Heating Plates for Chick Brooders
Product Details
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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Heating Plates and Covers
Heating Plate Temperature Control
Item #540229 -Manually control the heat output of Premier's heating plates for poultry
$14.00 -
Waterers and Accessories
Chick Nipple Drinker with Wire Hanger, 1 quart capacity
Item #540224 -1 qt. capacity nipple drinker sits or hangs above the litter so water is always clean. For use in poultry brooders and cages. Includes wire hanger.
$8.50 -
Brooder Kits and Panels
Disposable Cardboard Panel, each
Item #530150 -Build a safe, secure chick brooder using modular brooder panels. Quick to assemble with disposable and reusable options.
$2.10 -
Brooder Kits and Panels
Reusable Plastic Panel, each
Item #530155 -Build a safe, secure chick brooder using modular brooder panels. Quick to assemble with disposable and reusable options.
$5.70
-
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
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Sherri from California
This is probably the best purchase I've made this year. I no longer worry about if the brooder light adjustments have failed and the light is pointing the wrong way, leaving the chicks with too much or not enough heat. I purchased the small size to give it a try, but plan on purchasing more for the varied stages of chicks. I had a couple of new arrivals and since I had raised the legs of the plate for my older chicks I found that a temporary fix was to use a small box with sides that did not touch the plate for the tiny ones, that seemed to hold more heat for them and a few of the larger chicks decided to crawl into the box with them. Love this item and the small size is much more versatile than the large one, so I am very happy.
Nadja v from Wisconsin
I always used heat lamps and liked them but was leary of using them in the house. You always worry about something bad happening and the babies get chilled if the lamp would quit working or worse, starting a house fire. So I thought I'd try the 12x12 heating plate. To my surprise it works great. I have call ducklings and bantam chicks I raise. They took to it well. But you have to make sure that you keep raising the legs every week. Appearently I didn't raise them enough because my first batch of ducklings, a few had a small bald spot on top of their head which filled in since. I have since purchased two more heating plates and like them very much.
Chris W from Ohio
I am a first-time chicken owner (seven beautiful hens). We commute almost two hours daily to and from work, so I was anxious about using a light bulb in the brooder and the potential for fire hazards. I did a lot of research and decided to go with a heating plate and ultimately decided on this one (12" x 12"), mostly because of the cost (much less than on Amazon and uses less wattage to run vs. a heat lamp) and the positive reviews, and also because the heating plate is a more natural environment for the chicks, mimicking a mama hen where the chicks can crawl under it to get warm. I am very glad I chose this heating plate! My girls took to it right away! I like the fact that when the sun goes down, they would head for the plate to go to sleep, whereas a heat lamp is on 24/7. The chicks also like to lounge on top of the plate as well as use it for a launching pad for learning to fly. I highly recommend using some sort of cover on the top of the plate because getting the excrement off of it is quite a task. I purchased the plastic top that goes with the heating plate but ultimately I ended up not using it; instead I cut a few pieces of rubber shelf liner to fit on top since the girls like to congregate there and I didn't want to take that space away from them. By day four, they really weren't sleeping under it anymore but would still run under the plate to warm up. I was a little concerned that I was unable to adjust the temperature of the plate, but raising the height of the plate as the chicks grew worked just fine. So in a nutshell, my girls are happy with the heating plate and so am I! One more word, the description says the 12" x 12" plate can fit up to 20 chicks. That is only applicable to the first few days after hatching, they grow fast and all 7 of my girls (4.5 weeks old) could not all fit under it if they needed to, but that is a nonissue for me. I highly recommend this product! :)
Rebecca from New England
its a great concept, and the quality seems fine, ducklings are happy. my complaint has to do with the size. i bought the small, sized for 20 chicks. yes, i know ducklings are bigger. at hatch, i could only fit 8 ducklings under there. (i knew i would be starting with 10 or less ducklings) 2 1/2 weeks later, the legs are fully extended and only 4 ducklings fit under there. i need leg extensions. do they even make those? currently its too cold for them to be in the barn so they are in my kitchen which is less than ideal. if i move them to the barn, i will need a heat lamp so that defeats the whole purpose of buying this. for the price it should be suitable for longer period if time. i recommend the product, but size up.
Martha S from Virginia
LOVE this. My chicks last year were the most well adjusted ever. They had good nights with lots of rest and transitioned outside great. On very cold nights I put the heater plate in the coop in case they needed it. They've stayed together as a very coherent and peaceful flock. Using the plate again this year.
