Chicken heater at home homemade. Infrared chicken coop heater

When growing young chickens at home, you should worry about creating comfortable conditions for the chickens. In particular, about the desired temperature regime. Today it is possible to heat chickens with lamps such as infrared. In an aviary 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 is the lighting mode, how an infrared lamp is used for chickens.

For newborn babies, a high temperature in the house is provided. In the presence of a hen, it is she who in the first 3 days relentlessly stays with the offspring and heats it. On warm days, it is customary for the family to be released to the promenade. Birds that were obtained at home with the help of an incubator require special attention. Since they almost cannot independently withstand changes in humidity levels and temperature indicators. They need to find a warm place with dry bedding, which is adequately lit and able to protect the young from drafts.

In the first 5 days, the temperature in the house should be between 29 and 30 degrees Celsius. Gradually, the air is cooled, bringing up to 10 days of life for babies up to + 26 degrees. Up to 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 control the temperature in the house. But you should also focus on the condition of the chicks.

If they are quite active, drink and eat with pleasure, do not gather in groups, then you are doing everything right. Because with a lack of heat, young animals will tend to stray into groups and be closer to lamps or another heater. If the air is too hot, the birds are able to open their beaks wide, drink a lot and greedily, puff up fluff and feathers, and be away from their fellows.

Video “Heating for chickens”

From the video you will learn how to properly heat the chickens in the brooder.

Heating systems in the first days of life

In order to provide warmth for their chickens, many owners place various devices in their place of detention that work well in practice. In a cage or box, you can place electric or water heaters, bottles with warm water poured into them, which are wrapped in a couple of layers of cotton or woolen material, cotton wool. Incandescent lamps or a couple of reflectors will also help to create heat, the fasteners 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 near the device, the temperature will always be 3-6 degrees higher than at the other end of the box or cage. To save electricity and help chicks save energy, it is advised for chicks egg breeds divide the house into parts. Heating is necessary for babies up to a month of age. Further, in the cells, it is necessary to achieve the presence of a temperature at the level of + 18 degrees. When kept on deep litter it is usually possible to keep 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, walks in the fresh air and the opportunity to receive solar heat are useful for crumbs.

This is an excellent prevention of rickets and the ability to harden growing organisms. Creating the recommended temperature, sufficient lighting system, a balanced nutritious diet will allow you to grow viable and healthy chicks.

The use of red lamps for heating

Increasingly popular is the use of red, or infrared lamps. An infrared lamp for heating small chickens is usually subject to such requirements as the presence of a safe and reliable design, protection from moisture, possible impacts, and inaccessibility to birds. The chick warmer lamp must always be covered with a lattice casing for protection and hung at a safe height for pets. On the market, such designs are presented in several versions.

Mirror is usually made with a red or transparent flask. In the first case, it is not only a source of heat, but also light. Such a lamp has a high degree of power, and the warranty period of its service is about 5 thousand hours. Choosing it, you can not be afraid that the lamp will stop working at the wrong moment. This design is very reliable and is able to ensure trouble-free operation.

Luminaires with a ruby ​​dome of the bulb heat up very quickly and are endowed with reflectivity. They make it possible to save up to a third of all incoming electricity. Light from such a heat source is normally perceived by chicks. It is recommended to use the device from the first days of life of babies and until they grow into adults.

When installing a light bulb, it must be taken into account that the parameters of the light flux depend on how high the radiation source is located. The height from birth until the chicks reach the age of 1 week should be about 50 cm. At 2-3 weeks, it is advised to raise the device to a level of 75 cm from the surface of the litter. Further, the radiation source should be located at a height of up to 1 meter. As a result, the ambient temperature decreases, and the heating and lighting area increases.

The use of infrared devices leads to an increase in the appetite of chicks, a better set of live weight, and strengthening of immunity. It allows you to create the effect of obtaining solar energy, subject to free range.

In addition to red lamps, combined devices are often used. They are able to give 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 maintain small chickens.

Heating a chicken coop in winter is one of the main problems of people involved in agriculture. Without adequate heat, newly hatched chicks are at risk of freezing and dying. Birds need comfortable conditions, and this problem needs to be solved somehow. A chick warmer must be efficient, economical and safe so as not to burn down the utility room. How to heat a bird in a chicken coop - our review will tell.

Lack of heat

A person can always protect himself from the cold - just light a fire, turn on the heating or put on warm clothes. Newly hatched chicks are practically devoid of any protection, as their plumage does not allow them to warm up. Moreover, even adult bird, which leads to serious consequencesfm:

• Immunity decreases - the bird becomes susceptible to infectious diseases;
• Activity decreases - the livestock becomes lethargic and lifeless;
• Egg production decreases - the number of eggs decreases by two or more times.

There is nothing good about hypothermia. And the chicks can even die if they have little heat. If an infection appears in the poultry house, it can spread to the entire livestock.

