Brooder plate temp question

[Chold05]

Hi friends!

Question about brooder plates. This is my first year raising chicks with the plate. I have them set up in my house with ambient temp around 70.

I have the plate angled higher in the front and lower in the back.

But I have no idea what the temp is under there. I’ve just raised it a little each week and have been watching their behavior. I haven’t noticed any issues but more so wanted to hear how others managed temps with a brooder plate.

With the heat lamp I felt like I was constantly checking the temperature and managing it more… with the plate I haven’t really done anything.

 

[DobieLover]

I’ve just raised it a little each week and have been watching their behavior. I haven’t noticed any issues

This is exactly how you manage it. You ignore all the guidelines everybody will dump at you about what temperature it should be for how old the chick is and you just watch them. They'll let you know if they're cold. Sounds like you're doing just fine.

 

[Chold05]

This is exactly how you manage it. You ignore all the guidelines everybody will dump at you about what temperature it should be for how old the chick is and you just watch them. They'll let you know if they're cold. Sounds like you're doing just fine.

Thank you! Great point… the guidelines were definitely helpful in raising my first batch. The heat plate has been so much easier; almost too easy it seems.

 

[Wereplatypus]

I agree with Dobie. Especially with the plate angled, the chicks find their own sweet spot and warm up as needed. Some might just sit in the shavings under it and be fine, others will crouch under the short end and press their backs to to hot plate like they would a mama hen.