A different Brooder heater

[Mike_g]

Hey,

So we finally got some chicks, 10 each of Cornish broilers, barred rocks, jersey giants, and golden comets. We plan to butcher the broilers and a few of the jersey giants, leaving about 25 hens for laying thru winter.

We were at a loss for heating the Brooder, thinking about heating pads, heat lamps, etc. We liked the idea with a heating pad we saw here, but, unfortunately, our pad shuts off at 2 hours. We happened upon a really good dog heating mat at menards. API heat mat We got the 17x24 size,which has 57 watts of heating. It is rigid plastic, about 3/4 inch thick, and heats to about 105 degrees on the surface (I tested it with my oven probe for several hours before use). It comes with a faux lambswool cover, which we are not using.

We set the bare heat mat on a couple pieces of 2x4 wood, which raised it up just enough. They are all underneath it as I type, sleeping without a peep......

 

[NewBoots]

Good job! They are tiny for such a short time. Pics?

 

[Mike_g]

Here's a couple. First is yesterday, when kids were using space heaters to warm them (they had just arrived in the mail)

I just shot this next pic, had to turn the light on, and one snuck out to see what's going on. Note the hastily assembled canopy to keep them from jumping out, chunks of 1x4 in a hexagon pattern, gives an extra 3.5 inches of height, too

I think we'll need more Brooder space, soon.

 

[NewBoots]

Even the cornish crosses are cute at this stage. Yeah I think you will too. What will you do about a second heat source?

 

[Mike_g]

They are certainly cute, for sure. Don't know if we'll need a second heat source yet. If we do, we'd likely use the space heater.

 

[Mike_g]

No supplemental heat. Some have been sleeping underneath, but most have been sleeping on top of the heat mat. Not bad for 57 watts of heat. However, it's been 70 to 80 degrees ambient in the garage, so that helps too.