Brooder plate capacity

[Saraandaaron]

How many chicks can use the same brooder plate?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What brand? What size?
For the Premier 1, extra small is for 15 chicks,
small - 20
medium - 30
large - 50

 

[Acre4Me]

Size of the plate matters, and the box tells you the number of day old chicks it covers. It’s really the first week that is the biggest concern. They all need to be able to get under the plate a lot of the time. After that, they move around enough to not all be under it at the same time, and can better tolerate temp variations. Of course, they all want to be warm at night. So, to help them out at night, I’ll drape the sides and 1/2 to 3/4 of the top with towels to minimize drafts - make sure they are secured with clips.

 

[CluckerFamily]

What is the dimensions of your brooder plate?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I should also add that I just purchased my first brooder plate last week and I love it! I’m never going back to a heat lamp!
I got it from my local farm store but I had to decide between two different sizes and on the boxes, it didn’t list the chick/duckling capacity so I had to go onto their website to find the capacity.

 

[Saraandaaron]

Size of the plate matters, and the box tells you the number of day old chicks it covers. It’s really the first week that is the biggest concern. They all need to be able to get under the plate a lot of the time. After that, they move around enough to not all be under it at the same time, and can better tolerate temp variations. Of course, they all want to be warm at night. So, to help them out at night, I’ll drape the sides and 1/2 to 3/4 of the top with towels to minimize drafts - make sure they are secured with clips.

Oh the box does say! 30 chicks. Wow. Thank you

 

[TXChookstead]

Older thread, but I'm on the verge of ordering and not sure what size...

Our incubator takes 22 eggs, and of course not all may hatch. I'm wondering if it's best to go with the 12x12 (rated for 20) or the 16x16 (rated for 30)? This year the brooder will be indoors, but could be in a shed next year +, and we have a biggish breed (Australorps) right now.

 

[Huntmaster]

Older thread, but I'm on the verge of ordering and not sure what size...

Our incubator takes 22 eggs, and of course not all may hatch. I'm wondering if it's best to go with the 12x12 (rated for 20) or the 16x16 (rated for 30)? This year the brooder will be indoors, but could be in a shed next year +, and we have a biggish breed (Australorps) right now.

I think I would go for the larger they tend to rate the chick number a little high and they do grow so fast they will be able to use it longer especially using it outside.

 

[Happy Helper]

I would get the largest that your brooder can handle. They grow really fast and could outgrow the brooder plate in two weeks. Also, as you have stated if it goes to a shed next year you would probably do better with a large brooder plate. We cannot overlook the Chicken Math Problem.

 

[Iluveggers]

Older thread, but I'm on the verge of ordering and not sure what size...

Our incubator takes 22 eggs, and of course not all may hatch. I'm wondering if it's best to go with the 12x12 (rated for 20) or the 16x16 (rated for 30)? This year the brooder will be indoors, but could be in a shed next year +, and we have a biggish breed (Australorps) right now.

The 12x12 will be ok for a few weeks (I had 15 under mine for 3 weeks then it got warm and they were sleeping on the edge or out of it because it was 75 at night. If you need it longer than 2 weeks I would definitely get the bigger one.