First time using mama heating pad method

[letitiah81]

Here is my set up. I'm worried they are too cold. Any opinions?

 

[floppysquirrel04]

Here is my set up. I'm worried they are too cold. Any opinions?

Do you have a thermometer in there? They’re running all over instead of gathering under the warmth, which is a good indicator that they are comfortable

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are under it, they are on top. They are out eating and, I assume, drinking. They look comfortable. @azygous you've been pretty active on here lately and I believe you use the heating pad, how do they look to you? Does it maybe need to be raised?

Can that plug on top get wet? I can't tell from the photos. That would be my concern.

 

[azygous]

That's the height you want for day-olds. You'll be raising the frame up incrementally every few days, they grow that fast. They should fit inside easily with the pad touching their backs.

It appears the wire rack is exposed. A better setup would be to fasten the heating pad to the underside of the rack, then enclose the whole thing in a pillow case or secured towel so chicks can't squeeze in between the pad and the rack. I had a chick do that and it got stuck. Luckily I rescued it before tragedy occurred.

Yeah, try to keep electrical connections well away from any possibility of water getting knocked over onto it. Notice the arched shape of the frame with the older chicks. As they approach three or four weeks, they require no heat during the day and minimal heat at night, so the pad get raised high enough to allow it to be cooler underneath. The pad is also on a lower setting by this time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It appears the wire rack is exposed. A better setup would be to fasten the heating pad to the underside of the rack, then enclose the whole thing in a pillow case or secured towel so chicks can't squeeze in between the pad and the rack.

x2, otherwise they look perfectly content.

 

[letitiah81]

They are under it, they are on top. They are out eating and, I assume, drinking. They look comfortable. @azygous you've been pretty active on here lately and I believe you use the heating pad, how do they look to you? Does it maybe need to be raised?

Can that plug on top get wet? I can't tell from the photos. That would be my concern.

The plug is up high enough that it can get wet even if all the water spilled. Thanks for replying. They all made it through the first might and everyone is looking good!