When to remove heat plate from brooder?

[Devorah]

Personal opinion they are to young still, I wouldn't take it until they fully feather. It might be to warm for them and needs raised a little more.

Thanks very much!

 

[Jaime918]

Thanks very much!

If you have a thermometer you could try placing it underneath to see what it reads for a better idea for yourself as well.

 

[ali_hager11]

If you have a thermometer you could try placing it underneath to see what it reads for a better idea for yourself as well.

That’s what I did! They liked to use the thermometer as a place to sit as well I just got a cheap plastic one at Home Depot and it worked just fine.

@Devorah I ended up leaving my heat plate in there until they were about 6 weeks old. My house was a consistent 72 degrees inside. At about 5 weeks, I switched it from heater to brooder which dropped the temp underneath significantly. I noticed they were mostly laying on top of it around 6 weeks so I took it out altogether. By then they were most feathered. I kept them inside for a couple more weeks before moving them out to the coop.

 

[Jaime918]

That’s what I did! They liked to use the thermometer as a place to sit as well I just got a cheap plastic one at Home Depot and it worked just fine.

Oh absolutely. Fluffy butt rests. I use a govee, it follows them from the incubator to the brooder. I like being able to see the temperature fluctuations.

 

[Devorah]

That’s what I did! They liked to use the thermometer as a place to sit as well I just got a cheap plastic one at Home Depot and it worked just fine.

@Devorah I ended up leaving my heat plate in there until they were about 6 weeks old. My house was a consistent 72 degrees inside. At about 5 weeks, I switched it from heater to brooder which dropped the temp underneath significantly. I noticed they were mostly laying on top of it around 6 weeks so I took it out altogether. By then they were most feathered. I kept them inside for a couple more weeks before moving them out to the coop.

Hi there! Thanks for your comments. I decided to leave the heat plate on and raise it a bit. They are mostly perched on top or next to it on the shavings when resting. At about 10 days the chicks are starting to boast feathers and trying to fly. The room temp here is at least 72 so they are comfortable. I will leave the heat plate on and let them tell me what they need. At what age did you put them in the coop?

 

[Devorah]

That’s what I did! They liked to use the thermometer as a place to sit as well I just got a cheap plastic one at Home Depot and it worked just fine.

@Devorah I ended up leaving my heat plate in there until they were about 6 weeks old. My house was a consistent 72 degrees inside. At about 5 weeks, I switched it from heater to brooder which dropped the temp underneath significantly. I noticed they were mostly laying on top of it around 6 weeks so I took it out altogether. By then they were most feathered. I kept them inside for a couple more weeks before moving them out to the coop.

Wait! You’re in western MA???!!! So am I!

 

[Devorah]

If you have a thermometer you could try placing it underneath to see what it reads for a better idea for yourself as well.

Thanks. I believe the heat plate has a consistent temp of 107-109.

 

[ali_hager11]

Hi there! Thanks for your comments. I decided to leave the heat plate on and raise it a bit. They are mostly perched on top or next to it on the shavings when resting. At about 10 days the chicks are starting to boast feathers and trying to fly. The room temp here is at least 72 so they are comfortable. I will leave the heat plate on and let them tell me what they need. At what age did you put them in the coop?

What kind of chicks do you have? I feel like mine were like 3 weeks before I saw feathers. But I’d have to look back at the 100s of pictures of them, haha. I didn’t put them in the coop until they were 8 weeks. We hadn’t had it done and it was still getting super cold at night so I was hesitant.

Wait! You’re in western MA???!!! So am I!

Yes!! Franklin County!

 

[Jaime918]

Thanks. I believe the heat plate has a consistent temp of 107-109.

Ah okay. At about this age I keep it roughly in the low 90s if not a little lower when temperature is measured underneath. I'm gonna take a guess and say you have the producers pride plate?