Heating broilers with an infrared lamp. Heating devices for heating chickens in poultry houses

Hens and chicks require the right temperature for normal development. Providing it in winter can be quite difficult. To warm the chicken coop, many farmers use improvised means - plywood, sawdust, chipboard. However, in regions with a harsh climate, this may not be enough. In such a situation, special lamps are often used to heat chickens. They maintain a suitable temperature and ensure the normal development of the chicks.

The device is an ordinary light bulb. It is screwed into an E27 ceramic cartridge. The glass flask is transparent or dyed blue or red. Inside there is a tungsten filament. It is located in a flask with an argon-nitrogen mixture.

These lamps have specific radiation. It does not affect the entire room, but objects that are nearby. In contact with them, infrared rays are absorbed, after which they are transformed into thermal energy. It does not take a lot of time to heat up - heat is felt immediately when the lamp is turned on.

Types of infrared lamps for heating

There are several options for lamps that are used to heat broilers. They allow you to store heat due to strong incandescence. Common types of infrared lamps include the following:

1. R lamps. They differ in the simplest design and are made of ordinary glass. There is a glossy part on top that transmits light. It is connected to a reflector, which is covered with reflective paint on the inside.
2. BR lamps. They are characterized by a convex reflector. It is coated with reflective paint. The part that transmits light is connected to the reflector. It is made from ordinary glass. This element is matte, glossy or cellular.
3. PAR lamps. They are characterized by a parabolic reflector with a precisely fitted shape. There is an aluminum layer on top, which provides better reflection and focusing of light. These lamps have a shorter length, which provides a deeper fixation in the ceiling.
4. Ceramic lamps. The main feature of such lamps is the absence of light when heated. This is important when it is necessary to heat the birds in the absence of lighting. Devices are made of refractory material. It is highly durable and easily tolerates exposure to water.

Basic rules of use

Use a thermometer to control the temperature. Newborn chicks need a high temperature - 35-37 degrees. Subsequently, it is recommended to reduce it by 1-2 degrees. At 9 weeks, chickens feel comfortable at a temperature of 18-21 degrees.

To adjust the temperature, you can remove or bring the lamp closer to objects. To choose the lamp power, you should focus on this ratio: 1 kilowatt of energy is required per 10 square meters. If the temperature in a room without heating is 10 degrees, 1 600-watt light bulb is required per 10 square meters.

Equally important is the distance at which it is worth placing the heat source. At first, this is done at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from the chicks. After some time, the temperature is measured. If it exceeds 37 degrees, the heat source is moved higher.

In the arsenal should have 2 lamps. If one deteriorates, it should be replaced in a timely manner. This will help keep the chicks healthy.

Principle of operation

During the operation of the lamp, electrical energy is transformed into infrared radiation. The design is completely safe. The glass flask is made of thick glass, which provides protection against water and impacts.

A special reflective material is applied to the inside of the glass. Thanks to this, it is possible to direct heat and light to the chicks. In a brooder, it is best to put a few light bulbs, as they can burn out. If the chickens are left without heat, this will lead to their death.

Light mode

The length of daylight is very important when breeding chicks. With proper selection of lighting, it is possible to regulate the activity of chickens. It is important that the temperature in the house is high on the first day. For the aviary, different lamps are used.

In the first weeks, the chicken coop in which the chickens are kept is unevenly lit. In the area of ​​​​drinkers and feeders create a zone of wakefulness. This area is constantly illuminated. Above it are lamps with reflectors with a power of 15-20 watts. Chicks should sleep in semi-darkness.

Scientists say that in the first 3 weeks of life, birds need constant lighting. It provokes an increase in activity and muscle growth.

Subsequently, constant exposure to light inhibits the development of birds. Therefore, it is recommended to illuminate the house in an intermittent way.

Chick behavior

The correct placement of chickens can be determined by their behavior. With sufficient activity of the chicks, good appetite and normal water consumption, we can talk about worthy conditions for their keeping.

Huddled in a bunch

If there is a lack of heat, the chicks huddle together. They are located closer to heat sources and try to keep warm. As a result, there is a risk of injury. Under an impressive mass of birds, there is a risk of death of chicks.

Spread out to the sides

If the chicks try to crawl in different directions and avoid contact with each other, this indicates an increased temperature.

