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:
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
$17.00 -
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
Write a Review
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Ann H from Missouri
I have two different sized units with the covers. I raise purebred poultry and have a busy spring hatching season. These heating plates are very well built and easy to set up. They are better than incandescent light bulbs, which have become hard to find and expensive.
Paul G from Oregon
The plates work well. The number of birds that each size supports is very optimistic, though. I would divide it by half. We have 10 chicks under a small plate, “up to 20 chicks,” and 16 under a medium, “up to 30 chicks,” and I would not want any more birds per plate than we have.
A small plate would support 20 day old chicks, but they would quickly outgrow the plate, with not all birds fitting under it and staying warm. This is based on Cornish Cross chicks, which grow fast.
Issues with the size estimates aside, the plates work well and are a great alternative to a heat lamp, both saving electricity and being much safer. We had a heat lamp fall into the pine shavings once, starting to smoke. Luckily we caught it before the house burned down. This isn’t a concern with these plates.
Laura W from South Dakota
Couple of problems with this:
- Half my chicks died from getting too cold today while I was at work and couldn’t constantly monitor it. It was at the max heat setting with the regulator. There is no reason why I should have come home to it being cold, even with the red light on. I unplugged it and plugged it back in, and it started heating again. Maybe mine is defective?
- The cover is absolutely NOT worth $44. It should come with the heater. Maybe add another $15, but $44 is ridiculous for a flimsy piece of plastic.
Satori H from Minnesota
The plate is great, I would have given 5 stars. The cover is very flimsy and not worth the money. It should be included with the heat plate and is definitely not worth $44 on its own. I own a different one from a different brand that feels like the same quality plate but came with a very thick and durable cover for cheaper. First time being unhappy with a Premier 1 purchase.
Ponker F from Arkansas
The plastic top doesn’t fit very well. Once I managed to get it on securely, it made adjusting the legs of the heater a vicious battle every time. I’ve decided to enlarge the holes for the heater legs to make my life easier. It’s just a pain to use right now. If the holes in the top actually lined up with the legs of the heater, I’d give it 5 stars. But as it is…
