it is necessary to maintain appropriate lighting and heating conditions in the brooder. This is exactly what this article will discuss.
Temperature conditions during chick growth
Experts in the field of raising chickens recommend adhering to a certain temperature schedule that should be observed during the first two months of chick growth. After transplanting them from the incubator (within two to three days), the average temperature in the brooder should be around 37°C. Then the schedule is laid out by week:
- first – 33÷35 °C;
- second – 30÷32 °C;
- third – 28÷29 °C;
- fourth – 26÷27 °C;
- fifth, sixth, seventh – 22÷25 °C;
- eighth – 19÷21 °C.
Moreover, it is advisable to control the temperature inside the equipped box not only at one specific point, but along the entire perimeter of the brooder (especially in the first week after transferring newborn chicks from the incubator to the brooder).
Proper lighting in the incubator
Compliance with the brooder lighting regime is no less important for the full development and normal growth of chickens than heating. In the first 2–3 days of the chicks’ life, artificial daylight hours should be at least 21–23 hours. Then, until reaching three weeks of age, its duration is gradually reduced to 15-16 hours a day. After this, you can switch to the standard natural duration of daylight hours of 10–12 hours.
Recent research by scientists has shown that darkness is just as important to the health and growth of birds as light. During the dark phase, melatonin is produced in the growing chick's body. This hormone promotes the proper formation and strengthening of the immune system. Birds raised under proper lighting conditions have greater resistance to disease, are significantly less prone to mortality, and generally do not have leg problems.
In addition, the behavior and growth of the bird is influenced by the color of the lighting. Thus, studies have shown that blue light has a calming effect on birds, red light helps reduce “bird cannibalism,” blue-green light stimulates growth, and orange-red light improves reproductive function.
The most popular brooder heating systems
Naturally, when choosing a brooder heating system, each chicken breeder proceeds from his own preferences, financial capabilities and experience. Of course, you can organize the maintenance of the desired temperature using ordinary incandescent lamps of appropriate power. However, this method is the most uneconomical, and also unsafe (since a regular incandescent lamp is quite easy to break).
Today the most popular devices for heating a brooder are:
- red lamps with a mirror reflector;
- ceramic infrared lamps;
- artificial “mother hens”.
Each of these devices has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Red heating lamp
A very common method of heating the air in a brooder when raising chickens is a lamp that emits energy in the red and infrared range. It emits warmth and soft light at the same time. It is certainly impossible to say unequivocally that this is a universal “2 in 1” device. Although many experts claim that it practically does not interfere with the chicks’ sleep (it is quite enough to find water and food at any time), if the required temperature is exceeded, the heating element must be periodically turned off (manually or using automatic thermostats). That is, in order to maintain normal lighting conditions in accordance with the recommendations outlined above, you will in any case have to use an additional lighting device along with a red lamp.
Important! For the safe use of such heaters, it is necessary to purchase only lamps whose cylinders are made of special tempered glass.
Among the advantages of such heaters it is worth noting:
- they have a fairly long service life - about 5000 hours;
- low cost.
Infrared ceramic lamp
Currently, instead of a lamp, an infrared ceramic heater is increasingly used. In its design, it is very similar to a regular lamp with a standard E27 socket. Compared to a conventional red lamp, such a heater has the following advantages:
- longer period of continuous operation - from 10,000 to 30,000 hours;
- high efficiency – up to 98%;
- increased impact resistance, vibration and moisture protection.
The power of such heaters offered by manufacturers varies widely - from 25 to 200 W. Therefore, you can easily select ceramic heat emitters for brooders of various sizes. If desired (and also for more uniform heating of the entire space), several heat emitters can be used simultaneously. The cost of such devices (depending on power) is about 400–600 rubles.
Artificial "mother chicken"
A very useful addition to the main brooder heating system will be a special device, which is a low-power heated plate on four mounting legs. Such a device practically does not increase the ambient temperature. However, by leaning against its warm surface (that is, by climbing under it), the chicks have the opportunity to warm up in the same way as when natural growing mother chicken. As the chicks grow, the distance between the brooder floor and the surface of the heater increases. Thus, it is convenient to use throughout the entire period of raising chicks in a brooder until they are transferred to the chicken coop.
The size of the “artificial mother” depends on how many chicks you plan to place in the brooder. Standard models designed for simultaneous raising of 20 (power - 18 W, cost - 4000-4500 rubles) or 50 (66 W and about 6000 rubles, respectively) chickens. If desired, you can use several of these devices simultaneously in one brooder.
The only condition that must be observed when using such a device (as recommended by the manufacturers): the floor area of the box for raising chicks must be at least twice the size of the heater. Then the chicks can bask under it or be in a free area, depending on the time of day or when the ambient temperature changes.
The design of such devices is designed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since the power consumption of these devices is insignificant, this does not lead to a significant increase in energy costs.