In such a situation, heavy breathing and lethargic behavior are observed. Therefore, it is worth placing the heat source higher.

Advantages of using lamps as heaters

Heating a brooder with an infrared lamp provides many advantages:

• contributes to the drying of the litter;
• maintains normal humidity parameters due to the evaporation of moisture;
• favorably affects the nervous system of chicks, reduces their aggressiveness and reduces stress parameters;
• provides soft lighting that does not lead to irritation of the chicks;
• normalizes the functioning of the digestive system, including improving appetite and digestion of feed;
• ensures the proper development of chicks and strengthens the immune system.

Other heaters

You can heat the chicken coop not only with lamps. Other types of infrared devices are also used for this purpose. They are divided into the following categories:

• spotlights;
• ceiling lamps;
• lamps.

How to organize a brooder?

Application cardboard boxes for raising chickens is considered far from the most good decision. They get wet quickly, there is no ventilation inside, and there are problems with high-quality cleaning and disinfection.

To achieve good results, the brooder must meet the following requirements:

1. Have good system heating, full lighting, drinking bowls and feeders of high quality. Ventilation and strength are achieved through the presence of gratings with small cells. They are on the sides and on the floor. The cell size is approximately 10 mm.
2. The waste products of the chicks must pass through the grate unhindered, falling into a special waste bin. It can be quickly washed and treated with disinfectants. The entire brooder should be easy to clean and wash.
3. To raise young chickens in the first days of life, maintain a normal temperature and protect against drafts, it is necessary to make removable side walls. They are made from washable materials. Plywood or fiberboard works well. For single use, you can use thick cardboard. At first, you can install additional mats. They should be covered with dry bedding. These devices should occupy half of the cage.
4. Brooder should be supplemented with several infrared lamps. It is also recommended to use a thermostat that responds to changes external conditions and adjusts the temperature in the brooder.
5. The size of the door should allow for unhindered cleaning in the house.

When organizing a brooder, it is important to choose the right area for it. Too tight fit will lead to injuries, death of chicks, leg pathologies due to lack of physical activity.

Properly selected temperature conditions ensure the normal development of chicks. To achieve good results, it is possible to use infrared lamps, which help to heat the chickens.

Need special care. That is why it is extremely important for them to create the most comfortable conditions. In order to maintain the temperature regime in the brooder, any heating devices can be used.

An infrared lamp for chickens is capable of solving two problems at once regarding heating and lighting. It is for this reason that poultry farmers increasingly prefer the same devices.

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Red lamps: basic information

An infrared light bulb is a light source that radiates heat in a certain direction. These devices operate according to a certain principle. Immediately after turning on the lamp in the electrical network, the lamp filament heats up. This process happens instantly. Due to the special design of the flask, infrared radiation is generated. Its temperature reaches 75 degrees.

Infrared lamps are divided into several types according to certain criteria:

Do without infrared lamps in agriculture today is incredibly difficult. They are used in the process of growing chicks, primarily for the purpose of heating them.

Such lighting not only creates an optimal microclimate and illuminates their home, but also has a beneficial effect on the appetite of the livestock and their immune system. These devices dry out the litter, and, accordingly, the cleanliness is maintained in the brooder, which is extremely important for broilers and chickens of egg breeds.

Application features

Infrared equipment used in chicken coops and brooders must be safe and reliable. It is extremely important that this equipment be protected from moisture penetration, various shocks, as well as shocks and any activity of growing chickens. It is worth remembering the existing risk of fire, which can lead to serious consequences.

A lamp that emits infrared light must be covered with a casing made of a lattice and after that it is already suspended at the optimum height. There are many options for such equipment suitable for raising chicks.

The lamp that comes from thermal energy, can be equipped with both a transparent and a red flask. If, when using transparent flasks, energy is consumed both for heating and for lighting, then red flasks allow you to reduce energy costs, since almost all of it is spent exclusively on heat generation.

The power of these lamps is quite high, and the service life is about five years. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain a reliable and uninterrupted source of heat and light. The chance of it failing is close to zero.

A distinctive feature of lamps with a ruby ​​dome is almost instantaneous heating. The presence of reflectivity contributes to the fact that energy costs are reduced by a third. The red light coming from such devices does not cause aggression and other negative emotions in birds. They feel great in such lighting from the very first days of life.

