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

[aart]

I just picked up 4 EEs from a local breeder. They are 2 weeks old. Three of them seem to have figured out the MHP, but the fourth just keeps chirping and coming out. I keep sticking her back under but she doesn’t get it. The garage is 64 degrees, under the heating pad is 92.

Is MHP set up high enough for her to fit comfortably?

 

[Daphne16]

Yes, she fits fine and has gone under on her own.

Is MHP set up high enough for her to fit comfortably?

 

[Daphne16]

Never mind, she is just a slow learner or she knows how to get my attention. She is quite when I am near the cage, but eats, drinks and walks around. They are all under MHP now.

 

[Storybook Farm]

SO, I’ve been using the MHP inside for <5 days and it’s working great, but I have another hatch coming, so these c. 1 week chicks need to go out to the unheated barn (yes, the pen is predator proof), etc. I have looked at @Beekissed (love ya!) setup on page 46 of this thread (because I plan to use another heating pad out in the barn and create a new MHP out there, while using the current indoor one for the new hatch due tomorrow) and I have a couple of questions:

1. I have no shock cords on hand. Can I use bailing twine or string to secure the pad? Will it present a fire hazard in contact with the pad?

2. On my current MHP (indoors) I have nothing between the pad and the chicks. Bee’s setup has the flannel pillowcase all the way around the setup. I have Blooie’s setup (indoors) with just the wire frame topped with the naked pad, and then a towel with a Press ‘n Seal cover. Is the naked pad on the underside of the frame a bad idea?

3. Along this thread, people have seemed to say that the MHP needs to be open on two sides, or alternately open on only the higher side. Which is the general majority consensus?

Thanks in advance for answers! This is a TRULY GREAT thread!

 

[aart]

1. I have no shock cords on hand. Can I use bailing twine or string to secure the pad? Will it present a fire hazard in contact with the pad?

2. On my current MHP (indoors) I have nothing between the pad and the chicks. Bee’s setup has the flannel pillowcase all the way around the setup. I have Blooie’s setup (indoors) with just the wire frame topped with the naked pad, and then a towel with a Press ‘n Seal cover. Is the naked pad on the underside of the frame a bad idea?

3. Along this thread, people have seemed to say that the MHP needs to be open on two sides, or alternately open on only the higher side. Which is the general majority consensus?

1. Twine/string might not hold well enough, but it's not a fire hazard.
2. Actually works better IMO, might depend on what pad you have....but your #1 may not work for that. I've found the mini bungies work real well to hold up pad.
3. sorry...general consensus may be hard to obtain .
I like mine with 4 sided egress, or at least front and back.
Can depend on how many chicks and how big a pad,
if just a few chicks with a large pad 1 side may be fine.
Enough chicks for a traffic jam and some may get trapped and not be able to get out if they need to cool off.

 

[Storybook Farm]

THX SO MUCH! I’ll use baling twine today and order mini-bunnies. THX again...! I’ll have 10 chicks under the XL size Sunbeam pad.

 

[Eilsel]

SO, I’ve been using the MHP inside for <5 days and it’s working great, but I have another hatch coming, so these c. 1 week chicks need to go out to the unheated barn (yes, the pen is predator proof), etc. I have looked at @Beekissed (love ya!) setup on page 46 of this thread (because I plan to use another heating pad out in the barn and create a new MHP out there, while using the current indoor one for the new hatch due tomorrow) and I have a couple of questions:

1. I have no shock cords on hand. Can I use bailing twine or string to secure the pad? Will it present a fire hazard in contact with the pad?

2. On my current MHP (indoors) I have nothing between the pad and the chicks. Bee’s setup has the flannel pillowcase all the way around the setup. I have Blooie’s setup (indoors) with just the wire frame topped with the naked pad, and then a towel with a Press ‘n Seal cover. Is the naked pad on the underside of the frame a bad idea?

3. Along this thread, people have seemed to say that the MHP needs to be open on two sides, or alternately open on only the higher side. Which is the general majority consensus?

Thanks in advance for answers! This is a TRULY GREAT thread!

I also didn’t have any bungee cords, tried my initial setup with bailing string but found it hard to get snug enough. I took an old t-shirt of my husbands and cut a large rectangle out, cut the long edges into 6 strips, and used it to tie the pad into the frame. So the only thing between the chicks and the pad is a layer of t-shirt, and the shirt is holding the pad up. You could probably also use strips of t-shirt. It has plenty of stretch to pull it right.

 

[aart]

THX SO MUCH! I’ll use baling twine today and order mini-bunnies. THX again...! I’ll have 10 chicks under the XL size Sunbeam pad.

Biggest risk with a sagging pad, or any added fabrics that aren't drum tight, is that they can get between pad and rack and get stuck.

I used 6-8" bungies and cardboard top....simple.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

 

[tigger19687]

THX SO MUCH! I’ll use baling twine today and order mini-bunnies. THX again...! I’ll have 10 chicks under the XL size Sunbeam pad.

You are getting MINI-BUNNIES TOO ??
Sorry cound't resist, I love typos, I do them all the time.

 

[Blooie]

Honeys, I'm home!! Spent all day up in Billings. Interesting trip...I watched a gentleman argue with a sales clerk over Mama Heating Pad! So stinkin' funny - I was biting my tongue not to interfere - the chick buyer was telling the oh-so-helpful sales dude that he didn't need to buy a heat lamp because already had his heating pad at home and set up. I don't even need to repeat the conversation - most of you have heard it a gabillion times in it's various forms. Ken was off looking for the lawn fertilizer he likes, so I just kinda hung around the chick area listening. Oh, okay...I was drooling, okay? Drooling!!

So Ken had what he needed in the cart and he knew right where to look for me. I felt him tug a bit on my arm, but honestly I was having so much fun watching the exchange that I ignored him. About then a woman comes by with her two adorable little kids in tow, and as they're looking at chicks they're listening the buyer explain how MHP works. She whipped out her phone, called up this thread, and joined the conversation. She said she raised her chicks this way last year right out in the coop, and she'll never do a heat lamp again either. When Ken finally dragged me away I was grinning. I didn't have to say a word - those two people did more to educate the clerk than I could have said anyway.

So if you're reading this and you were in Billings, MT at TSC around 3:30 yesterday afternoon, thanks!! If I'd had a little makeup on and hadn't looked like I'd spent the morning cleaning the yard (with the yard winning!), I'd have come over and joined in.....but you darn sure didn't need me!

@Storybook Farm, I see that you've joined us! Warm welcome! I signed out early and headed for Billings so haven't even read your PM yet. I'm assuming that the bungee cord/vs twine was what you were asking, and as usual the Broody Brigade was quick with the answers.....a lot quicker than I've been over the last week or so!