Do chicks who pip at the other side of the egg (bottom) do fine getting out?

BantyChooks said:

Me, I just throw the cover in the washer when it gets dirty...

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Thanks, I had been thinking of building a "cave" using a bed cat bag with hoop to shape the mouth open and a heating pad in the brooder but just hadn't done it yet. Maybe that can be my project for this spring.

dekel18042 said:

Question for those using a heating pad in the brooder. How do you keep it clean in with chicks. Burying it in chips or straw? I thought of encasing it in a plastic bag but don't think that would be good to put in which chicks. That's the reason I'm hesitating using it so far.

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Lots of great suggestions on the "mother" thread for the MHP (linked below). What I did is wrapped the heating pad (after making sure it's not auto-shut-off) in a hand towel. Easy enough to wash the towels. I put my towel/heating pad over one of those wire things used for holding foil/plastic wrap under kitchen cabinets pictured below. A layer of hardware cloth over the frame keeps little heads/necks from getting caught between the wire frame and the pad- also helps when they inevitably jump up on top of it - don't want to crush the chicks underneath when either there are enough chicks to cave it in or the chicks get big enough to cave it in. Depends on # of chicks. Worked fine for 4 chicks (could have been more) - I just bent the back part down so the chicks can get their backs to the heating pad towel like it was a hen, and so long as they have a way out the back so nobody gets truly stuck back there.

There are many great variations- again- as fancy or simple as you want to make it. Some do adjustable legs etc. I liked it a lot for straight out of the incubator and the first couple weeks- depending on your setup they can use it much longer. Inverted turkey roaster for bigger chicks works well too.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ooder-picture-heavy-update/8100#post_17952572

dekel18042 said:

Question for those using a heating pad in the brooder. How do you keep it clean in with chicks. Burying it in chips or straw? I thought of encasing it in a plastic bag but don't think that would be good to put in which chicks. That's the reason I'm hesitating using it so far.

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I place mine between 2 of the bigger sheet pans(restaurant pans) I picked up cheap at a auction. I then slide the pans inside a old pillow case or feed sack add a little chips in the upper pan on top of the pillow case/sack. The whole pans get warm. I usually keep it on a low heat.