Heat Plates vs Heat Lamps

[Leahs Mom]

My broody hatchery red girl keeps hers for 13 weeks. Pretty hilarious...These HUGE chicken children under their mamma and sticking out every which way.

But I don't think they needed mamma that long. It just seems to be her way of doing things. They were our running around without being under her almost 100% of the time except at night when they were closer to 3 or 4 weeks old in the winter.

 

[Onespirit03]

Im sorry, I said I use the bulbs for reptiles but it is the ceramic plates, they screw into a light socket, but is a black, flat ceramic plate that heats up without light. Just be careful because the plates get hot and you have to keep it a good distance from the chicks. I ordered mines from ebay.



110V 220V 150W Pet Ceramic Emitter Heated Appliances Rept...

 

[Onespirit03]

Im sorry, I said I use the bulbs for reptiles but it is the ceramic plates, they screw into a light socket, but is a black, flat ceramic plate that heats up without light. Just be careful because the plates get hot and you have to keep it a good distance from the chicks. I ordered mines from ebay.



110V 220V 150W Pet Ceramic Emitter Heated Appliances Rept...

 

[subhanalah]

Im sorry, I said I use the bulbs for reptiles but it is the ceramic plates, they screw into a light socket, but is a black, flat ceramic plate that heats up without light. Just be careful because the plates get hot and you have to keep it a good distance from the chicks. I ordered mines from ebay. 110V 220V 150W Pet Ceramic Emitter Heated Appliances Rept...

I'm using one of these as well, it's a ceramic heat emitter mine is only 100 watts so doesn't get the temperature high enough and I have to supplement the heat with a heating pad. This is different than the heat plates.

 

[Azure Acres]

These are the heat plates that the thread is referring to.

 

[chrissyr]

Ok. I got my brinsea heat plate. Set it up and in 5 minutes all of the babies are under it. I didn't come in time for my hatch this weekend, so had to do a heat lamp until today.
I LOVE IT!!

All of the chicks are quiet but come out to peck around, check things out, and go back. I will eventually get another, maybe the Premiere1 version, but the bigger one.
I really debated on the Premiere or the Brinsea. I was worried that the top got a lot warmer, so I went with Brinsea this time.
The heat bulb I was using was a pain. But this is perfect.
Everyone is so quiet and happy! Really warm underneath, and I don't have to worry about a fire. Also energy efficient.
Couldn't believe how well they took to it in just a few minutes.
we are HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!

 

[chrissyr]

I wonder if I should keep raising the light until they all think it's better under the heat plate.

I'm thinking if they have a choice, they may not learn to use the heat plate. I would turn off the light for a while, but watch them. Maybe have a smaller area for them at first to understand the concept easier. I just got mine today. They learned pretty quickly, but a couple I put under there a few times until they got the hint. Like within 5 minutes they seemed to get it. Now they're all happy

 

[aart]

I wonder if I should keep raising the light until they all think it's better under the heat plate.

I got the plate (Premier), used it for 4 days, and decided to stick with the bulb out of preference. The chicks use it, it works well. But I'll be moving the chicks to a hutch on the patio, and it's just easier to use a bulb in there. If someone wants it, I'll put it up for sale in the sale category. Or you can PM me for a price.

I'm thinking if they have a choice, they may not learn to use the heat plate. I would turn off the light for a while, but watch them. Maybe have a smaller area for them at first to understand the concept easier. I just got mine today. They learned pretty quickly, but a couple I put under there a few times until they got the hint. Like within 5 minutes they seemed to get it. Now they're all happy

I think Seminole gave up on the plate.

 

[seminolewind]

Aart, I think it depends on the setup. I have my 10 in a big Rubbermaid thing and it worked very well in there. And if I would have used it further, my plan was to keep moving the bulb back . I guess they might have learned quicker if I had taken the light away. The ones that went under it liked it. But I need to move the chicks into a hutch and with the setup it's just easier to use the light.

It does work well. I think it's more of a preference thing. A new toy.

 

[sacchick]

Ok. I got my brinsea heat plate. Set it up and in 5 minutes all of the babies are under it. I didn't come in time for my hatch this weekend, so had to do a heat lamp until today.
I LOVE IT!!

All of the chicks are quiet but come out to peck around, check things out, and go back. I will eventually get another, maybe the Premiere1 version, but the bigger one.
I really debated on the Premiere or the Brinsea. I was worried that the top got a lot warmer, so I went with Brinsea this time.
The heat bulb I was using was a pain. But this is perfect.
Everyone is so quiet and happy! Really warm underneath, and I don't have to worry about a fire. Also energy efficient.
Couldn't believe how well they took to it in just a few minutes.
we are HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!

Me too! got my 4 chicks Wednesday put them in the brooder with my water nipples and Brinsea and they took it from there. They love the safety of going under it and come running out when I put a hand in. Here is my Brooder set up...I am already going to move them to a 700 dog crate this weekend. I have sand under the paper towels. These are my first chicks and this all just made sense to me and apparently to them too!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!