Why can't brooder plate be used on floor?

[SamLockwood]

It seems an odd prohibition, but I'm betting there was some weird lawsuit that was the source of that instruction.

That being said, I tend to like my brooders off the floor anyway. My current setup is on a cart, which allows me to easily access it from any angle and move it into storage when I'm not using it.

 

[coach723]

My brooder is pretty large, and it sits on 2x4's or 4x4's that lift it that far from the ground. I've used it in many locations including inside a house, in the coop, on a screen porch, inside a barn, depending on season and weather. Base is built all of wood, with a wood frame and wire on the top. I use a brooder plate in that and have never had any issues.

 

[RcoM]

Hello all. I just received my large brooder plate from Premier 1. The instructions state that the brooder plate should not be used on the floor and that it should only be used in a brooder that is on a table that is elevated at least 50 cm (about 20 inches) off the floor.

I am going to have a very big brooder, for 37 chicks. I don't know how to elevate it! Do you think this is really necessary?

Off the floor is better for chicks too- floors are cold!! Elevate your brooder box on 4 -6 old bricks.

 

[Cheryli]

That's true, I can only guess that the elevation is for some sort of air flow? But the instructions seem to me to be saying that the brooder it's in can't be on the floor, not that the plate can't be on the floor of the brooder. I'd assume that the average brooder floor is a good half inch of wood, and I'm not sure what kind of cooling that elevation would offer, especially if it were on concrete that was heat-sinking into the floor. Also considering that it says to have the brooder on a table, which is even more wood (or sometimes plastic).
Best safe than sorry, though, especially since we aren't entirely sure the exact purpose of this instruction. Besides, having an elevated brooder makes it so much easier to enjoy tiny chicks!

Maybe it has to do with floors are draftiest and the that heat goes up. It may be that the chicks would be colder on the floor than higher up?

 

[FrostRanger]

Off the floor is better for chicks too- floors are cold!! Elevate your brooder box on 4 -6 old bricks.

Most people are using stuff like woodchips in their brooder so the brooder floor will be warmer than the floor itself regardless

Maybe it has to do with floors are draftiest and the that heat goes up. It may be that the chicks would be colder on the floor than higher up?

Brooder plates warm chicks via direct contact so heat rising wouldn't be a concern, besides, a chick with a broody would be getting far more drafts than chicks in an indoor brooder. An elevated brooder is certainly more convenient for the human potentially but for chick health and safety it makes no difference

 

[Bob 1313]

Hello all. I just received my large brooder plate from Premier 1. The instructions state that the brooder plate should not be used on the floor and that it should only be used in a brooder that is on a table that is elevated at least 50 cm (about 20 inches) off the floor.

I am going to have a very big brooder, for 37 chicks. I don't know how to elevate it! Do you think this is really necessary?

Hello all. I just received my large brooder plate from Premier 1. The instructions state that the brooder plate should not be used on the floor and that it should only be used in a brooder that is on a table that is elevated at least 50 cm (about 20 inches) off the floor.

I am going to have a very big brooder, for 37 chicks. I don't know how to elevate it! Do you think this is really necessary?

Maybe to allow the chicks to regulate how much heat they receive. In our experience they do not radiate heat over a large area, you must continuously raise them as the chicks grow so they do not get too warm. Placing them on the floor removes that adjustment.Would you want to stand on a warm spot in your bare feet, with your only option to be step off and get cold?

 

[FrostRanger]

Maybe to allow the chicks to regulate how much heat they receive. In our experience they do not radiate heat over a large area, you must continuously raise them as the chicks grow so they do not get too warm. Placing them on the floor removes that adjustment.Would you want to stand on a warm spot in your bare feet, with your only option to be step off and get cold?

Brooder plates come with adjustable legs that you can adjust so it's at a good height and angle. The warning is about the brooder itself being on the floor, not the brooder plate. The brooder being on the floor doesn't impact the chicks' ability to use the brooder plate itself

 

[RubelliteRose]

I emailed Premier 1 so we'll see what they say. I honestly do not feel great about it. I am thinking of getting 2 Rent a Coop heaters instead. They are much smaller and might be more managable

Did you ever receive an answer from them? I was wondering if they consider the cord on the floor to be a tripping hazard I don't recall that warning with the Producer's Pride brooder plate I was using, but it has been a couple of years since I read the instructions.

 

[angc11]

Just to weigh in anecdotally, I have a premier 1 brooder plate that I used on the floor on top of deep litter pine shavings with no issues. Yeah it does get too hot to touch, but it mentions in the product description on their website (in the How to Use section) that that is normal and the chicks can move in and out of the brood plate if they get too warm. If you're worried or want the plate to put out less heat, premier 1 sells a pretty cheap temp controller so that you can set the power at a particular level. I used one and it worked well. I continuously turned the heat down and raised the plate as the chicks got older and bigger.

Also as @The Moonshiner mentioned, they put the floor warning on there so that they aren't liable in case of a fire. not necessarily because it will cause a fire. So i think just using your best judgement is reasonable. I turned it on for a day or two before i put the chicks in to monitor it and make sure there were no problems.