Cozy Coop heater in brooder?

[canderson156]

Hi all!
Has anyone used a cozy coop flat panel heater in a chick brooder? If so, do you use it vertically or horizontally? It seems to me it would be best to use horizontally to simulate a mother hen, but I’m not sure the best way to do this. Any advice would appreciated! Thanks!

Did you end up trying it? I'm considering it for the same reason - I already have to cozy coop flat panel and would like to avoid buying new items if possible. I was thinking about putting a pillow case over it to make it more cuddly for the chicks.

 

[The Meadow]

I am using a cozy coop flat panel heater in my chick brooder. It helps to warm up their space. It has two settings. I'm using the lower setting. They do cuddle up against it. I was unsure that their space was warm enough with just that so I made a cave like space using a heating pad tied to a wire frame. The heating pad in on the underside. The cozy coop heater is against the back wall. It is on feet and is secure against the wall behind the cave frame. They seem to be warm and cozy in there. During the day they were on top of their 'cave' and were sitting beside the panel heater. The red glow is from a heat lamp that is outside of the brooder hanging in the barn their brooder is in. We've had below freezing temperatures and snow now for a few days. It will go off when we get back up into warmer temperatures. I will also remove the panel heater then and let the heating pad be their source of warmth.

 

[Nchrony]

Check out the "mama heating pad" thread. I built mine from a $13 heating pad and a broken tomato cage. Really. It only pulls 50W on high and is warm enough to use in an outdoor brooder in sub-freezing temperatures. I reared 6 under a standard pad and it was plenty of room for them.

I used this method and it works GREAT!! They slept all night quietly and are up and about this am-when they get chilly, back under they go! Thanks so much for sharing this great idea! I have mine in the basement in a small child pool for now. Great call on the press & seal to keep it cleaner too!

 

[TullyRiver Quail]

Hi all!
Has anyone used a cozy coop flat panel heater in a chick brooder? If so, do you use it vertically or horizontally? It seems to me it would be best to use horizontally to simulate a mother hen, but I’m not sure the best way to do this. Any advice would appreciated! Thanks!

They have 4 legs for placing horizontal (slanted with one end lower than the other to accommodate variance in growth rate). They also have two legs for vertical placement when used as a coop heater for mature birds. Always use a reptile (flat) thermometer to check the temp under when using as a brroder plate, and make sure you have enough room in the pen so they can get out from the heat. Chick's are good at knowing what feels cozy.