Other heating options
Naturally, the arrangement of heating systems for a brooder for raising chicks is not limited to the two most popular devices described above. For these purposes, breeders successfully use:
- ordinary incandescent lamps;
- infrared films;
- plastic heat emitters (“Good warmth”);
- special lamps for heating terrariums;
- electric heating elements of various geometries and power.
Temperature regulation
During the period of intensive growth, chicks are afraid of both hypothermia and overheating. That's why main task Arranging the heating of the brooder is to maintain the required temperature in accordance with the above schedule. Monitoring can be done using a thermometer installed inside the brooder. Basic ways to regulate temperature:
- The simplest (however, not the most effective) method of maintaining the desired temperature is to change the height of the heating device relative to the floor level. If you raise the lamp (or infrared ceramic emitter) higher, you can reduce the heating intensity. Conversely, by lowering it lower, you can easily increase the temperature inside the brooder.
- By connecting the heater through a manual electromechanical power regulator, you can significantly increase the usability of the heating system. However, this method also requires constant monitoring of the thermometer readings.
- The most convenient and most effective way Maintaining the set temperature is the use of an automatic electronic thermostat. This device has a remote sensor, which is fixed inside the brooder. The user only needs to set the required temperature using the control buttons and connect the heating element (according to the diagram in accordance with the operating instructions). During operation, the device will automatically turn on/off the heater in accordance with changes in the temperature sensor readings. And although the purchase of a thermostat leads to a slight increase in the cost of the heating system (by 900–1200 rubles), it greatly simplifies the process of raising chicks.
When raising young chickens at home, you should worry about creating comfortable conditions for the chickens. In particular, about the required temperature regime. Today it is possible to heat chickens using lamps such as infrared. In an enclosure with it is permissible to use fluorescent, LED and combined lamps for lighting. We will tell you what temperature indicators chickens need, how heating is carried out in the first days, what the lighting mode is, and how an infrared lamp is used for chickens.
For newborn babies, high temperatures in the poultry house are provided. If there is a hen, she is the one who stays with the offspring for the first 3 days and warms them up. IN warm days It is customary for the family to be released onto the walking area. Special attention require birds that were obtained at home using an incubator. Since they are almost unable to withstand changes in humidity and temperature levels on their own. They need to find a warm place with dry bedding that is properly lit and can protect the young from drafts.
In the first 5 days, the temperature in the poultry house should be between 29 and 30 degrees Celsius. The air is gradually cooled, bringing the baby to + 26 degrees by the 10th day of life. Until 1 month, the temperature is reduced by another 3 - 4 degrees so that it is no more than 18 - 20 degrees Celsius. A good thermometer will help you monitor the temperature level in the poultry house. But you should also focus on the condition of the chicks. 
If they are quite active, drink and eat with pleasure, and do not gather in groups, then you are doing everything right. Because if there is a lack of heat, the young animals will tend to huddle in groups and be closer to lamps or other heaters. If the air is too hot, the birds are able to open their beaks wide, drink a lot and greedily, puff up their down and feathers, and stay away from their brothers.
Video “Heating for chickens”
From the video you will learn how to properly heat chickens in a brooder.
Heating systems in the first days of life
In order to provide heating for their chickens, many owners place various devices in the place where they are kept, which work well in practice. In a cage or box you can place electric or water heating pads, bottles filled with warm water, which are wrapped in a couple of layers of cotton or wool material, or cotton wool. Incandescent lamps or a couple of reflectors will also help create heat, the fastening of which must be carried out in a place where curious kids cannot reach. 
Remember that regardless of the choice of heat source, air heating usually occurs unevenly. And the temperature near the device will always be 3–6 degrees higher than at the other end of the box or cage. To save energy and help the chicks conserve strength, it is recommended for egg-laying chickens to divide the house into parts. Heating is necessary for babies up to one month old. Next, the cells should be kept at a temperature of +18 degrees. When kept on deep litter, it is usually possible to maintain the indicator at + 15.
Lighting mode for young animals
The lighting system, along with proper heating, is important for the normal growth and full development of young animals. The creation of daylight hours within 9 - 10 hours is carried out in stages by the time the babies reach the age of 2 months. At the same time, the little ones benefit from walks in the fresh air and the opportunity to receive solar heat.
This is an excellent prevention of rickets and an opportunity to harden growing organisms. Creating the recommended temperature, sufficient lighting system, and a balanced nutritional diet will allow you to raise viable and healthy chicks.
The use of red lamps for heating
The use of red or infrared lamps is becoming increasingly popular. An infrared lamp for heating small chickens is usually subject to such requirements as having a safe and reliable design, protection from moisture, possible impacts, and inaccessibility to the bird. The lamp for heating chickens must be covered with a lattice casing for protection purposes and suspended at a height safe for pets. Such designs are presented in several versions on the market. 
