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

[RoseMarie1]

Blooie didn't you use to post on the home decorating forum? Or is it here I remember you from?
Well I wound up bringing mine indoors because I had it wrapped so tight out there I couldn't check on them except through a pep hole and it STILL wasn't holding good temps in there. Insulated with styrofoam and everything. Nothing helped. So they're inside now and as happy as they can be. Took me all day long yesterday to get a huge crate rigged up for them so they couldn't go in between the wires and get out. I put hardware cloth on the bottom, up the sides and the back and the door 12" Then went inside and lined it in 6 ml bisqueen plastic and used some more pieces to sit it on as well. Now it's staying around 75-77. Did have one with a bad case of pasty butt and got that tended to last night and all are doing well. Had 2 but only ones vent was blocked. They both have vaseline butts now. lol

 

[Blooie]

Not me....I try to avoid dusting, let alone decorating!

If you were trying to keep an entire space warm with MHP, you were fighting a losing battle. It doesn’t work that way. It warms the chicks directly, with the heat just at the level of their backs, exactly as a broody hen does. She doesn’t hear the entire space, either. The rest of the brooder and surrounding area will stay - and should stay - at ambient temperatures. Mine were out in temps in the teens and twenties, and spent much of their time exploring, only ducking under for a warmup then they were back out again.

 

[aart]

Not me....I try to avoid dusting, let alone decorating!

Same here!
"My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance"

 

[RoseMarie1]

Not me....I try to avoid dusting, let alone decorating!

If you were trying to keep an entire space warm with MHP, you were fighting a losing battle. It doesn’t work that way. It warms the chicks directly, with the heat just at the level of their backs, exactly as a broody hen does. She doesn’t hear the entire space, either. The rest of the brooder and surrounding area will stay - and should stay - at ambient temperatures. Mine were out in temps in the teens and twenties, and spent much of their time exploring, only ducking under for a warmup then they were back out again.

No wasn't trying to warm the whole area. Just something for them to get on and get warm or under since it was sitting low in the bark.

 

[Nksg75]

Quick question:
I have used the MHP with great results.
This time around I am ordering close to 70 chicks. Has anyone used this on larger number of chicks and how many of the MHP did you use?
I have a total of 4 (2 xlarge) and 2 smaller ones.
I don't think that will be enough. What are your thoughts?

 

[aart]

Quick question:
I have used the MHP with great results.
This time around I am ordering close to 70 chicks. Has anyone used this on larger number of chicks and how many of the MHP did you use?
I have a total of 4 (2 xlarge) and 2 smaller ones.
I don't think that will be enough. What are your thoughts?

Definite downside to heat plates/pads vs heat lamps is their capacity.

I have a 12x24...had 16 chicks that barely fit by the time they were done with heat.
You could use that as a guesstimate.

Have only seen a couple folks using multiple flat type MHP's,
they had to be careful to line them up end to end so chicks have easy access to get away from heat if needed and to be able to stay 'together'.
Not sure they would use separate pads unless they were separate pens.

Might think about a sweeter heater(s).

Please let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

 

[Faraday40]

I had very good success when I used a broody hen + MHP. I just put the broody bantam in the brooder. She tried to cover as many as she could, but we had almost 30 chicks. I noticed she would rest right next to the heating pad & the overflow would go under there. It was only temporary while we sold the chicks.

 

[Cryss]

Thinking about @aart comment about lining up multiples and how you wouldn't want to separate the chicks...
I think (dangerous I know) if you lined them up end to end, not side by side, you would want to leave a space between the ends so that no chick would get trapped inside a long tunnel filled with chicks. Maybe leave a gap about the space of 2 or 3 chicks size. This way even the space would have a bit of warmth and could even escape if needed.
Just a thought. Any thoughts?

 

[aart]

no chick would get trapped inside a long tunnel filled with chicks.

Yes, a long tunnel could be disastrous.
why I specified flat type(see quote below).
Am not fond of the 'caves',
but when I made mine I was emulating the commercial heat plates with 4 sided access and adjustable legs.

Have only seen a couple folks using multiple flat type MHP's,
they had to be careful to line them up end to end so chicks have easy access to get away from heat if needed and to be able to stay 'together'.

 

[henless]

I can just imagine a brooder with 4-5 mhp. The chicks will be running from one to another like musical chairs trying to make up their wee minds which one they like the best.

Please post a pic of your setup. I would like to see it.