Sweeter Heater Coop & Brooder Heater (4 sizes)

Sweeter Heater Radiant Brooder & Coop Heater

Heat lamps are the leading cause of chicken coop and brooder fires, and traditional infrared bulbs run hot enough to make that risk very real. The Sweeter Heater is a radiant heat panel built as a safer alternative for brooding chicks and warming adult chickens, with a surface temperature that stays below 185°F, compared to 430+°F on a standard heat bulb. It gives you consistent warmth for the flock without the open-bulb fire hazard.

Available in four sizes and two mounting styles, the Sweeter Heater can be sized to a small brooder box or a full coop, and mounted overhead or against a wall depending on your space.

Key Features

• Radiant Heat Panel, Not a Bulb: Surface temperature stays below 185°F, well under the 430+°F a traditional infrared heat bulb can reach, reducing the fire risk that comes with open heat lamps.
• Lower Power Draw: Uses 32 to 150 watts depending on size, versus 250 watts for a standard infrared heat bulb, which can reduce your electricity costs over a season of brooding.
• Four Sizes for Different Flock Sizes: Sized from 11" x 11" up to 11" x 40" so you can match the heater to a small brooder or a larger batch of chicks instead of over- or under-sizing your heat source.
• Two Mounting Options: Choose an overhead mount (hung by chain) or a side mount (fixed flush to a wall or ceiling), so you can install it based on your coop or brooder layout rather than being locked into one setup.
• Adjustable Overhead Height: The overhead mount uses a 6-foot electrical cord, letting you raise or lower the heater as chicks grow and their heat needs change, without extra hardware or dials.
• Easy-Clean Sealed Shell: The plastic housing on top is sealed, so it can be sprayed and wiped down if hens roost or leave droppings on it, keeping cleanup simple.
• Made in the USA, 3-Year Warranty: Designed, sourced, and assembled in the USA, and backed by a three-year warranty against defects in material or workmanship. If you run into any issues, contact us and we'll help sort it out.

Sized for Your Flock

Because chick capacity depends on the size you choose, matching the model to your brooder matters. As a starting reference, in a draft-free space at 70°F with the heater hung 4.5–5 inches off the ground:

• 11" x 11" (32 watts, 2 lbs): heats up to 22-25 chicks.
• 11" x 16" (50 watts, 4 lbs): heats up to 32-35 chicks.
• 11" x 30" (100 watts, 6 lbs): heats up to 60-65 chicks.
• 11" x 40" (150 watts, 8 lbs): heats up to 80-85 chicks.

Drafts, colder ambient temperatures, or hanging the heater higher will all reduce effective coverage, so when you're between sizes, sizing up is the safer choice. The heater can also be used to take the edge off winter temperatures for adult hens, and it can warm any animal positioned directly below (overhead mount) or in front of (side mount) the heating surface. If you're deciding whether your coop needs supplemental heat at all, see our guide on heating a chicken coop in winter.

Specifications

• Sizes: 11" x 11", 11" x 16", 11" x 30", 11" x 40"
• Power draw: 32 watts (11" x 11") up to 150 watts (11" x 40")
• Weight: 2 lbs (11" x 11") up to 8 lbs (11" x 40")
• Surface temperature: stays below 185°F
• Species/use: chicks and adult chickens
• Cord length (overhead mount): 6 feet
• Country of origin: designed, sourced, and assembled in the USA
• Warranty: 3 years against defects in material or workmanship

What's Included

• Overhead mount units: one 20-inch chain length (11" x 11" and 11" x 16") or two 20-inch chain lengths (11" x 30" and 11" x 40"), plus three S-hooks.
• Side mount units: mounting brackets and screws for flush wall or ceiling mounting.

Know Before You Buy

• Chick capacity is a maximum, not a guarantee. The numbers above assume a draft-free space, 70°F ambient temperature, and the heater hung 4.5–5 inches off the ground. Colder, draftier, or higher-hung setups will reduce how many chicks a given size can effectively heat.
• Keep drafts out of the brooder regardless of heater size — the manufacturer notes that excessive drafts can be dangerous for chicks even with adequate heat.
• Clearance matters. The heating surface needs to stay open to the air, and a minimum of 6 inches of space is required between the unit and the ground, bedding, straw, hay, or other combustible material.
• Don't let the unit fall with the heating surface enclosed — the manufacturer notes this can cause severe overheating.
• New units may have a faint plastic smell. The manufacturer recommends running the heater for a few hours before introducing chicks so this can dissipate.
• Choose your mount type by location. The manufacturer suggests the overhead mount for colder brooding spaces (porch, garage, barn, basement, or outdoor structure), and the side mount if you're only using it in a coop during winter, since it doesn't require hanging.
• Full setup steps are available separately. See our installation instructions for step-by-step mounting and setup guidance.

FAQ

• How many chicks will each size heat? Under draft-free conditions at 70°F, hung 4.5–5 inches off the ground: 22-25 chicks (11" x 11"), 32-35 chicks (11" x 16"), 60-65 chicks (11" x 30"), or 80-85 chicks (11" x 40"). Colder or draftier conditions reduce these numbers.
• Is this for chicks only, or adult chickens too? Both. It's used for brooding chicks and can also warm adult hens in a coop during winter.
• What mounting hardware comes with it? Overhead mount units include chain (one length on the two smaller sizes, two lengths on the two larger sizes) and three S-hooks. Side mount units include mounting brackets and screws.
• Does it require an electrical outlet? Yes, it plugs in; the overhead mount includes a 6-foot electrical cord.

Related reading: How to Use a Brooder Heating Plate