You’ve probably heard that heat lamps aren’t all that safe for chick brooders and chicken coops, and that’s true (more on that below). However, that’s only 1 of several reasons why you shouldn’t use a heat lamp in your brooder.

You should instead use a brooder plate or a Sweeter Heater.

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Check out the video below to learn the 6 reasons why you don’t want your chicks anywhere near a heat lamp—you can see the bonus 7th reason at the end of this post.

Brooder plate vs. heat lamp summary

When it comes to raising chicks, I always like to look at the natural world—like barnyard and feral chickens—and then mimic that as best as I can.

Why? Because the more naturally you raise your chicks, the better they do. Check out my post, The 10 reasons why you need to raise your chicks like a mama hen (and how to do it!) for a summary of the current science behind this.

Reason #1: A brooder plate heat source much more closely resembles mama hen’s heat than a heat lamp does.

Just like a mama hen, a brooder plate localizes heat. This means chicks can go under the brooder plate to get warm, and then can easily cool off outside of the brooder plate where they’re more active.

A heat lamp, on the other hand, heats a much larger space, and in a small brooder, the chicks may have a hard time finding a space to cool off. I’ve had blog readers email me saying they’ve accidentally killed chicks this way.

Reason #2: A brooder plate provides a place of safety and security for your chicks, just like a mama hen.

Chicks will run under mama hen when they feel frightened. Even if your brooder doesn’t have any mortal dangers, your chicks don’t know that. The brooder plate offers them a place to hide and feel safe. A heat lamp leaves them exposed.

One study showed that chicks raised with brooders are less fearful overall than those without.

Reason #3: A brooder plate provides psychological comfort.

Chicks get psychological comfort out of the feeling of a brooder over their backs. One study showed that chicks chose to brood underneath a stuffed hen even if the hen didn’t provide any heat. They just like the feeling of being brooded.

Reason #4: Chicks get better sleep with a brooder plate.

Studies show that chicks tend to get more rest and less interrupted sleep with a brooder plate.

One study showed that chicks raised with heat lamps get about half as much sleep as would be expected. This makes sense when you consider that chicks under a heat lamp are constantly exposed to light.

In nature, chicks brood under mama hen (where it’s dark) several times during the day, and then also sleep the entire night in the dark. Chicks under a brooder plate don’t have that constant exposure to light and therefore can rest better.

Reason #5 Chicks under a brooder plate can rest without being disturbed by active siblings.

Studies have shown that chicks without a brooder plate to go under get disturbed frequently when trying to sleep by their active siblings. Some even get feathers plucked out.

This does not happen when sleepy chicks have a brooder plate to go under where they can separate themselves from active chicks.

Reason #6 Heat lamps aren’t safe.

The video below illustrates this better than words ever could. You can see just how quickly a heat lamp can cause a fire.

Reason #7 Chicks love to perch on brooder plates.

Chicks love to perch on brooder plates, just like they do mama hens. And chicks benefit from all perches and platforms (like a brooder plate) that allow them to acquire spatial navigation skills early in their lives.

Research shows that if your chicks don’t have multi-level perches and/or platforms, they won’t be as good at judging perch heights and distances as adults. They need to develop these skills at a very young age. Your brooder plate can help them to do that.

Want more science- and love-based help on raising your chicks?

Check out Mama hen’s guide to raising spoiled-rotten chicks.

Sources

• Gilani, A., Knowles, T., and Nicol, C., “The effect of dark brooders on feather pecking on commercial farms.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 142, 2012, p. 42-50.

• Gunnarsson, S., Yngvesson, J., Keeling, L., and Forkman, B., “Rearing without early access to perches impairs the spatial skills of laying hens.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 67, 2000, p. 217-228.

• Heikkilä, M., Wichman, A., Gunnarsson, S., and Valros, A., “Development of perching behavior in chicks reared in enriched environment.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 99, 2006, p. 145-156.

• Jones, R., “The incubation patch of birds,” Biological Reviews, v. 46, 1971, p. 315-339.

• Malleau, A., Duncan, I., Widowski, T., and Atkinson, J., “The importance of rest in young domestic fowl.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 106, 2007, p. 52-69.

• McBride, G., Parer, I., and Foenander, F., “The social organization and behaviour of the feral domestic fowl,” Animal Behaviour Monographs, v. 2, no. 3, 1969, p. 125-181.

• Riber, A. and Guzman, D., “Effects of dark brooders on behavior and fearfulness in layers.” Animals, v. 6, no. 3, 2016, p. 1-19.

• Riber, A., Nielsen, B., Ritz, C., and Forkman, B., “Diurnal activity cycles and synchrony in layer hen chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus).” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 108, 2007, p. 276-287.

• Sherry, D., “Parental care and the development of thermoregulation in Red Junglefowl,” Behaviour, v. 76, no. 3/4, 1981, p. 250-279.

• Wichman, A., Heikkila, M., Valros, A., Forkman, B., and Keeling, L., “Perching behaviour in chickens and its relation to spatial ability.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 105, 2007, p. 165-179.

• Workman, L., Adam, J., and Andrew, R., “Opportunities for visual experience which might allow imprinting in chicks raised by broody hens.” Behaviour, v. 137, no. 2, 2000, p. 221-231.