Didn't like the idea of heat lamps due to fire risk and cost. I raised chicks in my laundry room for 3-4 weeks under it. Only 2 distances for brooding heater but birds gradually started getting away from it on their own. I also started turning it off for periods to allow them to adjust to my garage temps (30s-40s). I did not do the 5 degrees per week thing that most people recommended. Once most of the feathers were out I put them in the garage in larger confinement. I covered most of it and turn the heater on. Doesn't make it super warm but certainly different than outside the confinement. Birds spent time near it as needed. Not 8 weeks old and probably ready to go outside into coop (It's February in NJ). I'm going to run the heater in the coop when it drops below 30 to be safe because even though they're fully feathered I'm nervous about it. They've piled pine shavings against the heater without any issues so far. My only gripe would be to put the selector switch farther from the unit itself because it ends up inside my enclosure.

Product seems okay so far after only a week. One thing though, a baby chick got their foot stuck on the mounting hole in the back of the unit. Chick was okay, but we covered these holes with tape.