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Heat Lamps vs Brooder Plates

Our headquarters in South Fork, Pennsylvania is looking a lot more beautiful lately. The snow is melting, the sun is shining, and we’re starting to see grass again for the first time in months—that means it’s officially chick brooding season.

February and March are when many growers start planning to order layer chicks. Many of our customers like to place their orders early so they can have healthy, happy birds ready to move to the coop or pasture by spring.

Now is the perfect time to remind our customers that we don’t recommend the use of brooder plates for baby chicks. While they do have some advantages, they do not outweigh the risks they pose to your poultry.

We’ll explain why we think heat lamps are the way to go this brooding season.

The Benefits of Heat Lamps

We understand the hesitancy some growers may have to use heat lamps. They are more expensive to run, and if improperly used, they do have the potential to cause barn fires.

As a result, more and more people have switched to using brooder plates, as they are perceived to be a safe alternative to heat lamps. However, they are not necessarily safer or better for your chicks. In fact, they can do more harm than good in the crucial early days of chick development.

Heat lamps are perfectly safe as long as they are properly installed and maintained. Here are 6 reasons we prefer heat lamps over brooder plates.

1.     Heat lamps provide light. 

Light plays a crucial role in the early development of your chicks. Unlike a brooder plate, heat lamp bulbs provide your chicks with both warmth and light, allowing them to easily locate their feeders, waterers, and navigate the brooder.

Baby chicks have poor night vision and will not eat or drink in the dark, so if using a brooder plate, you must provide a supplemental light source to ensure your chicks are able to navigate their brooder space.

2.     Heat lamps cover a wider surface area. 

Brooder plates have a much smaller coverage area than heat lamps. Depending on your flock size, you may have to buy 2-3 brooder plates for one batch of chicks. One heat lamp easily provides enough heat for up to 100 chicks at a time.

3.     Lamps allow your chicks to multitask.

Giving your chicks a heat lamp allows them to be warm while they eat, drink, and move about the brooder.

If you opt for a heat plate, your chicks cannot do multiple things at the same time. They have to choose between being warm, or eating and drinking. And more often than not, your chicks will choose to be warm, which can impact their long-term health and development.

4.     Heat lamps are easily adjustable. 

Chick heat plates are not as easy to adjust or maintain. They generally have one heat setting, and chicks need to have less heat week by week to wean them off external heat. A heat lamp can easily be raised or lowered based on the needs of your chicks.

Chicks also grow incredibly fast, so they tend to outgrow the brooder plate before they are fully ready to be weaned from heat.

5.     Lamps provide better quality heat. 

Especially for growers that live in cold climates, we highly recommend heat lamps, as brooder plates cannot provide enough heat in extreme temperatures.

Your chicks simply will not be warm enough, and they will probably choose to be hanging out under the brooder plate more often than not.

6.     Lamps are made of high-quality materials. 

Heat lamps are fairly standardized, and are typically made from high-quality materials like ceramic or metal.

There are a wide variety of brooder plates on the market, and they vary significantly in terms of quality and material. Some brooder plates are better than others, but many of them are constructed from flimsy plastic, so they have the potential to melt or overheat if they are not manufactured by a reputable brand.

Lamp Safety Checklist

From our decades of experience in the poultry industry, we have found heat lamps to be highly reliable and effective. As long as you follow a safety checklist, you will be able to keep your chicks and your property safe. 

We recommend using at least two methods to secure your heat lamp. Heavy duty clamps, hooks, or chains should prevent your heat lamp from falling.


When installing your heat lamp, make sure you are attaching it to a sturdy, reliable structure. A few options include hanging from a secured hook in the ceiling, a metal bracket, or using a sturdy and secured lamp stand. 

For an added layer of safety, heat lamp cages and shatterproof bulbs will prevent your heat lamp from causing a fire if your other methods fail.

Make sure you have a smoke detector installed and a fire extinguisher easily accessible in the area where you plan to install your heat lamp. 

Heat Lamp Best Practices

Never hang a heat lamp by the cord. This is a fire hazard, and a common beginner mistake. Always hang your heat lamp with a chain or clamp (preferably both). 

Do not use bulbs with incorrect or improper wattage. Too high will be a fire hazard, and too low will not be warm enough. The industry standard is 250-watt infrared light bulbs.

Never use flimsy or flammable materials in your brooder. Many growers prefer to use a DIY brooder, but if you are opting to use a plastic tub or storage tote as your chick brooder, be mindful that your heat lamp can burn this material.

We like stock tanks or large wooden brooders, as they are more durable and safer than plastic.

Tips for Safely Using a Brooder Plate

We know this topic can create a hot debate! At the end of the day, you should do what is right for you.

While it is not our preferred method to heat a brooder, we know that lots of growers have come to prefer a heating plate for chicks.

Every chicken keeper is different, so we suggest that you use the methods that you are most comfortable with.


If you’re planning to use a brooder plate this season, follow these tips to keep your chicks safe and warm.

1. Add lighting for your chicks.

The first few days of development for your chicks are crucial.

If you choose to go with a brooder plate, we recommend using a heat lamp for at least the first 3 days so your chicks can learn to eat and drink first. You can then switch them over to using the brooder plate.

If you'd rather not use a lamp at all, then you need to have some kind of external light source for your chicks for at least the first 48-72 hours. 

2. Adjust your brooder plate as needed.

Chicks grow incredibly fast, so you need to make sure you are adjusting the height of your plate so your chicks can fit under it without touching the plate. If they are hunching over, this will hinder their development.

Some customers have reported their chicks getting burned by brooder plates, likely due to overheating or poorly made brooder plates. Check the plate multiple times a day and ensure it’s not too hot to the touch.

Heat Lamps are Our Favorite Method to Heat Brooders 

Brooding season is our favorite time of year at Myers Poultry. We love watching chicks grow and providing growers with healthy, high-quality day-old poultry.

While there are pros and cons to both methods, we personally love the versatility and reliability of heat lamps as opposed to brooder plates.

If you have any questions about setting up or maintaining your brooder this season, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team at Myers Poultry. We are here to assist you on your journey of growing happy, healthy birds.