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

[wifeyschlegel]

Why not just use the ecoglow as is?
<scratcheshead>

Some people on here suggested that because it doesn't work properly if the temperature goes below 50 that a MHP would work better because it works in all temperatures.

 

[bruceha2000]

EcoGlows don't work if the ambient temp is below 50°F? Or do the instructions just say it won't get warm enough at lower temps? I've never seen one in captivity, only on the web

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi
thanks for replies.
Yes, I dipped everyones beak in the water, and the pic may not show the big round waterer that I bought when I picked them up from feed store (I was washing it for first use- they weren't air shipped- just a short drive).
I think maybe it was too low for meat birds... didn't know they need less heat. Seeing as they died mid day I bet thats what it was. The sun room warms up quite a bit in the day, and I think even though I turned the heat pad down to 1 in the day- I may just turn it right off at noon each day because by 5 pm its like a summer day in there.
And after seeing my layer chicks being raised by mama hen in the barn- they are out all day without heat and rarely go under her at 2 weeks.
I've raised it, but they wont be able to push up against the heat. I think there are enough of them to keep warm with body heat and the pad above hovering. 11 of 25 ended up sleeping on top of it last night anyways.

I am still amazed the 4 day old birds are same size as 2.5 week old birds.

Did you pick them up at the hatchery? I suggest that you get some Poultry Nutri Drench for them if you have not already done so.

 

[wifeyschlegel]

EcoGlows don't work if the ambient temp is below 50°F? Or do the instructions just say it won't get warm enough at lower temps? I've never seen one in captivity, only on the web

I think it won't get warm enough, the manual doesn't exactly say it just says not to let the "room" temperature drop below 50.

 

[Blooie]

I was thinking of using my ecoglow unplugged/off as a frame for the MHP, any thoughts? I only have 4 chicks, I'm wondering if they'll still all be able to get up under there once they're bigger..

I'm trying to visualize what you are saying...just put the heating pad over the Eco-Glow's plastic top? If that's the case, I don't think I'd recommend that. It might work if you bungeed it underneath the EcoGlow. I think I'd have a cookie rack or piece of fencing ready and on standby in case it doesn't work, and give it a shot that way. None of us would be on here if we hadn't tried something new.

On the other hand, instructions for these things are based on a hodgepodge of conventional chick raising wisdom mixed in with their modern approach to brooding. So the thought of anyone putting chicks in a 50 degree room at all using any brooding method probably causes palpitations on the part of those who are still looking at chick raising charts. I think that bottom line temperature is a bit of CYA. I don't know, I have no proof, and I've never used one. But you're there, I'm not, and you know where your personal comfort zone is. Keep us updated no matter what you decide.

I wouldn't want @Blooie to kick me out of the Brigade so here is a picture I took just after bringing the 6 new chicks home. 3 of them found the MHP cave before I even started to show it to them. I'm sure you will all be to find out that they went silent as soon as they got in the cave.

Of course since they found the cave it isn't much of a picture, can't even tell what breeds they are:
1 Barnevelder
1 Welsummer
2 Barred Rocks
2 Golden Campines

View attachment 1356172

I can't kick you out of the Brigade....you have my phone number and you know where I live! There's a slight lack of internet anonymity there. They are cute little stinkers....I can't remember if you have a broody ready to take over like you did before.

@aart, they look so content!!

 

[bruceha2000]

May or may not have a broody I moved Anais to the brooder area at 0 dark 30 Sunday night and locked her in. Last year I put her in there with no cover and she kept going back to the nest box so I put her in the buster and the kids were MHP raised.

Anais was up and around in her cell Monday morning after not having left the nest box for 3 days. I gave her some food, she ate it. Something she wouldn't do when glued to the plastic egg in the nest box. BUT she screamed at me when I tried to give her scratch later in the evening. Not interested in the BOSS I offered this morning so I put it in the food. Will check later to see if it disappeared.

I'm doing the Blooie thing and keeping the kids in the house today, tonight and tomorrow. Will have to see if Anais is turning back into a zombie before I try to stuff chicks under her tomorrow night. Zorra was SO easy in 2015, she didn't care that she was moved and stayed zombie like while I ordered and waited for chicks.

 

[aart]

EcoGlows don't work if the ambient temp is below 50°F? Or do the instructions just say it won't get warm enough at lower temps?

I think it won't get warm enough, the manual doesn't exactly say it just says not to let the "room" temperature drop below 50.

Think that might be a CYA.
I'd test it using a infrared temp gauge.
How cold is it where you want to use it?

As an aside....I tested my pad at 6 just before putting the chicks in the other day...
...fuzzy side of pad was 128°F!!..and the floor under it, about 2-3" below, was 90°F.
When pad was tested off the rack it was 110-120°F.
I turned it down to 5, then 4. Got the numbers written down and may recheck them.

 

[wifeyschlegel]

I'm trying to visualize what you are saying...just put the heating pad over the Eco-Glow's plastic top? If that's the case, I don't think I'd recommend that. It might work if you bungeed it underneath the EcoGlow. I think I'd have a cookie rack or piece of fencing ready and on standby in case it doesn't work, and give it a shot that way. None of us would be on here if we hadn't tried something new.

On the other hand, instructions for these things are based on a hodgepodge of conventional chick raising wisdom mixed in with their modern approach to brooding. So the thought of anyone putting chicks in a 50 degree room at all using any brooding method probably causes palpitations on the part of those who are still looking at chick raising charts. I think that bottom line temperature is a bit of CYA. I don't know, I have no proof, and I've never used one. But you're there, I'm not, and you know where your personal comfort zone is. Keep us updated no matter what you decide.



I can't kick you out of the Brigade....you have my phone number and you know where I live! There's a slight lack of internet anonymity there. They are cute little stinkers....I can't remember if you have a broody ready to take over like you did before.

@aart, they look so content!!

Yes, I was thinking of bungeeing(that's not a word haha) it on the underside, but I'm kind of hoping that by the time my coop is built and the chicks go out our temps will be warm enough to just use the eco glow and not have to build anything.. I'm not really sure what I'm comfortable with yet, this is my first time! I will keep ya'll updated if I do go that route. Thanks!

 

[wifeyschlegel]

Think that might be a CYA.
I'd test it using a infrared temp gauge.
How cold is it where you want to use it?

As an aside....I tested my pad at 6 just before putting the chicks in the other day...
...fuzzy side of pad was 128°F!!..and the floor under it, about 2-3" below, was 90°F.
When pad was tested off the rack it was 110-120°F.
I turned it down to 5, then 4. Got the numbers written down and may recheck them.

Right now it's 40-60 but I'm hoping that in a few weeks when the chicks are outgrowing their dog crate it'll be warmer and I would need to build an MHP at all.

 

[bruceha2000]

A few weeks? How old will they be then? They are usually fully feathered and not in need of supplemental heat around 4 weeks of age.