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

[aart]

The digital ones usually will not come back on automatically after a power outage.

 

[saraiquimby1]

@Blooie @aart help me please! I did the MHP in my basement with my new babies that came yesterday.
But they seem cold! The heating pad feels barely warm to the touch, even though it's on the highest heat. They chirp a lot, more than just talking, and they keep getting under the heating pad but on top of the metal trying to stay warmer. My basement is only like 40--50 degrees right now. But that should be okay shouldn't it? They seem cold?
I have some in another brooder with my ecoglow and they are completely quiet this evening, where the others are chirping a lot. I'm not sure what I did wrong.
the metal frame touches the bedding on the back side, and is about 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches high in the front.

 

[aart]

Bummer, sounds like the pad might be defective?

 

[NNYchick]

I bungees mine to the underside of the frame so the nuzzle right against it. The blue that you see is the heating pad.

 

[bruceha2000]

The pad should be UNDER the frame, not on top. They can't contact the pad with the frame in the way.

 

[aart]

The pad should be UNDER the frame, not on top. They can't contact the pad with the frame in the way.

Eh...I've had it work on top of rack.

Pad not feeling warm is a concern......Checking with a infrared should be about 110-120F on pad surface.

@saraiquimby1 is rack low enough?
Do you have back legs too?
Maybe adjust the height?

 

[saraiquimby1]

@aart the pad touches on the back side and is maybe 2-3 inches tall in the front, sloping down to the back. So to me anyway it doesn’t seem too tall.

 

[aart]

Still might help to raise the back an inch.
..and check the surface temp of pad if not with infrared then other therm between pad and rack.
Could always break out the heat lamp if they can't get warm under the pad.

 

[SueT]

This is the heating pad I was going to buy at Walmart...Sunbeam 731. I'm pretty sure it has no auto off. It's $13.88....is this one okay?

And this is the rack we already have...it's 12 X 18. I will cut the legs...how much to cut off? What is the best way to make it adjustable?

 

[NNYchick]

This is the heating pad I was going to buy at Walmart...Sunbeam 731. I'm pretty sure it has no auto off. It's $13.88....is this one okay?
View attachment 1247797 View attachment 1247798
And this is the rack we already have...it's 12 X 18. I will cut the legs...how much to cut off? What is the best wayView attachment 1247800 to make it adjustable?

If it 731-500 then yes. How many chicks are you getting? I have 9 Silkie under mine I went with the 732-500 which is the larger version of this I’m glad I did because the have space under it. I took 2 14x14 wire shelf’s and zip tied them together to make 14x20, then the heating pad hangs over 2” on each side creating an area they can snuggle into(like a hens wing). As for the legs I went with threaded rod, washers and nuts to make it easy to adjust. I had to already increase height it last night and they are a week old.