Switching from heat lamp to warming plate

[NewbieChicklet]

I have 2 2.5 week old chicks who have been using the heat lamp for warmth. I bought a warming plate (brinsea 20 600 brooder) and tried replacing the heat lamp today. When I checked this evening the chicks were crying loudly and huddled in a corner away from the plate. Just curious if this is because they learned with a heat lamp and now they won’t understand to use the plate? I tried placing them under it so they would know it’s warm but so far it seems they haven’t figured it out. I put the heat lamp back in for the night but really want to make the switch for safety reasons. I am also getting a few more chicks next week so want to get this figured out. Thanks for helping a newbie!

 

[NewBoots]

Make sure you have the height correct on the plate. It should be lower in the back than the front and be low enough that the front touches their backs when they are standing and the back is touching their backs when they are sitting. Keep pushing them under the plate, they should catch on. Oh and make sure the lowest side is against a wall but only that side. This prevents them from getting trapped.

 

[FortCluck]

Keep putting them under the plate. Usually I choose two chicks and they become the leaders to show everyone that’s where the heat is.

Put one side lower and one side higher so they can have different temp options.

They’ll catch on eventually. Sometimes it can take them a while to adjust because it’s something new they haven’t experienced yet.

 

[Ryguy3684]

X2 on keep putting them under the heat plate until they get it. Also, check out the instructions on your particular heat plate. My new one requires it to be low enough for the chicks to touch it. My old one radiated heat down and needed to be set higher.

 

[NewbieChicklet]

Ok I am going to keep working on it today. They seem to be gravitating more toward it now. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chickens often do not like change or something different. They may just need a little while to get used to it. If I have a small camera in my hand it scares mine silly but they are OK if I'm carrying a feed bucket. They are used to seeing a bucket, not the camera. It may just be what they are used to.

How warm is it where they are at the coolest time? At 2-1/2 weeks they may not need any heat, even at night. I've had some younger than that that were fine with no extra heat in some conditions. But that sounds more like they are just not used to it.

 

[NewbieChicklet]

The coolest it gets for them is maybe 65 degrees. That's good to know that they don't need so much heat.

 

[Ridgerunner]

At 2-1/2 weeks I'd offer them the heat plate but don't be too surprised if they decide they don't need it. As long as it is there and they know it is there they should go to it if they need it. That one could go either way.