There is nothing more delightful than raising baby chicks, but these tiny golden balls of fluff are especially vulnerable during the first few weeks of their lives. A chick brooder heating plate will provide your chicks with the cozy warmth they need to thrive.
A chick brooder heating plate is the perfect investment for your chicken coop or nesting box. Newly hatched baby chicks are especially at risk to cold temperatures during the first 8 weeks of life, and if they do not have the necessary warmth and protection that is normally supplied by their mother hen, they can get sick and die.
Installing a chick brooder heating plate is the best way to ensure that your chicks experience life-sustaining warmth day and night.
Once you have successfully raised your baby chickens into adult chickens, you can install a heat lamp for a greater level of warmth.
The 7 Best Chick Brooder Heating Plates
- RentACoop Chick Brooder Heating Plate
- Premier Chick Brooder Heating Plate (Our Top Pick)
- Rural365 Chick Brooder Heating Plate
- Brinsea Products Ecoglow Brooder for Chicks or Ducklings
- Titan Incubators Chick Heating Plate
- K&H PET PRODUCTS Thermo-Peep Heated Pad Tan
- Farm Innovators Model HM-60P Heated Chicken Mat
Our Top Pick for the Best Chick Brooder Heating Plate
Our top pick for the best chick brooder heating plate is the Premier Chick Brooder Heating Plate.
We highly recommend the Premier 1 Supplies brooder heating plate for your feathered flock. Premier 1 Supplies are experts in designing products that specifically cater to animals and their chick brooder heating plate is a favorite heating tool with many chicken breeders.
The heating plate is well designed, it gives you the flexibility to adjust it to the perfect size for your baby birds and it provides optimal warmth that baby chicks need to grow up into healthy prize-winning chickens.
Check the price on AmazonChoosing a Chick Brooder
Chick Brooder Heating Plate
A chick brooder heating plate is a perfect heating solution for newborn baby chicks up to 4 or 6 weeks. The heating plate contains an effective heating element that produces lots of cozy heat up to 125°F. This level of heating is similar to a 200 or 250-watt bulb but is safer to use.
One of the additional benefits of using a brooder heating plate is that it is designed with 2 or 4 height-adjustable legs that you adjust up or down to accommodate your growing baby chicks. Most heating plates also come with a flat or curved plastic cover that prevents your chicks from roosting and pooping on top of the plate. A curved cover is more effective at stopping the chicks from roosting on the cover than a flat cover.
Chicken Brooder Heating Mat
A chicken brooder heating mat is ideal for older baby chicks and adult chickens in coops, nesting areas, and pens. The heating mat contains a thermostatically-controlled heating element that automatically regulates its warmth up to 100-105°F. One of the most energy-efficient devices, a heating mat only produces its heating once baby chicks gather on top of the mat.
If you have limited space in your chicken coop or you are using a small nesting box, a heating mat can be mounted horizontally or vertically.
The downsides of using a heating pad are that it does not have a sheltered plate where chicks can sit underneath, and as the mat does not have an anti-roosting cover, you will have to clean it regularly.
Size
Before choosing a heating plate or mat for your brood, you have to consider how many chicks are going to use the heating device.
A 12 x 12-inch heating plate will accommodate up to 20 chicks and a larger 16 x 24-inch plate is ideal for up to 50 chicks.
If you want a heating mat that you can mount inside your chicken coop, a small 9 x 12-inch heated mat will accommodate 4 baby chicks, and a large 19 x 13-inch heated mat can fit 15-20 chicks.
Wattage
If you are concerned about the amount of electricity a chick brooder uses, you can put your mind at rest. Most heating plates use around 22, 25 or 60-watts per hour so they are very economical as opposed to a heating lamp which can be very expensive.
Adjustable Height Settings
Most heating plates have height-adjustable legs. As your baby chicks grow, you can adjust the heating plate up or down which means you can make sure that your chicks have a comfortable space where they can enjoy the cozy warmth.
7 Best Chicken Brooders – Reviews
1. RentACoop Chick Brooder Heating Plate
Simulating the comforting heat of a mother hen, the RentACoop Chick Brooder Heating Plate provides a snug place for 20 chicks to stay nice and warm.
An excellent alternative to an expensive 250-watt heat lamp, the RentACoop heating plate uses an extremely fast and energy-efficient 22-watt heating element. It acts like a mother hen by keeping the chicks warm and cozy beneath her feathers. The chicks stay warm by contact with the warm underside of the plate. The bottom-side plate surface is warm up to 125°F, but not hot enough to burn your babies.
The heating element is encased in durable plastic and the sturdy legs provide a safe place for your baby chicks to nest underneath. You can adjust the height of the heating plate from 1-7-inches with the easy-to-use adjustable clips.
