Heating Plates for Chick Brooders
An alternative to a heat lamp. Less of a fire risk. A heating plate simulates a hen keeping chicks warm and cozy beneath her feathers.
Heating Plate & Cover Dimensions (both sold separately):
- Extra Small: 10" x 10"
- Small: 12" x 12"
- Medium: 16" x 16"
- Large: 16" x 24"
Instructions/Diagrams:
Instruction Manual 
Common Uses
Specs
| Extra Small | Small | Medium | Large | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plate Item # | 540207 | 540203 | 540241 | 540204 |
| Cover Item # | 5402078 | 540205 | 540242 | 540206 |
| Capacity | Up to 15 chicks | Up to 20 chicks | Up to 30 chicks | Up to 50 chicks |
| Plate & Cover | 10" x 10" | 12" x 12" | 16" x 16" | 16" x 24" |
| Cover Height | 3.5" | 5" | 7" | 7" | Watts | 15 watts/hr | 22 watts/hr | 42 watts/hr | 66 watts/hr |
| Legs | 9.5"L | 9.5"L | 9.5"L | 9.5"L |
Height of all sizes adjusts from 1.5" to 6" by adjusting the yellow legs. ABS plastic. Cord: 70"L
Use a Heating Plate Temperature Controller which allows control of Premier's Heating Plates output between 20% - 100% of full output.
Benefits
Heating plate advantages over a heat lamp:
- Uses much less electricity. Only 15 watts (66 for the larger plate) vs 175 or 250 watts for a heat lamp.
- Less risk of fire because of the much lower surface temperature (only 125°).
- Field observation: Birds raised under plates appear more calm than those raised under lamps.
The rugged plate cover (optional and sold above) prevents older chicks from perching on top and fouling the unit with droppings. However, the plate can be hand-washed (do not submerge in water) to remove dust and debris.
How to Use
Worried that the plate feels hot to the touch? It isn't. If chicks get too warm, they can and do move out from under it for a time. Don't overcrowd—chicks need to have space to move around as they like.
When the heating plate is plugged directly into the outlet, the red light comes on and stays on.
When it is plugged into the Heating Plate Temperature Controller, it will blink based on the min/max adjustment. Slow blink toward minimum and quicker toward max. If you turn it all the way up, it will come on full time.
Precautions
Warranty
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Brooder Kits and Panels
Disposable Brooder Panel, each
Item #530150 -Build a safe, secure chick brooder using modular brooder panels. Quick to assemble with disposable and reusable options.
$1.95 -
Brooder Kits and Panels
Reusable Brooder Panel, each
Item #530155 -Build a safe, secure chick brooder using modular brooder panels. Quick to assemble with disposable and reusable options.
$4.15 -
Waterers and Accessories
Chick Nipple Drinker, 0.26 gal capacity
Item #540224 -To keep water clean and fresh. Nipple drinker sits or hangs above the litter so water is always clean.
$5.80 -
Heating Plates and Covers
Heating Plate Temperature Control
Item #540229 -Manually control the heat output of Premier's heating plates for poultry
$13.00
-
Heating Plates and Covers
Replacement Leg for Heating Plates, each
Item #5402032 -A safer alternative to a heat lamp. A heating plate, or hover heater, simulates a hen keeping chicks warm and cozy beneath her feathers.
$3.80
Write a Review
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Celeste W from Connecticut
Great product. Works better than the more expensive brand and is easier to clean too.
Glenn M from Ontario, Canada
So first the good: these plates work well at limiting electrical use in the brooder. It is also much easier to regulate the temperature of the brooder because the chicks can go under the plate when they need to and go out for food and water when they want. Fluctuating temperatures outside don’t affect them as much.
The bad: like many electrical devices these days, they are not long-lasting units. We purchased four of the biggest plates and used them on 200 chicks a year, for six seasons. This fall, three out of the four units blew capacitors and other electrical circuits within a month of each other. Planned obsolescence? You tell me.
Given that these units are pretty expensive, it is an open question whether our power savings we experienced for a couple of months each year for six years were enough to justify the hefty purchase price.
Guy M from Pennsylvania
Best product ever. I have used heat lamps before for my day old chicks and I don’t feel they have been as comfortable as I’ve seen with this new product. Would definitely recommend this to anyone thinking about purchasing day old chicks.
Colette K from Michigan
Worth every penny!!! We invested in the large heating plate and cover, even though we only had 24 chicks. We invested in a large as we may raise more than 24 chicks next season. The heating plate is so much easier and safer to use than heat-lamp bulbs and the chicks are much healthier and happier too. The best part was that I was able to do away with brooding in a tub and put them directly in the coop using this heating plate with large shave pine bedding.
I set the legs for the chicks first week at about 3/4 extended and at just over a week, moved the legs to all the way up. If it was a colder night I just piled more bedding up under it.
Its awesome the heating plate is only 66 watts per hour as we had no problem running a stringer of heavy (12 gauge indoor/outdoor) extension cords to the coop to power it. And our coop is about 150' away from an outlet and it all worked great! We had some very cold nights (35º) and the less than a week old chicks did just fine hanging out under it.
I also invested in the thermostat for the heat plate to progress the heat accordingly as the chicks grew and the weather warmed or cooled at night.
I highly recommend investing in the cover too as the chicks WILL make a 'hot' mess of your investment if you don't.
Our meat chicks are three weeks as I write this review, and I have removed the heat plate for the season. The heat plate and cover cleanup up for storage very nicely. I used a little windex sprayed on paper towel (not on the unit) to clean it all off and put back in the box it came in to store it. All the birds are doing great and are hanging out in the outside yard during the day now. I highly recommend investing in one of these particularly for meat bird brooding, although I have no doubt it would be great for any birds such as ducks, geese, or pheasants as well.
Mickey F from California
Does what you expect. I purchased two one worked amazing and the other one’s red light burned out within 24 hours of use an I had to constantly keep lifting the plate to check an make sure it was warm... it was frustrating.