The lack of heating leads to a slowdown in the rate of development of chickens. Feeling uncomfortable and feeling a lack of heat, they will get sick, their growth will slow down, even if there is plenty of food. If, however, a normal source of life-giving heat is installed in the house, the livestock will feel more comfortable.

Main sources of heat

Thinking about heating for chickens, you can use the following equipment:

• Electric convectors - reliable and economical heaters;
• Heat guns are noisy, but they allow you to quickly reach the set temperature;
• Wood and coal stoves are not very convenient, but inexpensive sources of heat;
• Infrared lamps are the simplest and most popular heat sources among poultry farmers;
• Ceiling and wall type IR heaters are modern devices for heating chickens.

Let's analyze these devices in more detail, having studied the pros and cons.

Electric convectors will be excellent devices that provide heating for chickens in a chicken coop. They are built on the basis of simple heating elements that warm the air and create convection in the room. These devices should not special work Warm up the chicken coop to the desired temperature. To control the temperature regime, thermostats are located on board the convectors.

To heat chickens with the help of convectors, it is recommended to carry out work on the comprehensive insulation of the poultry house. Mount normal doors here, insert double windows or line single ones with plastic wrap, work on insulating the ceiling. It is clear that heaters can also heat an uninsulated room, but in this case you will have to put up with high heating costs - electric heating devices consume an impressive amount of electricity.

Convectors cannot be called the most optimal sources of heat, since their use leads to a large consumption of electricity. Plus they are slow.

These noisy devices allow you to quickly reach a comfortable temperature for the chicks. Being equipped with powerful heating elements and productive fans, they fill the premises with heat in a matter of minutes. In order not to overheat the chicken coop, we recommend using a heat gun with a built-in thermostat. 15-20 minutes from the moment of switching on - and it becomes warm and comfortable in the house, the chickens will be happy with such heating.

Fan heaters are compact and relatively safe, but they have one big disadvantage - the vast majority of models are equipped with open heating elements that burn oxygen. They also burn small particles of dust, which causes the formation of an unpleasant odor. And still such devices for heating are not recommended to be left unattended. To control the temperature, do not forget to hang a thermometer in the chicken coop - you do not need to overheat the atmosphere in the room.

To heat chickens, you can use both floor and wall types of fan heaters and heat guns.

Wood and coal stoves

If there is a large supply of firewood and coal (for example, they heat a house), then they will be an inexpensive source of thermal energy for heating chickens. To do this, you will have to buy or make your own small stove equipped with a chimney. How such furnaces are assembled with our own hands - we have written more than once in our reviews, look for information on our website.

A device such as a wood (coal) stove has several disadvantages:

• It is easy to overheat the room - it is necessary to regulate the intensity of combustion or limit the throwing of fuel into the furnace;
• You will need a large supply of fuel for the entire period while the cold will stand;
• Fussing with firewood - you will have to constantly monitor the temperature and throw more and more new portions of logs into the firebox.

There are pluses:

• Firewood and charcoal can be obtained free of charge - in this case, you will provide heating for chickens with minimal cash outlay;
• The ability to heat a chicken coop from several rooms - for this you can build a simple water heating or build/purchase a powerful furnace;
• The absence of electricity costs is an important advantage of solid fuel devices.

If you are ready to endure disadvantages, feel free to choose solid fuel stoves for heating chickens.

IR heaters

Ceiling and wall IR heaters are simple heating devices that work by infrared radiation. IR rays, reaching surrounding objects, cause them to heat up. The same thing happens with living tissues - they feel comfortable warmth. An infrared heater for chickens saves energy and creates a cozy environment for poultry.

Infrared heaters for heating chickens are located at a distance of at least a meter from the cages. If the ceilings in the house are low, we recommend choosing a wall-mounted model - you do not need to allow overheating. You will also need a built-in or remote thermostat to ensure that a comfortable temperature is maintained. By the way, the optimal temperature regime in the chicken coop is about + 15-16 degrees Celsius.

IR lamps

An infrared lamp for heating chickens is one of the most popular sources of thermal energy. Here are its benefits:

• The light bulb is easily moved from place to place;
• Minimum power consumption - lamp power is 100-250 W;
• The heat is not wasted, but warms up the areas where the chickens huddle;
• Ease of installation - just screw the light bulb into the socket, hanging it in the cage;
• Fire safe - IR lamps do not require supervision.

These devices in the form of lamps create optimal conditions not only for chickens, but also for laying hens sitting on eggs.

Conclusion

Thus, the infrared lamp becomes the most optimal device for heating chickens. During the period of furious cold weather, many poultry farmers and farmers prefer it. Infrared lamps are used in zoos and menageries to warm newly born animals. They do not overheat cages and birds, do not harm the health of living organisms, and create a soft and comfortable atmosphere. In addition, infrared bulbs illuminate the houses with a cozy reddish light.

Remember that you should not rely on various devices - be sure to consider the insulation of the house. In the winter season, sprinkle hay on the floor to protect chickens and adult hens from the cold coming from underground. This is the only way you can protect the livestock from frost and preserve the egg production of the bird.