RentACoop also offers comfort feathers and an anti-roosting cover, which are both sold separately.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Durable plastic design
- Ideal for 20 chicks
- Creates a safe and cozy warm environment just like a mother hen
- Fast and consistent heating
- Excellent alternative to a 250-watt heating lamp
- Extremely energy-efficient
- Height adjustable legs
- Comfort feathers and an anti-roosting cover are available
Cons
- Plate can get very hot to the touch
- Anti-roosting cover is sold separately
2. Premier Chick Brooder Heating Plate
Your baby chicks will absolutely love snuggling underneath the Premier Chick Brooder Heating Plate.
The chicken brooder is made of strong ABS plastic and the heating element is safely encapsulated in polyurethane insulation. Premier 1 Supplies also include a heavy-duty curved transparent anti-roosting cover that stops chicks from roosting on top of the plate but you have to buy it separately on their website.
Baby chicks are irresistibly drawn to the plate’s super snug warmth that reaches up to 125°F on the underside of the plate.
The 12 x 12-inch heating plate can comfortably fit up to 20 chicks but as your babies grow, you can adjust the plate’s height from 1.5-6-inch with the adjustable push-button legs.
You will save money on costly electrical bills as this energy-efficient heating plate only uses between 22-66-watts per hour, and it comes with a good-sized 70-inch power cord.
Premier 1 Supplies offers a 1-year warranty on the chick brooder heating plate.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Sturdy ABS plastic
- Heating element is safely encapsulated in polyurethane insulation
- Affordable heavy-duty curved transparent anti-roosting cover is available for separate purchase
- Bottom-side plate surface reaches approximately 125°F when fully heated
- Comfortably fits up to 20 chicks
- Height adjustable legs from 1.5-6-inch
- Energy-efficient and economical
- Good sized power cord
- One-year limited warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- Can take a while to fully heat up
3. Rural365 Chick Brooder Heating Plate
If you have a large brood of baby chicks to care for, the Rural365 Chick Brooder Heating Plate provides plenty of room for your brood to enjoy long-lasting comforting warmth.
This large 16 x 16-inch heating plate can accommodate up to 35 chicks or baby ducklings. As your babies grow, you can easily adjust the plate from 1.2-8.25-inch with the 4 adjustable push-button bright yellow legs.
The brooder is made from durable ABS plastic and the heating element is safely encapsulated in polyurethane insulation. As the heating element reaches up to 125°F when fully heated, your chicks will love the comforting warmth which is similar to the warmth supplied by a mother hen.
To keep your chicks safe, the chick brooder heating plate has a built-in resistant fuse and a temperature fuse that prevents short-circuiting and overheating. Red indicator lights tell you when the plate is heating up. It also comes with a good-sized 70-inch power cord.
The Rural365 heating plate is an excellent alternative to using a heat lamp as it provides safer and economical heating.
Rural365 offers a 1-year limited warranty on the chick brooder heating plate.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Large size accommodates up to 35 chicks
- Safe and economical alternative to a heat lamp
- Reaches a cozy 125°F when fully heated
- Sturdy and strong ABS plastic
- Energy-efficient heating element is coved in polyurethane insulation
- Press-button adjustable legs are alterable from 1.5-6-inch
- Red indicator lights
- Good sized 70-inch power cord
- One-year limited warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- No anti-roosting cover
4. Brinsea Products Ecoglow Brooder for Chicks or Ducklings
Whether you are raising baby chicks or ducklings, your babies will be snug and warm underneath the Brinsea Products Ecoglow Brooder for Chicks or Ducklings.
The 12 x 9-inch chick brooder is made from strong antimicrobial plastic and is designed to fit 20 newly hatched chicks, ducklings, water-fowl, and other types of baby birds up to 20 days old.
Your chicks will enjoy the warmth from the newly designed heating plate which simulates the nurturing warmth of a mother hen. Instead of plastic, the metal heating plate is more effective at spreading uniform radiant heat without hot or cold spots and an improved flared skirt design reduces energy use.
Unlike other chick heating plates, the Brinsea Ecoglow brooder heating plate runs at 12-volt from its supplied mains transformer which makes it a safer option than a heat lamp.
You can adjust the height of the 4 adjustable legs to accommodate your chicks as they grow. The heating plate comes with a free durable easy-to-clean plastic anti-roosting cover, a generous 10-foot power cord, and an indicator light.
Brinsea offers a 3-year warranty when you register on their website.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Updated design
- Ideal for 20 newly hatched chicks or ducklings
- Can be used for waterfowl, game-bird chicks, and classroom hatches
- Strong microbial plastic
- Metal heat warming plate provides radiant heat and eliminates hot and cold spots
- Improved flared skirt design retains more heat and saves on energy
- 12-volt transformer maximizes safety
- Easy adjustable height settings
- Free plastic cover is durable and easy to clean
- Generous 10-foot power cord
- Indicator light
- Three-year warranty upon registration
Cons
- Plastic cover is not curved
- Designed for indoor use only and the room temperature should not drop below 50°F
- Not ideal for baby chicks over 4 weeks old
5. Titan Incubators Chick Heating Plate
If you are raising baby chicks or teaching your K-12 students about incubation and embryology, the Titan Incubators Chick Heating Plate is right for you.
