Latest and greatest heat plates - what are you currently using

[irlybird]

I've read the posts on heat plates and am wondering what people are buying these days.

I am in Canada and if anyone has direct links to Canadian sites that is a bonus. I do have access to cross-border shopping/mail pickup but the state of the US/CDN dollar is rather depressing.

We are getting 14 chicks. I was contemplating between the Brinsea EcoGlow 20 chick or the Premier Heating plate with cover 12x12.

I am open to any suggestions.

Also - it appears a heating plate is the way to go opposed to heat lamp but if anyone has any arguments to say heat lamp is better please do!

 

[Kris5902]

I've read the posts on heat plates and am wondering what people are buying these days.

I am in Canada and if anyone has direct links to Canadian sites that is a bonus. I do have access to cross-border shopping/mail pickup but the state of the US/CDN dollar is rather depressing.

We are getting 14 chicks. I was contemplating between the Brinsea EcoGlow 20 chick or the Premier Heating plate with cover 12x12.

I am open to any suggestions.

Also - it appears a heating plate is the way to go opposed to heat lamp but if anyone has any arguments to say heat lamp is better please do!

I would suggest springing for the 50 if you go with an ecoglow, the chicks outgrow the 20 fairly quickly, the 50 will give you plenty of room for them as they grow, or use 2 20’s.

 

[lutherpug]

Can't speak to the Brinsea but I've been very happy with my Premier plates. They've been going strong for years. Definitely get the cover-it is worth the added expense.

 

[henless]

Where are you going to be using your heat plate? If you brood inside, it really doesn't matter which one you get. If you're brooding outside, I would get the Premier. The Premier works with temps below freezing, while the Brinsea does not.

You could go with a MHP (Momma heating pad) or PBH (pseudo brooder heater) and use it in any situation. I will post a link to both threads. They are long with LOTS of pics. Just make sure you get a pad that either has the 2 hour shut off bypass, or does not shut off in 2 hours. It's a safety feature most heating pads have.

MHP - https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

PBH - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.862691/#post-13013887

I use the Premier & MHP with temps ranging from mid-twenties to 90's. They both work great. When I bought mine, they only had 2 sizes, small/large. I bought the large which is now the medium. I had 21 chicks under it and it worked great for them. As they get older, they will need it less.

A lot of people buy the dome to keep the chicks off the top. My chicks LOVE to sit on the top. They do get a bit of warmth for their feet and really enjoy sitting/playing on it. Yes, it gets nasty, but it really is pretty easy to clean once you are finished with it.

 

[PolergirlOH]

I used a Premier heat plate in an uninsulated coop in subzero temps and my 13 chicks thrived. They spent a shocking amount of time out from under their electric mama too. Measured temp *inside* coop one day was 6 degrees F. Chicks were running around eating and drinking and darting under the plate every couple of minutes.

I will never brood using anything else.

 

[Acre4Me]

Heat plates are great! We've only used indoors for quail, and in the garage for chicks. We have the one for 50 chicks. Plenty of room for the chicks to dart in and out, and pick their preferred temp. Our does vary in temp a bit - hottest in the middle and less hot around the edges.

Pick a size more on size of your brooder. You should be able to put your heat plate in the brooder with enough room for the chicks to NOT be under the heat plate, but running around, eating and drinking. Also, I prefer to have space to either side of the heat plate, so all chicks can enter and leave easily (I don't put it in the corner), and not get trapped behind other chicks. As another poster indicated, you can buy two smaller heat plates, to give you more flexibility - particularly if your brooder will change; for example, if you use a large cardboard box this time, but something else next time. We built a 6'x3' (x2' tall) brooder, so the large heat plate fits in it well and it will always be in the same brooder.

The top - those are nice, but depends on your goals. It will keep chicks off the top. I did not buy the top - I use the Glad "Press n Seal" plastic wrap on the top. This is great until they get to be about 4 or 5 weeks old and start to pick at it - at that point I am more diligent about cutting the raw edges straight and not giving them something to peck or pull at. The wrap "sticks" to the top of the heat plate pretty well and then I put new on when I change out the shavings.

 

[aart]

I would suggest springing for the 50 if you go with an ecoglow, the chicks outgrow the 20 fairly quickly, the 50 will give you plenty of room for them as they grow, or use 2 20’s.

Ditto Dat^^^
the 'numbers' on these are as misleading as the numbers for the dollhouse coops.

PBH - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.862691/#post-13013887

A lot of people buy the dome to keep the chicks off the top. My chicks LOVE to sit on the top. They do get a bit of warmth for their feet and really enjoy sitting/playing on it. Yes, it gets nasty, but it really is pretty easy to clean once you are finished with it.

Better link on the PBH:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

Ditto on the dome, use that money to buy larger plate...
...just use a piece of cardboard on top for easy 'cleaning'.

 

[Kris5902]

I don’t find cleaning it to be too challenging... I use a 6”plastic putty knife and just occasionally scrape it off

Also I’ve gotten them off heat fairly soon using them... when everyone is on the training roost instead of under the plate at night I turn it off, and if they stay content overnight I take it out after a day or two. Depends on your temperatures and how north or east you are... I’m in the Southern Gulf Islands, so it’s temperate

 

[jolenesdad]

Anyone use a sweeter heater?

 

[imnukensc]

I'll throw my hat into the ring as far as recommending the Premier 1. Much easier to adjust legs/height than the Brinsea 20. I wouldn't buy the cover. I just use Press n Seal on mine. When it gets dirty, I just peel it off and stick new on.