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