Required Temps When Using A Heat Plate?

[April0617]

What's the lowest air temp you would go with new chicks and a heat plate brooder? I was planning on keeping them in our basement the first couple weeks in a tote and then moving to the (unheated) attached garage. Now I'm second guessing myself and thinking about just going straight to the garage and the big box and not messing with the tote, but it can get pretty chilly here in WI in April...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depends on the plate, some have temperature guidelines and are not meant to be used under a certain temperature range.

I know folks have brooded outdoors down in the 20s or so, as long as drafts aren't an issue (they shouldn't be in a garage). If that makes you nervous, then it doesn't hurt to start them off in a slightly warmer place for a week, then transfer them to the garage.

 

[easterbun]

Usually the instructions have something in there that says how low it can go - Brinseas are rated down to 50˚, others may be different. Mine are set up in my barn and that "technically" counts as indoors, but it's not heated and the temps here got down into the upper 48's a few days ago and the chicks were all just fine.

I have a camera on them so I can see/hear them whenever I want to check on them remotely inbetween normal checks.

 

[aart]

What's the lowest air temp you would go with new chicks and a heat plate brooder? I was planning on keeping them in our basement the first couple weeks in a tote and then moving to the (unheated) attached garage. Now I'm second guessing myself and thinking about just going straight to the garage and the big box and not messing with the tote, but it can get pretty chilly here in WI in April...

What kind of plate are you using?
Might keep them in the basement for a week, then out to garage(in a larger brooder?).
Do you have other chickens already?
If not, is the coop ready to go...and is there power out there?

 

[April0617]

What kind of plate are you using?
Might keep them in the basement for a week, then out to garage(in a larger brooder?).
Do you have other chickens already?
If not, is the coop ready to go...and is there power out there?

Coop is in progress, this is our first batch ever and we are a bit behind schedule with building. But we have a good sized tote if we need to keep them in the house for a couple weeks, and then a large (3.5' x 3.5') cardboard box that I was going to use in the garage when we are able to move them out there. I'll check the info on the plate, and get a thermometer up in the garage to monitor temps out there until they come (they could be here anytime between the next few days and the end of the month) and see where we're at