Are heating plates really less risky than heat lamps?

[Folly's place]

We have used heat lamps many times over many years, with no problems. They are held up with a chain and their electric cord, and a third rope or chain, to a fixed point above the brooder. Safety! Heavy duty extension cord, if needed, to good grounded outlet.
I do prefer the brooder plates, less electricity used, and more 'natural' for the chicks. Again, with safe electrical outlets, all that.
Our first brooder plate was too hot to the touch, (120F), and I bought the accessory 'temperature regulator' attachment (can't recall what it was called in the Premier catalog) which fixed the problem. Our other brooder plate has been fine by itself.
Cackle has recommended that chicks arriving via the post office start with a heat lamp, and then transfer to the brooder plate, and that's worked fine here.
Mary

 

[D1N0]

IMO, stick with heat plates the heat lamps can cause fires ezy and u don't won't ur money going down the drain. So just go with plate but make sure it provides heat for all the chicks.

 

[Folly's place]

Like many advertising claims, IMO the chick numbers that a plate can support are inflated, buy a bigger plate than you think you will need!
Mary