Heat Plates can be so depressing.

[Ol Grey Mare]

Now I have to figure out the best solution for different size chicks. I have some meat birdish types and slow growing smaller types currently, some hatches I have seramas. I am debating whether or not to put a small booster block under there for short birds or just raise 2 legs slightly higher and everyone can find the end where they fit. Going to be fun finding a solution to that issue. right now I believe my 2 Meat Bird types are just digging away bedding to fit better so I am not touching a thing until an issue manifests.

Setting the plate at different angles with front/back or left/right higher/lower works great

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Now I have to figure out the best solution for different size chicks. I have some meat birdish types and slow growing smaller types currently, some hatches I have seramas. I am debating whether or not to put a small booster block under there for short birds or just raise 2 legs slightly higher and everyone can find the end where they fit. Going to be fun finding a solution to that issue. right now I believe my 2 Meat Bird types are just digging away bedding to fit better so I am not touching a thing until an issue manifests.

I always raise the front two legs so everyone can find their comfort zone. Seems to work well for my babies. I don’t raise it a lot, just one or two notches. Just enough to give them a little extra head room in the front. — They still can (and do!) climb on it and sit on the front edge.

 

[tpatricco]

I always raise the front two legs so everyone can find their comfort zone. Seems to work well for my babies. I don’t raise it a lot, just one or two notches. Just enough to give them a little extra head room in the front. — They still can (and do!) climb on it and sit on the front edge.

Ooh - I like this idea. I have chicks of different sizes and have been a little worried about the littlest ones being warm enough with it on the 2nd level.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Yep, you can see in this pic, that there’s not a huge difference.

14E351E1-871B-46F9-AA76-C7F7D645AF8B

• Farmgirl1878
• Apr 30, 2018

7A8EDC31-F006-4757-B589-669199832391

• Farmgirl1878
• Apr 30, 2018

And then I raised it a little more as they got bigger...

5B9A8804-A610-4F58-A4B5-6DD7EB75E908

• Farmgirl1878
• Apr 30, 2018

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I like your little roost, too!

 

[tnason]

When they were tiny I used my cell phone camera to peek under the heating pad and see what they were doing in there. Now they are mostly out so it isn't a problem.

 

[Blooie]

I’d just grab the front of MHP, lift it up and peek. They forgave me.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I’d just grab the front of MHP, lift it up and peek. They forgave me.

Oh! Today I changed the towel on top and modified it to give them more room, and they were so upset they were trying to climb the walls or force their way through by sheer will!

My little G-L Wyandotte constantly eyes the poultry netting on top and occasionally tries to fly out. She cranes her neck to find a gap and flies into it. Coop-building in earnest this weekend!

 

[FlyWheel]

I switched to a Mama Heating Pad after my heat lamp fell onto the brooder and almost turned my babies into ash and potentially the garage as well.

As for the OPs complaint, the acquisition of an old aquarium from my ex-roommate means my next flock of four's brooder will have a glass rear wall letting me see them even when they're happily snoring under the MHP.