When installing infrared lamps, it must be taken into account that the intensity of the heat flux directly depends on the height of their mounting. Depending on the age of the young, such devices are fixed at different distances:

• from the moment the chicks are born and up to seven days, the lamps are fixed at a distance of 0.5 m.
• from the seventh day of life until three weeks, the lamps are raised to a height of 75 cm.
• from day 21, infrared equipment is raised to a meter height.

By moving infrared lamps to a different height, it is possible to reduce the temperature and at the same time significantly increase the area not only for heating, but also for lighting.

It is noted that under such lighting, the chicks grow more rapidly. They have an increased appetite and a significant weight gain. In addition, under the influence of infrared radiation in birds, the immune system is strengthened and a stable positive trend is noted.

This effect cannot be called accidental, since this species lighting is as close as possible to natural, which can be provided to birds only when they are free-range. To date, devices with a combined effect are presented. With their help, additional disinfection is also carried out in the bird's dwelling.

Advantages of infrared lamps for chickens

The popularity of devices emitting infrared light cannot be called unreasonable. Compared to other heating equipment, this has several advantages:

It is worth noting that infrared lamps are designed to heat only small chickens. For adult birds, such lighting can have a detrimental effect. That is why use this equipment it is necessary only in those premises in which the young were placed.

Proper organization of heating

Although infrared lamps are incredibly easy to use, when using them as a heating and lighting device in the process of chickens, certain recommendations must be followed. The most important of them are the following:

Important! Inexpensive infrared lamps made of rather fragile glass can be dangerous for chicks. Flasks on such devices can crack both from moisture and from hitting them with a key.

That is why such equipment must be covered with a metal mesh and placed as high as possible. It is best to initially give preference to more durable and reliable, but expensive models.

Infrared lamps are simply indispensable when raising chickens. They are used from the very first days of the birth of young animals.

It is these devices that can help the poultry farmer create the most comfortable conditions for the livestock. Indeed, thanks to them, it is possible not only to maintain normal temperature conditions, but also to keep the room dry, provide optimal lighting and not worry about the level of humidity. In addition, the breeder, when using this equipment, can also significantly reduce energy costs.

When raising chickens, care must be taken to create favorable conditions for them. Young animals must be provided with a certain temperature regime. A warm floor is made in the aviary, and various types of lamps are heated inside. Certain requirements are imposed on the size of the area and the number of heating devices located on it.

Organization of the brooder

Chickens need to be warm. This is provided by lamps. The temperature in the brooder is maintained at 30 degrees for the first 5 days. Over the next five, it drops by 4 degrees and is 26. In the future, every week the decrease goes by 3 degrees.

Such a space is filled with chickens in the amount of 100-200 units. They are kept there for 3 weeks, and then they are seated 50 pieces in different rooms.

Light mode

The light regime has a significant impact on the formation of the future bird. D For this, the room is built without windows.. The main light comes from lamps.

For June chicks, if each week to reduce daylight hours by 30 minutes, puberty of individuals will slow down. However, this will help them physical development. The end of the molt will pass before the oviposition. As a result, future eggs will be larger with a strong shell.

Young growth, which appeared in April-May, should be walked in the evening, when the sun has already set. The rest of the time keep in an aviary. An increase in daylight leads to the beginning of the process of premature egg laying. And this slows down physical development.

Floor insulation

Warm floor - necessary condition chickens life. To do this, it is better to use natural raw materials. Peat, sawdust, hay or dry grass are applicable here. A small layer is laid and changed as it gets dirty. The best option is moss peat. It has the ability to absorb moisture.

as sawdust It is better to use wood from coniferous trees. This breed does not cake, absorbs moisture and has a bactericidal effect.

Dry straw or dried grass is suitable as a heater. They are great at retaining heat.

Growing chickens is not a difficult process, but it requires a careful approach. Young animals must be provided with optimal conditions for existence. If you allow a deviation, then the consequences can be the worst. Chicks do not tolerate cold and will not survive even with a slight oversight.

Chicken heating

To heat the room, various heaters are used, which at home can be made by hand. Could it be a water heater?, a bottle of warm water, or an infrared chick lamp.