This 12 x 12-inch chick brooder is suitable for keeping up to 25 chicks, ducklings, or baby waterfowl warm for the few first weeks of their life. It also helps baby chicks get used to the natural light changes of night and day which improves weight gain and feather growth.
The flat heating plate is very effective at conducting its 65°F radiant heat. Simulating the cozy warmth of a mother hen, your babies will snuggle up underneath the plate and they can hop on and off as they choose.
You will appreciate the energy efficiency of this brooder heater as it consumes 92% less electricity than a 250-watt heat lamp, so you will save on expensive bills.
Its heat diffusing plate can be used in complete safety as the heating surface does not get hot enough to burn newly hatched chicks. It has a watertight construction and the 12-volt mains transformer reduces any overheating.
The sturdy and strong plastic legs can be easily adjusted to fit your growing chicks as they grow and thrive into healthy adult chickens.
The Titan Incubators chick brooder heating plate is covered by a 1-year warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Suitable for keeping up to 25 chicks, ducklings, or baby waterfowl warm
- Study and strong plastic
- Radiant metal plate is very effective at conducting heat
- Heating surface does not get hot enough to burn chicks
- Highly economical
- Very good alternative to a heat lamp
- Height adjustable legs
- Easy to set up and safe to use
- One-year warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- No curved anti-roosting lid
- Heating temperature is quite low
6. K&H PET PRODUCTS Thermo-Peep Heated Pad Tan
The K&H PET PRODUCTS Thermo-Peep Heated Pad Tan is the perfect heating solution for any indoor or outdoor chicken coop.
You can use the petite 9 x 12-inch heated pad for 4 baby chicks during the early stages of their development or 2 adult chickens during the cold winter months.
As this heated pad is thermostatically controlled, it automatically provides the perfect temperature as soon as baby chicks snuggle down on top of the pad. Once the chicks leave the pad, the heat will dissipate into the air and the surface temperature returns to the normal ambient temperature. This smart design combined with the energy-efficient 25-watt heating element helps you to save on costly electrical bills.
To stop any damage from everyday wear and tear, the pad is water-resistant and the power cord has a steel-capped entrance to protect it from pecking and chewing. This chick brooder heated pad is MET safety listed so you can use it with total peace of mind.
The pad also has pre-drilled holes in each corner which you can use to securely mount the pad in a chicken coop or inside a nesting box.
K&H PET PRODUCTS offers a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on the chick brooder heated pad.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Excellent for baby chicks and adult chickens
- Can use it indoors or outdoors
- Perfectly thermostat-controlled heating
- Energy efficient
- Steel encased cord resists pecking and chewing
- Water-resistant
- Can mount it vertically or horizontally
- One-year limited warranty
Cons
- Can be hard to clean
- Not fully waterproof
7. Farm Innovators Model HM-60P Heated Chicken Mat
The Farm Innovators Model HM-60P Heated Chicken Mat provides up to 20 baby chicks a cozy warm place to roost during the first weeks of their lives or adult chickens in the cold winter months.
The large 19 x 13-inch heated mat is constructed of durable, easy-to-clean, high impact ABS plastic. It is thermostatically controlled and operates automatically once your baby chicks or adult chickens settle on top of the mat. The energy-efficient 60-watt element automatically controls the 100-105°F temperature to make sure that your babies will have their much-needed warmth day or night.
For extra safety, the element’s wiring is safely contained inside the mat and a red glowing indicator light shows when the unit is operating.
You can mount the heated mat vertically or horizontally inside a chicken coop, nesting box, or pen.
Farm Innovators offer a 1-year limited warranty on the heating mat.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Good price
- Constructed of durable, easy-to-clean, high impact ABS plastic
- Thermostatically controlled
- Ideal for baby chicks and adult chickens in coops, nesting areas, and pens
- Nice gentle heat
- Heating wiring is safely contained inside the mat
- Red glowing indicator light
- Can mount it vertically or horizontally
- One-year limited warranty
Cons
- May not provide enough heating for larger adult chickens
- Surface gets dirty easily
- Not ideal for a small nesting box
Our Top Pick for the Best Chick Brooder Heating Plate
Our top pick for the best chick brooder heating plate is the Premier Chick Brooder Heating Plate.
We highly recommend the Premier 1 Supplies brooder heating plate for your feathered flock. Premier 1 Supplies are experts in designing products that specifically cater to animals and their chick brooder heating plate is a favorite heating tool with many chicken breeders.
The heating plate is well designed, it gives you the flexibility to adjust it to the perfect size for your baby birds and it provides optimal warmth that baby chicks need to grow up into healthy prize-winning chickens.
Check the price on Amazon
