Brooder heat plates

[Burdi]

TSH has a $40 model that has worked well for me. Has a 40w setting for use as a brooder plate and a 200w setting to use as a coop heater.

 

[Yabadabadoo]

If you have an old fashioned heating pad... the kind that does NOT have an auto-turn off, those work perfect for chicks.

@Alaskan quick question re hotpad. I have read about the “caves” people make with a hot pad and other materials. Did you donsomething else with your hot pad? Also, what temp setting? Any worry about pecking? Thanks.

 

[Alaskan]

@Alaskan quick question re hotpad. I have read about the “caves” people make with a hot pad and other materials. Did you donsomething else with your hot pad? Also, what temp setting? Any worry about pecking? Thanks.

Depends on where you are brooding your chicks....

In Texas when I brooded indoors I would tape 2 cardboard boxes together. One box would have a flap folded down flat like a roof, and that "cave" area would have a heating pad on the outside of the box, attached flat to the wall of the box. The chicks would run into the cave area, and flatten themselves against the wall to warm up.

I had a regular lamp over the eating and drinking box for both light and a bit of heat... that was all they needed.

But... Texas... even indoors it is what... 80??

Anyway... did it that way for multiple years.. worked great... 25 chicks each time.

Up here.... I always start them inside. To be honest, I haven't been as pleased with the heatplates I bought... so inside I usually use a heatlamp, but at times I still use the plate..

When I move them outside, I make more of a nestbox kind of setup, with bedding, and wrap the heatpad around 2 sides of the "nest". Inside or outside the "nest".

I stick the heatpad into a freezer ziplock and ducttape closed to keep it clean.

Since the heating pad is in a dark nesting area, they do not peck at it.

I know most when using the mama hen thing use the heatpad as a roof.... probably a better choice with a large number of chicks.

I have also used the heating pad for a warming station for baby goats.. they didn't bust it either.

I always stick it on high... none of them have been stupid enough to cook themselves.

 

[rosemarythyme]

@Alaskan quick question re hotpad. I have read about the “caves” people make with a hot pad and other materials. Did you donsomething else with your hot pad? Also, what temp setting? Any worry about pecking? Thanks.

With temperature, I do it this way: up to week 1 HI, week 2 MED, week 3 LO, week 4 WARM, then they're done. This is assuming chicks are feathering decently and have shelter from the elements, and outdoor temps around mid 40s at lowest (they're probably fine even lower than that but I've only tested down to mid 40s).

 

[Yabadabadoo]

Thanks!