Heat plate

[Anchors1411]

these chicks are 3 to 4 days old. First time having a brooder. I decided to go with a heat plate for safety reasons. Here is a picture of them all huddled up. I’m getting conflicting answers on Google. Some say that chick should be touching it. But some people say that their chicks get burned. the high temperature range is 154 to 158°. And I thought the Bruder was supposed to be around 95. when I went in to check on them. They were all quiet huddled together. I didn’t hear any chirping.

 

[MommyGirl]

I think it’s too high it should touch their backs

 

[rosemarythyme]

Put your hand on it - how hot does it feel to you? It should be warm/hot to the touch but not so much that you can't hold your hand on it.

Plates work by direct contact so they do need to be able to touch it.

Since it doesn't look like it can be tilted (which is how it should be set up) you can probably prop the front side up on some scrap wood to artificially create a tilt. The back side should then be close enough that the chicks can touch it while sitting, and the higher side should be tall enough that the chicks can touch it while standing - that's the proper height.

Beyond that, completely ignore the 95 degree thing you mentioned - that applies to heat lamps, not plates. You want the ambient temperature in the area to be lower so the chicks can get relief from heat when they don't want it. Do you know what the ambient temp is in the brooder otherwise?

 

[Anchors1411]

I changed the plate. Lowered it and angled it. It's very warm to touch. After about 20 seconds i have to take my hand off. But I lowered it to medium heat and that seemed not warm enough. The way they sleep freaks me out. One died today but no idea why

 

[Anchors1411]

I changed the plate. Lowered it and angled it. It's very warm to touch. After about 20 seconds i have to take my hand off. But I lowered it to medium heat and that seemed not warm enough. The way they sleep freaks me out. One died today but no idea why

Also i don't know ambient temp. What should it be?

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Hey there! I've used heat plates for about 7 years and yes, your plate was too high in the first photo. Based on your second photo, you may need to lower it more. Angle it at about a 30-degree incline to where they're barely touching it at standing height at it's highest, and it needs to almost be touching bedding at the back where it's lowest. This will give them temp variables, and they'll move themselves to an area where they're comfy.

Could you top the pads with a bit of flake bedding? Young chicks often prefer to nestle down into it because it helps with warmth. Loose bedding also helps with insulation.

 

[Iluveggers]

Put a thermometer as close to it as you can (like almost touching or actually on it). What is the temp when it’s on low? Then put a thermometer on the ground under it, what is the temp?

I notice yours is an off-brand, so I would check the temp carefully. Post back what the thermometer says in those two spots and let me know.

 

[Toothpick]

I changed the plate. Lowered it and angled it. It's very warm to touch. After about 20 seconds i have to take my hand off. But I lowered it to medium heat and that seemed not warm enough. The way they sleep freaks me out. One died today but no idea why

I don't think those chicks are cold

Heat lamps are dang near impossible to regulate the heat at 95 degrees. I just set my brooder up today with a heat lamp - my Brinsea heat plate quit working (need a new power transformer)

But I have it rigged to give them ample heat on one end and plenty of room for them to get out of the heat and self regulate. They will only be in this for a few days before I move them to the in-coop brooder. Ambient temp was 50 degrees and the temp where the thermo was under the heat lamp was 88.

Heat plates are only good to about 50 degrees ambient temp. That's what the mfg suggests anyway. I don't think there is a set temp ambient temp should be. But the colder the ambient temp the more you will want to have a suitable heat source for the chicks to stay warm. They will self regulate but a heat plate probably won't be enough if it's 20 degrees ambient.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Also i don't know ambient temp. What should it be?

You don't need to worry so much about ambient temp if the plate is doing it's job and has the proper watts. Based on your hand test, it sounds right when it's on high, especially when they're this young. Just provide some nestling bedding - think about how young chicks are insulated in feathers under mama hen so flake bedding, sawdust etc is a good sub - and the plate at a proper height, and all should be well.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I changed the plate. Lowered it and angled it. It's very warm to touch. After about 20 seconds i have to take my hand off. But I lowered it to medium heat and that seemed not warm enough. The way they sleep freaks me out. One died today but no idea why

Chicks normally sleep like they just collapsed so that's not an issue. I notice the one towards the front in the photo can't touch the plate though because they're pretty packed in there. Crushing can be a danger to chicks. How many chicks total? I agree bedding would help, so the chicks can snuggle in and retain a little extra heat

Also i don't know ambient temp. What should it be?

Some plates work best at 50F and up, so "above 50" is what I'd aim for.