Has anybody used heat pads for chicks?

[LamarshFish]

I expect some of my racing pigeons' eggs to hatch if all goes right, so I will have two baby squabs. It is quite cold here in Michigan. I have the choice to leave it all to nature, or give the parents a bit of help (they are young parents, this is their first set of eggs to incubate and attempt raising babies).

What is your experience with heating pads to put under chicks to keep them warm? I understand most chicken people use brood lamps, not pads like this, but I am wondering if anybody has used them if they can share their experience?

I'd order something like this, so if you have experience with this particular product please share!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHK375E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

 

[Hope Hughes]

I did something close to this set up... And has worked great so far for my 65 quail babies. Maybe it will work for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...er-picture-heavy-update.956958/#post-14882145​

 

[LamarshFish]

I did something close to this set up... And has worked great so far for my 65 quail babies. Maybe it will work for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...er-picture-heavy-update.956958/#post-14882145​

That is cool, but is more like a brooder, and I do not think that would work for pigeon babies since they stay put in their nest bowls until they fledge, so they need need heat from below. Their parents sit on them to keep them warm, but when it's really cold I'd imagine there are losses. So I can't use something like a brooder, I really just need something that will add a bit of heat to a nest bowl in case the parents don't do a good job and/or the weather gets super cold.

 

[azygous]

Instead of trying to heat the nest bowl, how about placing a heat reflective material underneath the nest? You can get a Mylar "space blanket" for around a dollar at Walmart in the camping section. Or place a scrap of wool or polartech fabric under the nest combined with the space blanket.

I'd be concerned with adding heat from below in addition to mama pigeon's body heat trapping too much heat in the nest.

 

[LamarshFish]

Instead of trying to heat the nest bowl, how about placing a heat reflective material underneath the nest? You can get a Mylar "space blanket" for around a dollar at Walmart in the camping section. Or place a scrap of wool or polartech fabric under the nest combined with the space blanket.

I'd be concerned with adding heat from below in addition to mama pigeon's body heat trapping too much heat in the nest.

Interesting idea. I already ordered the heat pad, so I don't think it's necessary, but it's an interesting point. The nest bowl material is decent for insulating, and plus they have built a nest inside the bowl using the tobacco stems I provided them. I was duck hunting a few weeks ago and had a huge bag full of down feathers from after I processed the ducks and was thinking of putting it in the pigeon loft for them to use as insulation, but was too concerned about parasites and such.