When heating, you need to remember that the temperature in the space of the brooder is uneven. Near the heater, it is 3-6 degrees higher. Young growth is distinguished by mobility and the thermal indicator is very important for them. Therefore, in the early days, it is better to divide the room into several parts. Heating is carried out during the month.

infrared lamp

The red lamp for heating chickens has a ceramic socket. This is necessary so that moisture or flammable hay does not get inside. The infrared lamp for heating chickens works on the principle of conversion electrical energy into infrared radiation.

This lamp is easy to make with your own hands. For this, a hollow glass vessel with impact-resistant glass is taken. The interior has a reflective coating. Thus, the light stream is focused on the object. The device is suspended at a distance of 40 cm from the floor level.

Such a heater for chickens is economical . Its power is 250W. Heats an area of ​​10 sq. m. As a rule, these lamps are used 2 per brooder. This is due to the fact that one can burn out.

Chickens can not do without heat. If they all accumulated near the lamp, then they are cold. You should lower the lamp below or screw in the bulb more powerfully. If the chicks are hot, they scatter in different corners. Then the lamp should be raised.

Chicken coops usually do not have central heating and many poultry farmers are faced with the fact that in winter their pets get frostbite on combs or paws, or do not survive the winter at all.

For winter poultry farming, it is very important to have a well-insulated, windproof chicken coop, but with prolonged sub-zero temperatures outside, even in very well-insulated chicken coops, the temperature still drops to minus, which is unacceptable.
An electric heater can help in such a situation.
Almost the most the best option for the chicken coop are ceiling infrared heaters.

We list the main advantages:
. The heater located in the middle of a ceiling evenly warms up all surfaces.
. Unlike convectors, oil and fan heaters do not create air circulation, and therefore do not raise dust and hay.
. Since the ceiling infrared heater first heats the surfaces, the floor temperature will be about a degree higher than the air temperature. That is, the water in the drinker will not freeze and the chickens will not freeze their paws. When using convective heaters, hot air will accumulate near the ceiling, and the floor temperature will be significantly lower and may turn out to be minus.
. The likelihood of feathers, hay and bird waste getting on the heater located on the ceiling is minimal. Therefore, they will not stain the heater, impairing its efficiency, and will not emit unpleasant odors when heated.
. The surface temperature of the ceiling infrared heater is 200-250 degrees. This is well below the temperature at which hay or down can catch fire. For their ignition, a temperature of about 400 degrees is required.
. When the heater is placed on the ceiling, it is easier to place the supply wires in such a way as to exclude accidental damage by birds.
. The proposed ceiling infrared heaters are designed for a long service life. Working throughout the winter without supervision is a regular and safe mode for them.
. Ceiling infrared heaters are economical.

Model selection. In a chicken coop, it is rare that exquisite appearance heater. The main characteristics are usually reliability and low cost. Such requirements are met by heaters Ecoline, Loriot, Almak. They are reliable, have a service life of 25 years and are the most popular among our poultry customers. You can use more expensive ceiling heaters designed for heating residential areas, but you will not get much benefit.

For a good insulated chicken coop, heaters should be selected at the rate of 100 W per 1 square meter. In addition to the heater, you should purchase a thermostat. The heater itself does not have any adjustments, the temperature is set on the thermostat, which should be placed on the wall at a height of half a meter to one and a half meters in a place inaccessible to birds. The desired temperature should be set on the thermostat (usually about 10 degrees for a chicken coop) and it will automatically maintain it periodically by turning the heater on and off. You will also need electrical wires to install the heater. From the heater, a wire should be drawn to the thermostat, and from the thermostat, either to the introductory machine or to the nearest outlet.
You can use any thermostat that is used for heaters (that is, with a built-in temperature sensor).

Such a system can work all winter in automatic mode without supervision. In case of short-term shutdown and subsequent switching on, the heater will continue to operate in automatic mode.

Alternative option. Panels. In addition to high-temperature heaters, lower-temperature STEP panels can be used to heat chicken coops. They have several benefits:
. STEP panels have a large area, so the heating of the chicken coop will be more uniform.
. The surface temperature of STEP panels is about 70 degrees. If accidentally touched, you will not get burned.
. STEP heaters are only 2 cm thick and are mounted close to the ceiling. They can also be mounted on the wall, but the ceiling location is more effective.
. STEP panels have a high degree of dust and moisture protection (IP66), which allows direct water ingress and work in very dusty rooms.

