[mojocafa]

I am going to incubate eggs, once they hatch what does everyone do?

Use bought brooders or homemade with heat lamps?

Mojo

[taz08]

home made with heat lamp alot cheaper

[kim]

I use a large indoor rabbit cage with a heat lamp

[graham-j]

How many eggs are you going to hatch if it only 20 - 30 an electric hen is a lot cheaper to run.

Graham

[sokel]

I use a large indoor rabbit cage with a heat lamp

Ditto 

[mojocafa]

About 20, all going well. What is an electric hen?

[Mammyshaz]

I'm wanting to hatch for the first time in a few weeks and have a brinsea brooder ( which I think is also known as an electric hen ). I chose this as it uses much less electricity and the fact I'm worried about leaving a heat lamp unsupervised in such close proximity to flammable material ( wooden box ) in the house.

[Dan]

What is an electric hen?

A heating device something like this:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/shop/ecoglow-20-brooder-lamp/

More efficient and safer than an infra-red lamp.

[Clarebelle]

I ordered my first incubator on monday, i got a brinsea starter pack which comes with the above electric hen so that what i'll be using. Have to admit, it does sound safer and more efficient than a bulb. I'll soon see!

[graham-j]

Hi,this is the type I use,you can get up to 40 chicks under it.Its like a big hot plate and only uses 40 watts of electric as opposed to 250w for a heat lamp so big saving on electric.I have chicks in a shed outside all through this and the last lot of snow without any problems.

Graham.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-x-40-ELECTRIC-HEN-BROODER-HEAT-LAMP-CHICKS-/121077572510?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item1c30c9239e

[mojocafa]

Cheers for info, happy hatching everyone
Mojo

[Brijjy]

I've got the Brinsea brooder and a heat lamp. I actually prefer the heat lamp as when I last hatched anything out it was geese and they were too big and stupid to go under the brooder. I've just put some Appenzeller hen eggs in the incy and when they hatch I'll probably use the brooder as it is cheaper and safer to run. Hopefully chicks are more sensible than goslings 

[graham-j]

Hi,I raised dozens of geese last year and will be again this year.All raise under an electric hen without any problems at all.
Below is a picture of some gosling's as I have just lifted a 40cm X 40cm electric hen off,these gosling's are 2 to 3 days old,they found the electric hen with out any problems.

Graham.

[FiB]

awwww!!  I nearly bought the brinsea brooder but was put off by reviews somewhere that said they started jumping on it and thought it was only useful for 1st week?  Obviously not!  I have 2 ceramic bulbs (125 and 250 w) , a holder and then just use ever bigger cardboard boxes. Go down to lower w bulb after a week or so, but keep on heat until feathered (gradually wean off).  Am I being a bit soft?

[Andt]

awwww!!  I nearly bought the brinsea brooder but was put off by reviews somewhere that said they started jumping on it and thought it was only useful for 1st week?   Obviously not!  I have 2 ceramic bulbs (125 and 250 w) , a holder and then just use ever bigger cardboard boxes. Go down to lower w bulb after a week or so, but keep on heat until feathered (gradually wean off).  Am I being a bit soft?

I bought 10 Speckled rock chicks and piut them in with an electric brooder, they went straight under it and spent a lot of time there for a few days only coming out for food and water.
The chicks are now nearly 4 weeks old and while they do jump pon the brooder they still go under it at night.
I would much rather use the brooder than a heat lamp, they are very easy to clean and the do not get too hot. The chocks can also move around the area they are kept and return under the brooder when they are cold.
My 10 chicks are in a box 4'*2'*2' and have been since they were a week old, there is a mesh lid on the box, the box is in a spare room in the house as the weather has been very cold and will probably stay in there until around 8 weeks old, hopefully it will then be warm enough for them to go to the shed for a few weeks before they go into a small outdoor run and coop.