This spring I bought the Premier 16" brooder plate, set it up, and things seemed okay. Some chicks died the night after they arrived, but I thought shipping stress, so not good but it happens. After the first three days, everyone did fine.
The end of August I got it back out for fewer chicks, ten meat birds from TSC. After an hour in the brooder, they were all huddled away from the brooder plate where I'd set them on arrival. I felt the underside, and it was TOO HOT to leave my had there! No wonder the chicks left it!
I went back to the heat lamp for them.
So, I turned it over and placed a thermometer on it in the center; over 120F, and near the edge, 118F. No hen is that hot, and the directions say that the chicks should be able to be in contact with the plate. Not this plate!
I looked at the manufacturer's site, and called Premier, and this is 'normal' for the unit. So rather than return it, I got the temperature regulator gadget that they now sell (wonder why!) and have fiddled with it, and can get down to a reasonable temp on the plate.
Anyone else with this story?
A friend has the 12" plate, and it goes to 80F, and her chicks do fine.
Mary
The end of August I got it back out for fewer chicks, ten meat birds from TSC. After an hour in the brooder, they were all huddled away from the brooder plate where I'd set them on arrival. I felt the underside, and it was TOO HOT to leave my had there! No wonder the chicks left it!
I went back to the heat lamp for them.
So, I turned it over and placed a thermometer on it in the center; over 120F, and near the edge, 118F. No hen is that hot, and the directions say that the chicks should be able to be in contact with the plate. Not this plate!
I looked at the manufacturer's site, and called Premier, and this is 'normal' for the unit. So rather than return it, I got the temperature regulator gadget that they now sell (wonder why!) and have fiddled with it, and can get down to a reasonable temp on the plate.
Anyone else with this story?
A friend has the 12" plate, and it goes to 80F, and her chicks do fine.
Mary