Premier 1 Heat Plate

[Missbc]

I have the 12x12 premier plate set up for my 10 chicks that arrived recently. They are thriving and growing plenty of feathers.

I have things set up in my unfinished mostly below grade garage. It’s a steady 55 degrees in there and they are just fine. I’d have no qualms about putting them out in the run if we had the new section wired in with hardware cloth. The premier one is fine to use outside while the brinsea has a cold temperature limit.

I have an amazon cloud cam set up so I can monitor them while at work or if I’m too busy upstairs. They are displaying absolutely normal chick behavior - they run around and eat/drink/play/poo then they go back under the plate for a bit then repeat, many many times a day. The camera records when activity is detected so the shorter clips (10-45 seconds) usually include a chick or two out getting a bite to eat or a drink. The several minutes long clips usually includes all of them being very active.

It’ll be fine.

 

[Relleoms]

It works differently than a heat lamp; the chicks actually have to be able to press up against the heat plate for it to work. It will be warm to your touch, but not hot, and that’s ok-perfect, actually! As suggested, slope it so that they can each find their own comfortable spot. And if it makes you feel better, watch them for a bit. If they are shrill-cheeping loudly, they’re not happy, but if they’re coo-cheeping, you know they’re content! They will come and go as needed to eat, drink & play. They’ll be fine!!!

 

[paneubert]

I used a infrared thermometer and took the temp underneath the plate and its only 65 degrees..

And what do you see when you point the IR thermometer at the underside of the actual heat plate? Mine is about 165 degrees.....

Like others said, the ground under the plate wont be hot. But the actual plate should be. I can only stick my bare finger on the underside of my plate for about 2 seconds before it starts to hurt. But I have super sensitive skin. The chicks have fluff and feathers to insulate a bit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Heat pads and plates don't warm the air, they're meant to warm the chicks through direct contact. If you put your hand directly on the plate and it feels hot (but not like burning hot) then it's working as intended. The chicks use it when they need to warm up, then they'll run off to eat and play before coming back to warm up again.

 

[richie10439]

Thanks for all your help. Chicks arrived yesterday at noon, and all 5 have taken to the heat plate just fine. It is set up at an angle so they can find there sweet spot, and they come out to eat and drink and play around a bit, then go back under. so far so good.....

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

My new chicks arrive tomorrow and I'm pretty much set up with the brooder. This is my first time with the brooder plate. I put it next to the side of the brooder so the electric cord goes directly out of the brooder. I'm curious as to how long before the little fluff balls are roosting on top of it?

 

[paneubert]

My new chicks arrive tomorrow and I'm pretty much set up with the brooder. This is my first time with the brooder plate. I put it next to the side of the brooder so the electric cord goes directly out of the brooder. I'm curious as to how long before the little fluff balls are roosting on top of it?

My plate has cardboard on top so they don't poop directly on it. It is not that warm normally, and the cardboard layer makes it even less warm. Mine do not sleep up there, but began jumping up to hang out by about day 3 of me having them. So they were probably about 6 days old at that point. Each day more and more would try it out. Now there are usually at least one or two standing up there at any one time. Never seen any sleep up there though.

 

[PolergirlOH]

I just posted a rave about my Premier Heat Plate. I very successfully brooded chicks in subzero temps using one. Seriously, it was 6 degrees in my brooder one day and my chicks were like “So what? Let’s play!” They would go under for a warmup and then hit the town for a while. That heat plate is amazingggggg.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I just posted a rave about my Premier Heat Plate. I very successfully brooded chicks in subzero temps using one. Seriously, it was 6 degrees in my brooder one day and my chicks were like “So what? Let’s play!” They would go under for a warmup and then hit the town for a while. That heat plate is amazingggggg.

Congratulations! That's awesome. I'm picking up my new wee ones later today. Everything is set up. However, I think I'll make a cone hat to put on top of the brooder so they don't poop on it.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

This Premier Chick Brooding Plate is amazing. I got my wee chickies home and put them in the brooder. I had to put one chick under the brooder plate and the other three soon followed. OMG! It was amazing. They found their sweet spot then came out for water. I had to lead them to the food dish with a trail of crumbles but they found their way. They drank and ate now they are warming up again. I still need to make a "hat" to put on top of the brooder plate. These are Barred Plymouth Rocks. Very cute.