Mirror is usually made with a red or transparent bulb. In the first case, it is not only a source of heat, but also light. This lamp has a high degree of power, and its warranty period is about 5 thousand hours. By choosing it, you don’t have to worry that the lamp will stop working at the wrong moment. This design is very reliable and can ensure uninterrupted operation.
Lamps with a ruby dome bulb heat up very quickly and are endowed with reflective properties. They make it possible to save up to a third of all incoming electricity. Light from such a heat source is normally perceived by the chicks. It is recommended to use the device from the first days of babies’ lives until they grow into adults.
When installing a light bulb, it is necessary to take into account that the parameters of the light flux depend on how high the radiation source is located. The height from the moment of birth until the chicks reach the age of 1 week should be about 50 cm. At 2–3 weeks, it is recommended to raise the device to a level of 75 cm from the surface of the litter. Next, the radiation source should be located at a height of up to 1 meter. As a result, the temperature environment decreases, and the heating and lighting area increases. 
The use of infrared devices leads to increased appetite of chicks, better weight gain, and strengthened immunity. It allows you to create the effect of receiving solar energy while walking freely.
In addition to red lamps, combined devices are often used. They are capable of producing an ultraviolet spectrum, which ensures high-quality disinfection.
Video “Proper nutrition and maintenance of chickens”
From the video you will learn how to properly feed and keep small chickens.
Say what you want, but chickens, especially if we're talking about about day-old and week-old chicks require careful care. It is absolutely necessary to provide optimal conditions for their life. Heating for chickens is the first thing you should take care of. Among all heaters, only infrared lamps perform a dual function: heating the air and illuminating the box.
When chickens have hatched from a home incubator, it is very important to provide high-quality care for them at first. The young animals turn out to be generally unadapted to external factors, sudden changes in temperature or humidity. That is why you should adhere to clear recommendations from specialists, otherwise any minor mistake can lead to undesirable consequences.
The temperature during the first five days after hatching the chicks should be around +28…+30 °C. Whatever heating device you decide to purchase after the incubator, it is advisable to constantly monitor temperature regime, which means you can’t do without a thermometer.
Over the next five days, it is recommended to gradually reduce the set values, since by the tenth day of keeping the chickens, the temperature in the brooder should be no more than +26 °C. In the future, follow the approximate pattern: over several months, temperature readings should drop by 3-4 degrees weekly.
Remember that it is recommended to pay attention not only to the thermometer data, but also to the condition of the chicks: if the temperature for them is not optimal, this will be noticeable by the activity of the chicks. The temperature regime is set incorrectly if the following picture is observed:
- chicks are constantly in groups and move very little - this means that they simply freeze;
- The chickens' down and wings are puffy, they drink a lot of water and try to stay away from each other - it is better to slightly lower the temperature in the device.
Whatever chick lamp is installed in the brooder or cardboard box, try to stick to the golden mean when heating them. Both from hypothermia and from excessive high temperature chicks suffer equally, they become weak and become easy prey for viral infections.
What kind of lighting should there be?
Organizing proper lighting in a mini-chicken coop is no less important than a device for heating chickens. Having an optimal light source will help day-old chicks find their way around a new place, as well as find food and water. Many experts are convinced that with proper lighting in the brooder, the chicks peck at each other much less. It is also necessary to ensure that all manipulations are carried out without unnecessary stress for the young animals; even vaccination will take place more calmly in such conditions.
Whatever lamp you choose to install in a box for small chicks, the device must be illuminated according to a specific program, which you have the right to modify yourself. The system can be continuous (that is, only one phase of darkness is allowed) or intermittent (with several pauses during the lighting process). Remember: you cannot leave the light on in the brooder all the time, as this will only harm the birds. The thing is that at night, bone tissue begins to form more actively in week-old and month-old chicks, and calcium metabolism also changes. That is, the immune system of young animals is noticeably strengthened.
Proper heating of the mini-chicken coop is not the only point that requires increased attention. Just as you will reduce the temperature in the process of raising small chickens, a similar situation should develop with the duration of lighting.
Domestic farmers, even those who breed birds at home, know for sure that by reducing daylight hours by 30 minutes every week you significantly stimulate the growth of chicks. Of course, it is believed that with this approach the intensity of puberty of future hens and roosters slows down somewhat, but in return you will get strong chicks whose molting period will end by the time the first egg is laid. This way you will get large eggs that have a fairly hard shell.
How much power a lamp needs to constantly heat and illuminate the chickens depends on the variety you keep in the brooder and some other factors.
Heating systems
Surely you have heard that modern farmers use not only the common infrared lamp to heat chickens. You can also heat the device in which you initially raise chicks using the following devices:
- luminescent apparatus. Such lamps are valued due to their efficiency. However, for the birds themselves this is not best option, since a flickering light source only irritates them;
- LED Among the key advantages of this heating system are not only efficiency, but also a long service life, as well as long-lasting flicker. However, such a device is not cheap, be prepared for it;
- infrared. The power of such ultraviolet lamps is not bad, but at the same time they are economical and not too expensive.
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