ceramic heat emitter (indoor or summer brooding)

[Willowspirit]

View attachment 1786732

These are my Silkie chicks under their MHP. It was the first time I tried the setup modified the way @Beekissed does it, with the heating pad on the underside of the frame and a pillowcase enclosing the entire setup. @Willowspirit is right about sealing the edges on yours. (Thanks for the tag!) When I use the thin towel on top of mine in my usual system I just put the Press’n’Seal on the top of the towel. Pressing it firmly on the surface of the towel and then just over the edge of the towel has been foolproof for me.

Thank you! I was in way over my head. Thanks for coming by!

 

[Mel281]

What do you use to secure the pad to the underside of the frame? Mines been on top, but they seem cold so I"m trying to move it under. I tried press and seal but it seems not strong enough.

 

[Blooie]

What do you use to secure the pad to the underside of the frame? Mines been on top, but they seem cold so I"m trying to move it under. I tried press and seal but it seems not strong enough.

I’m not sure how you were trying to set it up, but the Press’nSeal isn’t at all structural. I only use it to cover a threadbare towel that I put over the pad to help keep it clean. If you want the pad on the underside of the frame, you use small bungee cords to secure it. Here is a link to some clear instructions and photos on the Mama Heating Pad thread, courtesy of @Beekissed. Her posts start about halfway down the page.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/page-46

As for it not getting warm enough with the pad on the top of the frame, I can tell you that the temperatures on the floor of the “cave” average between 82.5 degrees and 85. You won’t get that recommended “95 the first week, 90 the second, etc.” using MHP, nor should you. It works by warming the chicks directly, not by heating the entire area. If your chicks are happily running in and out, resting on top of or beside it, and wandering under for a nap or when the sun goes down, it’s perfect. The heat needs to be at the level of the chicks’ backs. I raise them outside in a wire brooder in our covered run when our springtime temps are still in the 20s, dipping into the teens sometimes, with sideways blowing snow. Simple adjustments to the height of the cave as they grow, and turning the heat a notch if they don’t seem to want to use it anymore are about all that’s needed. I hope that helps.

 

[N ID Goose mom]

I’m not sure how you were trying to set it up, but the Press’nSeal isn’t at all structural. I only use it to cover a threadbare towel that I put over the pad to help keep it clean. If you want the pad on the underside of the frame, you use small bungee cords to secure it. Here is a link to some clear instructions and photos on the Mama Heating Pad thread, courtesy of @Beekissed. Her posts start about halfway down the page.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/page-46

As for it not getting warm enough with the pad on the top of the frame, I can tell you that the temperatures on the floor of the “cave” average between 82.5 degrees and 85. You won’t get that recommended “95 the first week, 90 the second, etc.” using MHP, nor should you. It works by warming the chicks directly, not by heating the entire area. If your chicks are happily running in and out, resting on top of or beside it, and wandering under for a nap or when the sun goes down, it’s perfect. The heat needs to be at the level of the chicks’ backs. I raise them outside in a wire brooder in our covered run when our springtime temps are still in the 20s, dipping into the teens sometimes, with sideways blowing snow. Simple adjustments to the height of the cave as they grow, and turning the heat a notch if they don’t seem to want to use it anymore are about all that’s needed. I hope that helps.

Blooie do you know if this would also work for goslings? I have chicks and goslings coming next week but heard that geese chew on everything. I had planned on ceramic heat but this looks more natural.

 

[Blooie]

We’ve had folks use it successfully for goslings and ducks, but it takes s little more fiddling. You’d need to adjust the height to accommodate the different body shape but it can work. However, as much as I advocate for Mama Heating Pad, I also know that it isn’t quite as simple to set up in some situations.