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

[bruceha2000]

Okay... I think I need some broody brigade wisdom (or reassurance) (Or maybe just gutsy Blooie)

Last night was my 4 1/2 week old chicks first night outside, and they huddled comfortably under the MHP. Today they were in and out as expected. Now tonight it is gusty and colder than last night by a few degrees (Low 27) and they decided to huddle in the corner together instead of in the MHP, not even near it.

I guess I could use some reassurance that they are not stupid, they know its there, and if they are cold they will use it instead of freezing to death?

They are 4.5 weeks old and spent that time with their MHP cave right? That means they know EXACTLY what the cave is and what it is for. They are likely fully feathered. ASSUMING that the gusty wind can't get to the chicks in the coop, they don't need supplemental heat nor the cave. If the gusty wind CAN get to the chicks, you should fix it so that is no longer true. Chicks or adults, no draft, let alone wind, on the birds in the coop.

Now even though they are fully feathered they might still like to use the cave, especially since it is a familiar object and warm inside. Which then begs the question: "What setting is the pad on"? If you put it on high because it is cold outside, it might be TOO warm inside for fully feathered chicks. Just as they did in the house if the pad is too warm, they won't go in.

 

[Blooie]

Eh...I use a heat lamp over the feed/water for the first day or two after hatch....
....inside the 65F house.
It's good way to make sure everyone's eating/drinking/moving OK...and only used during the day in no way decreases the awesomeness of a heating pad.

@aart - Get thee into the corner, post haste!!!

(Actually, we all do whatever works best for us, right?)

 

[aart]

@aart - Get thee into the corner, post haste!!!

NO!

and only used during the day in no way decreases the awesomeness of a heating pad.

 

[Blooie]

Yep, I saw that part too....just had to give you a bad time!

 

[Storybook Farm]

Reporting in! :::drumroll, please:::

All 10 chicks happy and healthy out in the barn as the snow flies and it’s 28° outside!

I slept in by mistake, so we didn’t check them before 9 AM! (I rocketed up out of bed at that time, having fallen back to sleep just before daylight, at 6:30 AM, thinking I would get up in just a few minutes... (but knowing it was a snow day for my school teacher daughter, who lives with us and for whom I cook breakfasts at 6:45 AM each day and send on her way) .

Pictures tell it all: when we checked, we found 8 chicks in the MHP area, and two eating and drinking outside. I’m NEVER going back to heat lamps, except as we do now: on timers, to simulate the warm sun OUTSIDE of MHP during daylight hours, with the fringe benefit of keeping the water liquid in freezing ambient temps!

 

[Blooie]

Yayyyyyy!!!!!! You've got this, and your dues are paid!!!

 

[aart]

Yep, I saw that part too....just had to give you a bad time!

 

[BBZZZZTT]

They are 4.5 weeks old and spent that time with their MHP cave right? That means they know EXACTLY what the cave is and what it is for. They are likely fully feathered. ASSUMING that the gusty wind can't get to the chicks in the coop, they don't need supplemental heat nor the cave. If the gusty wind CAN get to the chicks, you should fix it so that is no longer true. Chicks or adults, no draft, let alone wind, on the birds in the coop.

Now even though they are fully feathered they might still like to use the cave, especially since it is a familiar object and warm inside. Which then begs the question: "What setting is the pad on"? If you put it on high because it is cold outside, it might be TOO warm inside for fully feathered chicks. Just as they did in the house if the pad is too warm, they won't go in.

I had bumped it up when they went outside because it's cold... Hehe.
But I turned it down last night since they didn't go in.
They look pretty well covered in feathers.
I think there is no draft? I have the chicken door partially blocked with a dog door flap (I don't have a pop door because the run is predator proof) and ventilation up near the ceiling on the same wall, which is the wall that is most covered/protecred by the roof overhang.
They are not acting cold at all so I'm not worried. Just wasn't sure what to do last night.

 

[Storybook Farm]

Question for y’all: I was sharing my delight with the MHP on Facebook and got this comment...

“Ok. My take on the heating pad momma hen fad: it is NOT safe. It gives a false sense of security because no one has had fires traced back to it *YET*. But this is only because it hasn’t been widely used very long. Just you wait. This is going to burn houses and coops down because heating pads are NOT designed for continuous use. At all, ever, period.

If you want a safe alternative option to heat bulbs, then get a sweeter heater or a heat plate.”

Have we ever had anyone report back any fire hazards with the MHP method?

 

[aart]

Have we ever had anyone report back any fire hazards with the MHP method?

I don't think so.
Tho I can kinda understand the 'continuous use' concern....
....and any electrical setup can be hazardous, more from the connection(s) between supply and device....or the supply itself.