Video

Infrared heaters have recently entered our everyday life, but have already managed to gain popularity. This is a relatively inexpensive and efficient way of additional or main heating, which reduces energy costs. Today it is used both in apartments, offices, street spaces, and in buildings where pets are kept. In small rooms in poultry and animal husbandry, 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 objects and living organisms located in its immediate vicinity. Infrared rays, in contact with them, are absorbed and converted into thermal energy. It does not take time to heat up - an object or a living organism feels heat immediately after the lamp is turned on.
The principle of operation of an IR bulb is similar to the action of the Sun, the rays of which, reaching objects, heat them up, and then they begin to give off heat to 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.

Mirror lamps are considered the most effective. In animal husbandry, infrared lamps are used, in which the bulb is made of red glass.
IR radiation does not harm either humans or animals. On the contrary, at given source heat has a number of advantages:

• compactness;
• ease of use;
• possibility of spot heating;
• uniform distribution of heat;
• fast heating of objects and living organisms - heat comes after only 27 seconds;
• noiselessness;
• high efficiency, approaching 100%;
• environmental friendliness;
• positive impact on animal behavior - calming the nervous system, strengthening immunity, increasing the growth rate, increasing appetite;
• improving hygiene and cleanliness in the premises where animals are kept;
• the possibility of installation in the bottom, walls, to the ceiling of the poultry house;
• affordability.

The disadvantages of using lamps are much less:

• increased energy costs - when using a 250-watt light bulb, about 0.25 kW per hour is used;
• some discomfort with a rather long stay at the site of action of the light bulb - the mucous membrane of the eye dries up in a person;
• if handled carelessly, there is a possibility of burns when touched.

Did you know? Infrared rays were discovered by English scientist Frederick William Herschel in 1800. He was engaged in the study of the Sun and was looking for a way to protect the research instrument from overheating. Thus, the scientist accidentally discovered that objects that are under saturated red rays heat up most strongly.

Types of lamps for use in poultry farming

In addition to infrared, other types of lamps can be used to heat chickens, for example, fluorescent, LED, combined. We offer to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Fluorescent

A fluorescent lamp is a light source that converts electricity into ultraviolet rays. Low cost of electricity consumption, weak heating of the bulb, duration of operation are the undoubted advantages of using this light source in the poultry house.
However, chickens feel uncomfortable under such lighting due to the frequent unpleasant flicker and its brightness. These lamps are still best used in poultry houses with adults.

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 spectra.

The disadvantage of these devices, perhaps, is one - the high price.

Combined

Combined light sources emit infrared and ultraviolet rays. There is an opinion that such devices are the most useful for the body of chickens, because, in addition to heating, they also disinfect with ultraviolet radiation, and also positively affect the development of vital organs.

How to use infrared lamps

Like all newborns with 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 the babies are kept.

For newborn chickens, a very high temperature will be required - 35-37 ° C. In the future, it will need to be reduced by 1-2 ° C weekly. Thus, at 9 weeks, babies will feel comfortable at a temperature of 18 to 21 ° C. You can regulate the temperature by removing/approaching the heat source to the heated objects.
To select the lamp power, it is necessary to proceed from the calculation of 1 kW per 10 square meters. m. At a room temperature without heating 10 ° C per 10 sq. m enough one 600-watt light bulb. You can also calculate the power and number of required heat sources using calculators posted on the Internet.

In order to find out how far from the chickens to place the infrared lamp, before the birth or acquisition of young animals, a heat source should be placed 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 warmed up to the required temperature even before the chicks are placed there.

You need to understand that the household should have 2 IR bulbs. If something happens to one, it can be replaced in time without harming the health of the young. Best Option will use 2 bulbs at the same time.
After one batch of young animals is already 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 babies, protect the light bulb with a metal mesh.

When using IR bulbs, make sure that they are screwed only into ceramic sockets (plastic ones will melt very quickly) so that they do not get moisture or flammable materials, such as straw, hay, feathers, etc. avoid moving the bulbs - this way their life is significantly reduced.

When heating the house with an infrared method, adults should be kept separately from babies. Otherwise, most of the heat will go to mature birds, and the kids will be cold.

Chick behavior

The behavior of the chicks will tell you if they are comfortable in a room heated by infrared rays. If the temperature in the chicken coop suits them, then they will be evenly dispersed over the area. While eating food or water, they will squeak fervently. If they either creep in different directions and behave sluggishly, or, on the contrary, huddle together, are restless, then the conditions do not suit them.

Huddled in a bunch

When babies behave like this, it means they are experiencing cold. It is necessary to measure the temperature and increase it by 1 or 2 degrees by reducing the distance between the source of infrared heat and the location of the chickens.

Important!Since infrared lamps are very hot, it is forbidden to touch them - this is fraught with severe burns.

Spread out to the sides

Chickens try to crawl to the sides so as not to touch their bodies with each other, they have sluggish behavior and heavy breathing - these are clear signs that the babies are hot. Place the IR heat source higher.

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 specific 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.