Alternative option. Infrared film. Also a good option for heating the chicken coop with infrared film. The main disadvantage of infrared film is that it must be installed at the stage of building a chicken coop and it is highly desirable to cover it with a decorative coating, for example, hardboard. The best location of the film is on the ceiling, but it is possible on the floor, or you can combine both the floor and the ceiling. The total power of the infrared film is selected in the same way as the power of the heaters - at least 1 kW per 10 square meters.
Among the advantages of the film, one can note the invisibility of this type of heating and the greater uniformity of heating, since the film will have to cover almost the entire ceiling. Of the minuses - a much more laborious installation and the particular complexity of its installation in an already built and used chicken coop.

Consumption. The consumption of the heating system for the chicken coop will primarily depend on the quality of the thermal insulation (insulation) of the chicken coop, secondly on the air temperature outside, and only thirdly on the power of the heater. The reason is that a heater with the right power does not work all the time. The thermostat, depending on the air temperature in the chicken coop, periodically turns the heater on and off and thus maintains the set temperature. If the outside air temperature drops, then the heater is on for more time and off for less time, and vice versa, when the outside temperature rises, the heater is on for less time and off for more.
On average, we can assume that consumption in central Russia in winter will be 20-30% of the nominal power consumption of a properly selected heater.
For example, if you have a quality chicken coop with an area of ​​​​6 square meters, then a 600 W heater will suit you. The average winter consumption will be approximately 150 Wh/h or 3600 Wh/day or about 100 kWh per month. With the cost of electricity 5 rubles per 1 kW, we get 500 rubles per month. In warmer spring and autumn days the amount will decrease. You also need to understand that the better you insulate your chicken coop, the less you will pay for electricity.

infrared lamps. Infrared lamps are lamps that are screwed into a standard lamp base and glow red or warm white when used. Such lamps are quite popular in the poultry industry, but we do not recommend using them for winter heating of the chicken coop.
Firstly, such lamps have a rather small resource. By their design, these are ordinary incandescent lamps of only increased power. If such a lamp suddenly burns out, then the chickens may freeze. And secondly, infrared lamps heat up to high temperatures (above 500 degrees) and hay or feathers that get on them can catch fire.
Such lamps are more suitable for heating chicks, they emit very rich heat, which can become a replacement for the heat of a brood hen for chickens.

Other heaters. We do not recommend using other heaters to heat chicken coops. In particular, we do not recommend medium and short-wave infrared (these are those that glow red during operation), convective infrared, convectors, oil, fan heaters, heat guns, most of the skirting boards, as well as all kinds of ceramic, quartz and others.
Most of these heaters are less effective or provide no benefit compared to longwave ceiling heaters or infrared film at a comparable price, and some can be downright dangerous in a chicken coop environment and cause injury to birds or a fire.

Feedback on the heater in the chicken coop

Heaters for dog kennels and kennels

There are 3 options for placing dogs and animals of similar sizes in rooms that require heating. It can be:
. street booths
. Outdoor enclosures
. Enclosures in a room that needs additional heating.

Street booths. The best option for heating a dog house is heating with infrared film. In this case, the film is installed on the ceiling or on the floor. For greater heating, it can be installed in general on all surfaces: on the floor, ceiling and walls. Previously, a foil insulation is fixed on these surfaces, an infrared film is applied to it, and a decorative coating (hardboard, plywood, lining) is placed on top. A big plus of this option for heating the booth is that the dog will not be able to accidentally damage it with claws or teeth. You can turn on such heating either manually before severe frosts, or install a thermostat. It makes sense to use a thermostat with an external temperature sensor (usually these are used for underfloor heating). The thermostat is installed outside the booth in a sealed box or in a place inaccessible to precipitation, and the sensor is led inside the booth and protected from accidental damage by the dog. In this case, the system becomes automated and autonomous. You just have to choose the temperature that will be most comfortable for your dog.
You can also use STEP panels, fixing them on the wall or ceiling, or STEP heating mat, laying it on the floor. The main thing is to take care of the mechanical protection of the supply wires. As in the case of infrared film, it is possible, and in some cases desirable, to install a thermostat.
It is impossible to say exactly what power is needed to heat the booth, since, in fact, the booth is not a completely insulated room. She has an open entrance, which is directly connected to the surrounding air. Therefore, in the case of heating with a film or panels, you can install as much as it fits in terms of geometric dimensions. In severe frost, the heat in the booth is still not achieved. And the thermostat will save you from overheating during the warming period.
Conventional (not panel) ceiling heaters for heating the booth are not suitable due to the high temperature of their surface. The dog may get burned. Other types of heaters are also not particularly applicable.

