For those who use brooder plates, when do your chicks stop using them?

[SplendidDogFeet]

My flock is only three weeks old, but everyone is starting to get very fussy about settling at night and are just sort of around the edges of the brooder plate. Is this bad for them? It's only about 75° in their room. Do I need to raise the plate again?

 

[AGeese]

The one thing I hate about brooder plates is adjusting them. Sometimes I raise one end and leave the other lower in case they want get under it, but looks like you've done that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If it's consistently 75 in the room they're brooding in, they're telling you they're done with the plate. You can remove it or unplug it if you want.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Agree with Rosemarythyme, they've probably just acclimated and don't need the supplemental heat anymore. Mine pretty consistently stop using their plate at 2-3 weeks of age, even if I adjust the height of it frequently. Our house temp is set to 72°F, but the room the chicks are brooded in tends to be warmer, so probably close to the same temp as yours are in.

 

[SplendidDogFeet]

Agree with Rosemarythyme, they've probably just acclimated and don't need the supplemental heat anymore. Mine pretty consistently stop using their plate at 2-3 weeks of age, even if I adjust the height of it frequently. Our house temp is set to 72°F, but the room the chicks are brooded in tends to be warmer, so probably close to the same temp as yours are in.

That's exactly what we set our house to, but I keep the vent closed in that room and leave the door closed most of the time, so it stays warmer. I did raise it again and will leave it for the next week since they all still like to sort of lay around or half under it. They go under it a bunch during the day. They're just getting weirder about it at night.

 

[SplendidDogFeet]

Thank y'all for the reassurance. I raised it and will leave it in there at least another week. It gets down to 73 in there and they all like going under it randomly during the day, so I still want them to have access. One of my keets is still way smaller then everyone else, too, so I want to know that kid has everything they may need.

 

[SplendidDogFeet]

This was a few minutes ago, so the plate is still plenty popular during the day. They're just being weird and fussy at night!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm pretty sure if you unplug it they'll behave the exact same way. They certainly don't need any heat with those temperatures, but the plate still gives them a sense of comfort and familiarity.