Premier 1 Heat Plate

[richie10439]

Hello all, very new here and hoping to get some advice. I have a 12x12 Premier 1 heat plate for my new chicks coming soon, and everything i read about them say they are excellent heat sources for new chicks. Maybe Im not fully understanding them, but mine doesn't seem that warm. I read about how chicks should be 95 degrees for the first week and then drop 5 degrees each week, and no way does my heat plate feel like 95 under it. I really don't want to use a heat lamp, so I'm hoping that this can work somehow. Any help would be appreciated....

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I’ve never used one but I have heard great things. Maybe @Texas Kiki and @Eggcessive can chime in!

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I have used the Ecoglow 20 a few years ago, and was very pleased with results. It is similar to the heat plate from Premier 1. But they are really best if used inside a house or garage with a temperature of around 70 degrees F. I don’t think they would be warm enough for very cold outdoor coops. The plus is that they are very safe and energy efficient. That is just my opinion.

 

[richie10439]

Thanks, Im using this in my garage, which here in the NY/NJ/CT area at this time of year is around 40-50 degrees inside the garage.

 

[richie10439]

Hello again, so my heat plate has been on for about 16 hours, and my brooder box is set up in my enclosed, unheated garage, where its 41 degrees right now. I used a infrared thermometer and took the temp underneath the plate and its only 65 degrees. Ive read where these plates were used to brood chicks outside in coops in cold temps and it all worked out. Is there somehitng about the plate that i am missing or am i taking the temp the wrong way? Or is all this not working!?!!?!?! ----Also, i had a EcoGlow 20 and returned because i thought that it was broke. It didn't get warm, but now it seems like the Premier is operating the same way. Chicks coming today....

 

[imnukensc]

Brooder plates (and the MHP) don't work like a heat lamp so forget about the 95 degrees and 5 degrees less each week. Set the front of the heat plate so it's even with the chicks back and the back of the heat plate so it's a few notches lower. This will make the plate angled. The chicks will find their comfort zone under the plate. You will have to make height adjustments as the chicks grow.
There are lots of threads here on BYC about using brooder plates. Look around a little bit and I'm sure your fears will be calmed. They really are 100% better than heat lamps.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I think you might have to use a heat lamp since you are using it in the garage. Is there any chance you can set up your brooder indoors for the first few weeks? I used the heat lamp last year and it ran my electric bill up by thirty dollars.

 

[richie10439]

Thank you @imnukensc, I will look around and read up more.

 

[richie10439]

I think you might have to use a heat lamp since you are using it in the garage. Is there any chance you can set up your brooder indoors for the first few weeks? I used the heat lamp last year and it ran my electric bill up by thirty dollars.

I and fearful about the heat lamp and fires. esp since I'm brooding in my house....

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I'm getting chicks on 11 March and will be using a brooder plate this time. Setting up the brooder in my sunroom where my pellet stove is. This is the warmest room in my house.