Street cages. Outdoor enclosures cannot be fully heated. With the help of moisture-proof panels or warm STEP rugs, you can only create local zones that the dog can lean against and better survive the cold periods.
Outdoor heaters can be used for a short time. . We recommend using Heliosa models without a remote control. They are able to work at high sub-zero temperatures and have a high degree of moisture protection. Such heaters should be installed at such a height that the dog could not reach it. The heat from it will be like the heat of the sun or a fire. It is not recommended to use such heaters as permanent heating, as they are not designed for autonomous operation and have a lamp life of about 5000 hours.

Aviaries indoors. Indoor enclosures are characterized by the fact that they have a positive temperature and have a common roof. However, sometimes the temperature is still insufficient and additional heating is required. For this, STEP panels and rugs may be suitable, as in the case of outdoor enclosures, or, by analogy with a chicken coop, you can install a ceiling infrared heater. You should use a heater with a power of about 1kW and install it at a height of 2-2.5 meters. Such a heater, of course, will not raise the temperature in the entire room, but it will create the effect of local heating. The heat from it will not be as saturated as from an outdoor heater, but it will be comfortable and not excessive.

Heaters for horses and cattle

In Russia, as a rule, horses are kept in stalls with a common corridor and roof, and cows and other cattle are kept in covered barns. Such premises are similar in structure to the variant of indoor dog enclosures described above. The only difference is that horses and cows have tremendous strength and can damage any heater that is within reach, get damaged and possibly start a fire.
Therefore, the heater should be placed out of the reach of animals and ceiling heaters are the best suited for this.
For local heating, heaters with a power of 2 kW should be used, installed at a height of 3-4 meters directly above the animal. But also ceiling heaters can be used to heat the entire stable or barn. The total power of the heaters is selected based on the area and thermal insulation of the room. On average, this is usually about 1 kW per 10 square meters. Heaters in this case are placed evenly over the entire area of ​​the ceiling. With ceilings above 4 meters, 3 or 4 kilowatt heaters can be used.

Another problem that horse owners face is drying animals after washing. In stable conditions, after washing, horses can get a cold. To prevent this, a blanket is put on the horse, but it will be much better if you additionally carry out a warming procedure using outdoor short-wave infrared heaters.
To do this, outdoor heaters are installed in the stall or in some place in the stable in such a way as to warm the horse from the sides. Usually 2-4 heaters with a power of 2 kW are used.

Such heating dries the hairline and increases blood circulation in the skin, which significantly reduces the likelihood of a cold and, like the effect of an infrared sauna, has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.

Breeding chickens at home is a painstaking process, but worthwhile. However, it is far from always possible to hatch chickens with the help of a hen. Increasingly, poultry houses are resorting to the use of an incubator, and after the birth of birds, it becomes necessary to choose the right conditions for their life. Birds are susceptible to climatic conditions environment, therefore, in order for them to develop normally, strict adherence to the rules for heating the brooder or the room in which they are located is required.

You will learn about which lamps to use to provide favorable climatic conditions for chickens from this article. We will also show you how to install different types lamps, and how they differ from each other, so that you can choose the most suitable option for you.

Requirements for keeping chickens

It is very important to maintain light and temperature regimes in the first month of a chicken's life. The appliances used by experienced poultry owners are often multifunctional: they provide light to the chicks and keep them warm at the same time.

In the first five days of the life of the chicks, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of 30 ° C. To ensure that the indicators remain stable, you can watch using the screen, which is located slightly above the level of the brooder bed.
On the sixth day of the life of the chicks, you can reduce the air temperature by one degree. In the next four days, it is also necessary to gradually reduce the temperature so that on the tenth day of life, the chicks feel good at a temperature of +26 ° C.

