Heat Pad Shuts Off

[Criticalicious]

This is why I use a proper chick heat plate, not a MHP. If the babies weren't complaining about being chilled, then they were probably fine. Good you caught it before it got too cold for them.

 

[Doc7]

This is why I use a proper chick heat plate, not a MHP. If the babies weren't complaining about being chilled, then they were probably fine. Good you caught it before it got too cold for them.

An MHP is significantly
Cheaper and if a proper pad is used no problem. Don’t see why this would be a reason to not use an MHP, that would be like saying a flat tire is a reason you don’t drive a sedan.

 

[Criticalicious]

The prices I saw quoted in this thread ranged from $13 to $65 and up. A small heat plate costs about $50, so prices are comparable. I use the heat plate because it stays on consistently and I can raise and lower it as the chicks grow. I don't need any additional things to make it work, such as a towel to build a cave, like with the MHP. I am not saying people shouldn't use a heating pad if that is what works for them, but if the main reason to rig something is PRICE but these things cost nearly the same, why not use the one that was built for this purpose?

 

[Rose Quartz]

GREAT!! Ordering now!
Do you recommend king or regular size?
Thank you

it depends on how many chicks you have. I prefer the king size with my set up.

 

[Doc7]

The prices I saw quoted in this thread ranged from $13 to $65 and up. A small heat plate costs about $50, so prices are comparable. I use the heat plate because it stays on consistently and I can raise and lower it as the chicks grow. I don't need any additional things to make it work, such as a towel to build a cave, like with the MHP. I am not saying people shouldn't use a heating pad if that is what works for them, but if the main reason to rig something is PRICE but these things cost nearly the same, why not use the one that was built for this purpose?

I find $13 to be significantly cheaper than $50. Different strokes.

 

[Roley]

The prices I saw quoted in this thread ranged from $13 to $65 and up. A small heat plate costs about $50, so prices are comparable. I use the heat plate because it stays on consistently and I can raise and lower it as the chicks grow. I don't need any additional things to make it work, such as a towel to build a cave, like with the MHP. I am not saying people shouldn't use a heating pad if that is what works for them, but if the main reason to rig something is PRICE but these things cost nearly the same, why not use the one that was built for this purpose?

I did contemplate a heat plate. It would be really nice and hassle free but can’t really afford to spend $50 . This will have to be more of a DIY project for me from brooder to coop. At least for now.
Thank you everyone! <3

 

[Acre4Me]

I find $13 to be significantly cheaper than $50. Different strokes.

$13 - I've never seen one for $13. Maybe a really small one? Not sure. When I looked for a heat pad over a year ago, I was finding limited choices for a non-shut off pad that had good enough ratings without evidence of malfunctioning controllers, that potentially could cause a fire. And of those choices, the prices were not that low. I actually happened to find a good deal on a chick heat plate, so that is what I purchased. If someone has a heating pad with no shut off in good condition, then it makes complete sense to use it as an MHP, particularly if the human need for the heat pad is over with and the pad is taking up room in a closet. Since I had to purchase something for the chicks, then I purchased the item made for chicks like @Criticalicious .

Just because I was curious, I contacted my home insurance agent to ask a few questions. What if I used an electrical item - like a heating pad - for a purpose it is not intended for - like heating chicks in a barn/coop? Would I be covered in the event of a fire? My agent said Yes, I would be covered - people do things like this all the time - using something for a purpose it is not intended for. Maybe I'm a bit cynical here, but while I like my insurance agent, I'd rather not give the insurance company a reason to not cover me in the event of a fire if I could help it. Back to my previous paragraph...I had to buy something (heating pad or heating plate) anyway, so I purchased the item developed for the task I needed it for. If I had a heating pad in the closet I no longer needed, would I have used it? I guess I'll never know!

 

[CindyinSD]

Is this the same one?: Link

It looks like the same one, but I’d be worried since I can’t find in the description that it has the “stay on” feature. The XXL I got from Amazon was comparable in price, but maybe you don’t want the super-large one.

I need a super big one because I ordered 25 meat birds, and plan to order more later. The medium-sized infrared heat plate I used at first would have sufficed for maybe a week, but then it would be too small. Thus what was at first an economical choice (the heating plate) became less so. At this point the homemade “mother hen heating pad” cave looks like a better deal. I have all the other components on hand already. I’ll use the heating plate for my nascent goslings, so it won’t go to waste. For now though I need something bigger.