Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[backyardfarmgirl]

Just to double check, I don't need a thermometer in the brooder box with this method? Just go by their behavior, correct?

 

[Blooie]

Yep. In fact, if you put a thermometer in there, you might change your mind about MHP completely! Mine was 82 degrees under there in a 69 degree room! If they hadn’t already been doing so doggone well for days before I measured it, I’d have panicked and reverted back to the old “90-95 degrees the first week and down 5 degrees weekly” routine! As it was, they were content and happy.

 

[bruceha2000]

What @Blooie said. Don't even think about the ambient temp in the brooder or the cave. That is NOT how a hen works and it isn't how MHP works. Heat is transferred from the warm body (or pad) directly onto the chicks that are in contact with it.

People who have never brooded chicks before aren't quite as "wowed" by MHP as are those who have used heat lamps. It is hard to appreciate the difference in behavior if you haven't seen it the "old" way first.

But you WILL enjoy watching your chicks and their antics. And when they are quietly asleep in their cave all night, remember what they sounded like when you brought them home before they got to their MHP. That is what heat lamp raised chicks sound like A LOT, including all night long since the light keeps them awake until they fall asleep anyway from being awake too long. All that cheeping is the sound of discontent.

 

[moniquem]

I got the 731, is this going to work? It has 3 settings, 9' cord...

https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-Ultr...F8&qid=1516487951&sr=8-1&keywords=sunbeam+731

 

[bruceha2000]

Yes, it doesn't auto shut off so it is fine. There is actually a benefit if you lose power to not having a 2 hour auto shut off at all compared to the Xpress heat which has it but it can be defeated with a button on the controller. The ones that don't have auto shut off turn back on when power is restored. The Xpress pad has to be turned back on and the auto shut off feature cancelled again.

 

[moniquem]

Yes, it doesn't auto shut off so it is fine. There is actually a benefit if you lose power to not having a 2 hour auto shut off at all compared to the Xpress heat which has it but it can be defeated with a button on the controller. The ones that don't have auto shut off turn back on when power is restored. The Xpress pad has to be turned back on and the auto shut off feature cancelled again.

Goody! I'm getting a mixed flock of 6 chicks in April. A barred rock, buff orpington, welsummer, black australorp, spotted sussex and silver laced wyandotte. This will be my very first experience with chickens, I'm so excited. I have everything I need for the brooder set up. I plan on brooding them outside in their coop, unless I freak out and keep them in the basement (

 

[bruceha2000]

Goody! I'm getting a mixed flock of 6 chicks in April. A barred rock, buff orpington, welsummer, black australorp, spotted sussex and silver laced wyandotte. This will be my very first experience with chickens, I'm so excited. I have everything I need for the brooder set up. I plan on brooding them outside in their coop, unless I freak out and keep them in the basement (

You can keep them there for a couple of days like @Blooie does It is important to ensure they are all eating, drinking and don't have any health problems. One "bonus" to the MHP method is that pasty butt is a WHOLE lot less common. I know we had a few at first with the 2012 heat lamp girls (my first chickens) but none with the MHP/broody hen raised 2015s and 2017s.

 

[NNYchick]

I never would have attempted brooding chicks if I didn’t find this thread because I’m scared to death of heat lamps too much personal knowledge of friends and family that have had fire related to heat lamps. My husband keeps asking me if I’ve checked the chicks lately because he hasn’t heard them. The only time we hear from them is I have 2 that get on top of MHP and start chirping loudly until another chick comes out, I think they are just calling for a friend. My husband actually didn’t want me to brood in house because of the noise as he has retractable migraines and during an attack every noise feels like a sledgehammer in his head. I told him about this method of MHP and chicks are suppose to be quite using this method and promised if they were intolerable I’d move them to the coop. MHP has lived up to its promise.

 

[bruceha2000]

Gotta experience it to believe it sometimes
Sorry about DH's migraines, DD1 and I have those too, hers are far worse. She's had one 24x7 for over 10 years and gets episodics on top of the permanent one.

 

[PetesChicks]

Ok, I have the DW convinced we need more chickens because we had to buy eggs at the supermarket today. Planning on getting 6 this spring, I’m not sure what breeds yet. I have almost convinced her that the Mama Heating Pad will work instead of a heat lamp. We’ve never had little ones, the girls we have now were about 3 or 4 months old when we got them.

My shed coop has a walled off area for storage, I could use the side beside the door to the chicken area if needed. Measured it today, it’s about 3’ x 5 1/2’. Would that be big enough for a broody box for them? Like I said, I’m not sure what breeds I will have, or how many will be bantams or full size.

Thanks!