After that, the temperature decreases weekly by 3-4 °C. During this period, it is important to observe the behavior of the chickens: they should not overheat or overcool. Both of these conditions negatively affect the development of chickens, contribute to the weakening of their immunity, and in some cases even lead to death.

On the 30th day of life, the chickens should get used to the decrease in temperature and feel comfortable at an ambient temperature of +18 °C. From this moment on, the decrease in temperature must be stopped and the indicator of +18 ° C should be adhered to - the deviation of these indicators towards a colder climate is harmful to small birds.

Important! After the chicks hatch, it is important to ensure that the air temperature remains stable for the next five days, without rising and falling indicators. The minimum indicator during this period is +29°C. Otherwise, the chicks may not get stronger enough and develop more slowly.

Humidity also needs to be monitored. The brooder or space in which the chicks live should be ventilated, but not create drafts. The humidity level should vary from 60 to 70%. Deviations from these indicators in the early stages of the life of the chicks can Negative influence for their further development.

Another factor that directly affects the development of chicks is lighting. With the help of a light device, chickens will learn to navigate in space, they will be able to get their own food and water from feeders and drinkers.

The presence of a permanent lighting device prevents stress in feathered babies, and vaccination under lighting will be much easier and calmer.

Also, a long daylight hours will negatively affect the formation of immunity in chicks. At night, in small birds, the formation of bone tissue is activated, and the exchange of calcium in the body also changes. These two items are essential for chicks to build a strong immune system.
By shortening daylight hours for chicks, you can stimulate them. active growth. To do this, you just need to reduce daylight hours by half an hour every week.

Reducing the daylight hours for chickens leads to a slowdown in the process of puberty of birds, so some poultry farmers prefer to refuse such changes in the birds' daily routine.

However, we assure you that there is nothing to worry about: the chickens will not mature so soon, but they will all have excellent health, and the grown chickens will later be able to please you with large eggs with a stronger shell.

In order not to leave the light always on and adjust the daily routine for feathered babies, you can select the lighting mode on any of the lamps. There is a mode in which there will be only one pause so that the chickens can sleep. There are also those where there are two or three pauses. You choose the mode yourself, depending on your needs.

Important! Never leave the light on all the time. Long daylight hours will cause exhaustion of the body and nervous system in chickens, they will become more aggressive and may begin to peck at each other. Sometimes such aggression of chicks leads to death.

Lamps for heating

Often, poultry farmers use brooders with underfloor heating to heat newborn chickens - this guarantees uniform heating of the chicks' homes, but the cost of such a heater is quite high. There is an option no less effective, but more economical and affordable.
As you already know, fixtures for lighting the home of chickens often also have a heating function. Such a device is called a heat lamp. There are several varieties, each with advantages and disadvantages.

So that you can choose a lamp according to your wishes and needs, we will tell you more about the most common types of heating lamps and their features. It is noteworthy that you can install these heating lamps with your own hands, without resorting to the help of specialists.

Did you know? Sometimes, to maintain the microclimate in the brooder, poultry farmers use heating pads wrapped in cotton wool and soft cloth in order to protect the chicks from burns.

infrared

This option is the most famous and widely used by poultry farmers. When installing such a lamp, you need to know a few rules so that it is as safe as possible for the chicks. So:

1. Place the red lamp at least 40 cm from the floor of the brooder.
2. There must be no flammable objects nearby.
3. Feathered babies should not be able to get to the heating device, they can get burned.

To make an infrared lamp yourself, you only need a bulb covered with a red film. With the help of such a coating, electricity is converted into infrared radiation, which is considered one of the safest for birds.

Important! It is advisable to place at least two lamps in the brooder. If one of them burns out, the chickens will not lose their heating completely and will be able to crowd around the operating device. It is especially important to use several lamps in the case when you do not have the opportunity to devote a lot of time to feathered babies.

There is also a red ceramic lamp. Its feature is that it has a more durable design and high level resistance to external influences.

