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

[bruceha2000]

Funny that they are roosting in the "tree of ammo". Maybe they are waiting for the brat to come back so they can return the barrage.

 

[NNYchick]

Why are my chicks getting little bits of poo stuck and dried to backend. It’s not over the vent but I’ve been picking it off so they don’t get build up and cover vent. Their room is 60 degrees and heating pad is on high they can have their backs against it. I’m feeding them just unmedicated starter and plan water. Is it normal and should I keep picking it off.

 

[aart]

Why are my chicks getting little bits of poo stuck and dried to backend. It’s not over the vent but I’ve been picking it off so they don’t get build up and cover vent. Their room is 60 degrees and heating pad is on high they can have their backs against it. I’m feeding them just unmedicated starter and plan water. Is it normal and should I keep picking it off.

How old are they?
That can be pretty normal the first few days.
A tiny tiny dab of oil(coconut or vegetable oil) on the down around the vent can help keep poops from sticking.

 

[NNYchick]

They are 6 days old. The dab of coconut/vegetable oil is a good idea.see why I come to you guys you all have all the answers, I never would of thought of that.

 

[Blooie]

The oil is a big help. I think I’d also try turning the heat down a bit. The room seems plenty warm. Many people think Pasty Butt is the result of the chicks being too warm. I won’t say it is, and I won’t say it isn’t. But I will say this - broody raised chicks seldom get it.

 

[NNYchick]

This evening I will turn down the pad and see how they act. Also adding a little oil to their backsides to prevent sticking. I am not sure if it is actually pasty butt or they just are getting a little poo on their fluff when they go. Poo looks normal and is formed.

 

[Blooie]

I still think that it is pasty butt...you are just diligent enough to have caught it early and you started cleaning it up before it closed over the vent.

 

[aart]

I am not sure if it is actually pasty butt or they just are getting a little poo on their fluff when they go. Poo looks normal and is formed.

Sometimes it takes them a while to learn to preen it off.
To me pasty butt is when the vent is covered with not well formed poops,
other cling-ons are just dingle-berries
Good to keep an eye on either for sure tho.

 

[luckyplucky]

Ok, planning our MHP. The flexible/sore muscle heat pad I have has auto shutoff so we can't use it, and I'm trying to avoid spending additional money if possible. Instead, I am wondering if anyone has experience with one of these rigid heat pads: https://osbornelivestockequipment.c...nfield-heat-pads/stanfield-nursery-heat-pads/ They are supposed to be for sows/piglets I guess, but we bought it years ago when we had a tortoise. Now it pretty much sits in the garage, occasionally my DH uses it to keep the fermentation fridge warmish while a batch of home brew sits. The specific one we have (and warnings) is in pictures below, as well as a drawing of what I am thinking.
What you need to know before you sound off:
*I have left it plugged in overnight (takes a while to warm up) and it is not hot to the touch, so I don't believe there is a risk of burning the chicks or the brooder. If anything I worry about it not being warm enough!
*The safety of the chicks is of course paramount. Any frame we fashion to hold it at the angle seen will be secured and will not tip over or cause the pad to drop on the chicks!
*Although it is not curved, we hope that putting it at an angle will allow the chicks to go in deeper if they're colder, and hang near the front if they're too warm.
*Still working on the draping issue to make it more cavelike. The instructions say not to allow bedding or debris to cover pad because it might be too warm for the animal, but I feel like some testing on our part could determine that. Don't judge me if I end up sleeping in a sleeping bag next to the outdoor brooder to make sure the cord doesn't get unplugged or something! Heh.
*Not sure what size the brooder will be around it yet, but they will have room to run around and on top of it, with (predator-protected) access to outdoors during the daytime only. They'll be separated from current flock by hardware cloth.
*It's very possible we'll still end up keeping the chicks inside for the first few days, because, well, we like having them in the house at that age. So it will be mobile enough to move to the outdoor brooder (assuming we actually get that done in time haha).
So, thoughts/suggestions? Am I crazy for thinking this could work?

 

[aart]

*Although it is not curved, we hope that putting it at an angle will allow the chicks to go in deeper if they're colder, and hang near the front if they're too warm.
*Still working on the draping issue to make it more cavelike.

Curving is not needed, I prefer a flat surface as it increases capacity.
The angling is good as it allows the chicks to pick a spot that suits their needs, and accommodates different sized chicks, but it should not be touching the ground in back. Draping is also not usually needed, if it's drafty a towel can be used for draping slightly over the edges but chicks can still push thru it. Better to have all 4 sides open as egress points for chicks to go in and out from under pad, 4 adjustable legs works best, IMO, as the chicks grow the pad will need to be raised.

Not sure that pad will work tho as the thermostat controls the heat output based on the ambient temp...so there's no user control of heat output.
From the website for model S1824:
"Heat is distributed evenly and provides a uniform lying area 30-35° F above air temperature."
It's hard to measure the heat from pads for chicks, if you have an infrared temp gauge to measure the surface temp on pad might help you assess it....mine is about 110F, others who have measured this way see similar surface temps.

Some of these heat pads are attractive as they are stiff(not sure if yours is stiff or flexible) so no rack needed, but may be hard to attach to adjustable legs/stands/framework....so maybe a rack is still needed.