BYC Café

[ronott1]

That's true! And yeah, Brinsea seems like a rip off on most things haha



No of course not!

Sorry if it seemed that way at all!

There is definitely more than one way to raise chickens! Lots more.

I was more just addressing the point that they were the same price or cheaper because they aren't but I wasn't saying one was better or worse, or at least not trying to, strictly addressing price.

For me, only having to raise 8 chicks, the heating pad was a better option.

Plus tbh I really didn't even know there were other options. I bought a heat lamp, found the MHP thread right before my chicks arrived, and ran with it. So I very well might have ended up with a heat plate if I had had more time. I just knew that what I read made sense and I did not want to use a heat lamp at all.

I am sure the plates are worth it and there is a good reason for the price. For one, they are way easier to clean I'm sure. And they have also had a lot of design and thought put into them. You also do not have to construct anything. It is just ready to go. There is something to be said for all of those things and I do think that makes it worth the price. Especially if you have a lot of chicks.

For a few chicks, I think the pad is fine and I liked it, but someone else may choose to go with the plate because of the reasons listed, probably especially being easy to clean and ready to go out of the box.

I think the price point on the smaller one is worse, expensive for the size, but the bigger one isn't so bad.

It's all just what one chooses and prefers and one certainly isn't better than the other and you're certainly not stupid for choosing a different method than me or being willing to spend more!

I completely understand the reasoning for choosing the plate over the pad.

I just have my own reasons for choosing the pad.

Not you! on other threads the hen cave people attack those that suggest brooder plates. It can get quite nasty...so much so that I do not reply when someone suggests it.

Personally I think there is so much to learn with chicks that not normal things like hen caves(meaning advanced) should not be suggested on the new member threads

 

[ShrekDawg]

Not you! on other threads the hen cave people attack those that suggest brooder plates. It can get quite nasty...so much so that I do not reply when someone suggests it.

Personally I think there is so much to learn with chicks that not normal things like hen caves(meaning advanced) should not be suggested on the new member threads

That sucks

And yeah true but idk, it's way better for their health and well being than lights imo whether a plate ir pad

 

[ShrekDawg]

Not you! on other threads the hen cave people attack those that suggest brooder plates. It can get quite nasty...so much so that I do not reply when someone suggests it.

Personally I think there is so much to learn with chicks that not normal things like hen caves(meaning advanced) should not be suggested on the new member threads

That sucks

And yeah true but idk, it's way better for their health and well being than lights imo whether a plate ir pad

 

[CapricornFarm]

Ya exactly!

And i just googled and the king size sunbeam xpress heat heating pad without auto off is $40 and 12×24 and the biggest premier plate is 16×24 and $80. So 4 inches bigger but you could buy two heating pads for that price and brood double the amount of chicks.

Plus there might be cheaper models.

That said the Premier is wayyyy cheaper than the Brinsea.

There was a hanging one I saw once but I can't think of what it is called. It was white and hung over the chicks but not a lamp.

I bought a plate of some sort once and sent it back. Just didn't feel warm.

 

[drumstick diva]

Way back in the 60's when whelping my first litters of dogs, I used a big Lectro Kennel heating pad. It was large and hard and had like a teeny coating of felt or something on top. I also bought the rheostat to control the temps. It never really felt warm to me but, the pups did, so I guess it worked well enough.

My great broody mama(dog) didn't need it, she loved her pups and took great care of them.

My other female wanted to be rid of them as soon as they were born. So I cut out the top and bottom of a cardboard box to make a pen for them, on top of heating pad.
I ended up tube feeding them and to keep them from trying to nurse off each other, I made cardboard partitions to keep them separated. I also gave each a bunched up wash cloth to cuddle with and they were very content.

As they got mobile, I removed the box and let them have the entire whelping pen.
If the wanted heat they got on the pad, if not they just piled up together. It was easy to clean, I just put one sheet of newspaper down. and changed it often.

I would think those pads would still be great, if they make them. The cord had wire scrolled around the cord, so it couldn't be chewed. I didn't think of it for the pups, but, surely you could put a thermometer on them for chicks and mainly watch their behavior.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I bought a plate of some sort once and sent it back. Just didn't feel warm.

yeah, being so wide open too i dont see how it could possibly be that warm but lots of people seem to use them so i guess it must be!!

Way back in the 60's when whelping my first litters of dogs, I used a big Lectro Kennel heating pad. It was large and hard and had like a teeny coating of felt or something on top. I also bought the rheostat to control the temps. It never really felt warm to me but, the pups did, so I guess it worked well enough.

My great broody mama(dog) didn't need it, she loved her pups and took great care of them.

My other female wanted to be rid of them as soon as they were born. So I cut out the top and bottom of a cardboard box to make a pen for them, on top of heating pad.
I ended up tube feeding them and to keep them from trying to nurse off each other, I made cardboard partitions to keep them separated. I also gave each a bunched up wash cloth to cuddle with and they were very content.

As they got mobile, I removed the box and let them have the entire whelping pen.
If the wanted heat they got on the pad, if not they just piled up together. It was easy to clean, I just put one sheet of newspaper down. and changed it often.

I would think those pads would still be great, if they make them. The cord had wire scrolled around the cord, so it couldn't be chewed. I didn't think of it for the pups, but, surely you could put a thermometer on them for chicks and mainly watch their behavior.

aww that sounds awesome!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have a heating pad and piece of hardwire bent in a u it is high enough that chicks can go under for warmth or not no more heat lamps here and my heating pad is huge no auto shut off ... pups I used wading pools for litters but mine was big dogs my chihuahua's so many years ago had itty bitty dog beds

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

My biggest issue is power consumption. Heating pads use more than the plates do. I run on 100% solar, not tied to the grid, so I have to consider how much power is going to be drawn by something that is going to be running 24 hrs a day.
That and I don't trust myself to make something that the chicks could get hurt on or eat something they shouldn't.

 

[pennyJo1960]

My heating pad is relatively new replace them through Amazon I hear ya and things have gotten more efficient where we heat with wood most often I do understand

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

My heating pad is relatively new replace them through Amazon I hear ya and things have gotten more efficient where we heat with wood most often I do understand

Oh don't even get me started on electric heaters. Even small portable ones are a major power drain. I can't believe the average person uses them and can afford to eat. If I have to plug mine in I have to run the generator to compensate for the amount of power used. Needless to say I heat with wood too.