• Advantages of red lamps:
• • radiate heat waves better than others;
  • energy saving;
  • design reliability;
  • warranty period of 5 thousand hours;
  • have high power;
  • good perception of light particles by chicks;
  • the ability to use the lamp from the first days of life of chickens;
  • improve the appetite of chicks and positively affect their absorption of food;
  • dry the litter;
  • favorably affect the functioning of the immune system of chickens;
  • contribute to maintaining a normal level of humidity in the brooder - excess moisture in the air evaporates when heated.

• Disadvantages of red lamps:
• • the need for additional protection of the lamp - from moisture, chickens, physical damage;
  • a ceramic lamp requires special cartridges;
  • unsafe for chicks in the absence of the necessary lamp protection.

Did you know? During the period when it is necessary to lower the ambient temperature, it is enough to raise the lamp higher. It is advisable to raise the device from the second or third week of the life of the chicks to a height of about 70 cm.

Fluorescent

This type of heating device is used much less often, especially for heating small chickens. Such lamps have their advantages, but they do not always justify the negative effect of the lamp on the chicks.

• Advantages of fluorescent lamps:
• • have a low cost;
  • consume little electricity.

• Disadvantages of fluorescent lamps:
• • high flicker frequency, causing irritation and aggressive reaction in feathered babies;
  • intolerance to light particles by chicks provokes the formation of an unpleasant odor on the litter - in places where the chicks hide from the light of the lamp.

LED

This kind of heat lamps is preferred by farmers who have a large number of chicks on their farm, and there are objective reasons for this.

• The advantages of LED lamps include:
• • economical use of electricity;
  • normal perception of light by chicks;
  • lack of toxicity;
  • long warranty period;
  • the function of adjusting the level of illumination;
  • regulation of the habits of chickens by changing the emitted spectrum.

• The disadvantage of LED lamps is:
• • high price.

Combined

This type of heating devices is quite widespread and many poultry farmers note its positive effect on chicks.

The advantages of combined lamps include:

• the presence of a red film, which makes the radiation infrared;
• radiation of ultraviolet rays, contributing to the disinfection of air and bedding;
• a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system of feathered babies;
• stimulation of normal development internal organs chickens.

The disadvantages of combined lamps include:

• the inability to use this type of heating if there are adults in the room with chickens.

Chick behavior

To understand how comfortable the chicks are at the temperature set for you, it is not at all necessary to use a mass of measuring instruments or check the readings hourly. First of all, you should pay attention to how the chickens behave.

Under different temperature conditions, their habits may differ. Below you will learn about what behavior signals an excessively warm or, on the contrary, a cool climate in a brooder or poultry house, if the chicks have grown.

With normal heating

If the temperature conditions are met correctly, the chickens lead an active lifestyle. They run around the room, interact with other chicks. Appetite in such conditions in feathered babies is normal, water consumption is moderate.
Over the brooder area, the chicks are seated evenly, without creating crowds and without moving away from each other by long distance. IN favorable conditions the chicks make a contented piping.

When it's too hot

Sometimes poultry houses, trying to create the warmest conditions for the life of chickens, set the temperature too high, which negatively affects the health of the chicks. They have a feeling of thirst, they drink water in large quantities, open their beaks.

Also, at high temperatures, chickens begin to puff up their feathers. When the air temperature is too high, the chicks try to keep their distance from each other in order to provide air access to the plumage and cool down a bit.

Other signs of overheating can be the heads of chicks lowered to the floor, heavy breathing, for the same reason, feathered babies behave quieter than usual. If you notice this behavior in small birds, lower the temperature of the heater so that the chicks do not suffer from overheating.

Did you know? Sometimes chickens create pandemonium in one place, not from the cold. This means that they are not comfortable in the brooder. The reasons for this may be the presence of a draft, too noisy environment around, or light that spreads unevenly through the house.

When it's too cold

The decrease in temperature should always be gradual. During this period, you need to especially carefully monitor the behavior of feathered babies. Low temperature conditions cause the chicks to freeze, and in order to keep warm, they gather in groups and begin to warm each other in this way.

If you notice that the chicks are crowded in one place, while clinging to each other, then it makes sense to raise the temperature by a few degrees.
Now you know what climatic conditions are necessary for feathered babies and with the help of what devices you can ensure stable heating of the brooder.

Regardless of the option you choose, remember the safety of the chickens: take care of their health so that the hatched offspring will please you with their productive qualities.