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

[bruceha2000]

Actually we have one, wish it didn't beep loudly and constantly when the power is out. Yeah, we know it is out, that is why we have no lights! We don't use it for anything though it was originally connected to the computer.

We've not had any power outages when using the MHP. 2 of the 4 batches of chicks that started with it only needed it for a day, then had a broody hen adopt them (at 0 dark thirty of course).

 

[Leader Bee]

ended up getting an electric hen.

So this arrived in the post and I figured i'd turn it on just to get a feel for how it worked before my goslings arrive; How hot should they get? I could put the palm of my hand on the plate and hold it there but it didn't feel especially warm to me - I know your chicks/goslings will need to press up against it when needed and they're much smaller than a person so will probably heat up much faster than a hand but i want to be certain they're getting enough heat - would it be wise to give them something like a mop head or other fluffy bundle to snuggle into as a supplement?

 

[aart]

So this arrived in the post and I figured i'd turn it on just to get a feel for how it worked before my goslings arrive; How hot should they get? I could put the palm of my hand on the plate and hold it there but it didn't feel especially warm to me - I know your chicks/goslings will need to press up against it when needed and they're much smaller than a person so will probably heat up much faster than a hand but i want to be certain they're getting enough heat - would it be wise to give them something like a mop head or other fluffy bundle to snuggle into as a supplement?

They usually are pretty darn warm...often to hot to touch a bare hand to for long.
You may have a 'bad' unit.
Might have better luck solving this problem by starting a new thread with the brand of heater plate in the title.

 

[Leader Bee]

They usually are pretty darn warm...often to hot to touch a bare hand to for long.
You may have a 'bad' unit.
Might have better luck solving this problem by starting a new thread with the brand of heater plate in the title.

I'll switch it on again tonight; Maybe I just didn't give it long enough to heat up?
The packaging came with a note that it had been "tested by xxxx" so figured it must work.

It's the Ecoglow 600 I have.

EDIT: i left mine on for 20 minutes but just read through the user documentation and it says it can take up to an hour to reach operating temperature... My Bad.

 

[aart]

I'll switch it on again tonight; Maybe I just didn't give it long enough to heat up?

One can hope that's the issue.
Might contact the manufacturer if it doesn't heat up.
How many goslings are you getting?
12x8" is not very big...but I don't know much about gosling size and needs.
I do know the population numbers they put on the plates are for newly hatched birds,
they can outgrow them quickly...just like the prefab coop population numbers are exaggerated.

 

[Leader Bee]

One can hope that's the issue.
Might contact the manufacturer if it doesn't heat up.
How many goslings are you getting?
12x8" is not very big...but I don't know much about gosling size and needs.
I do know the population numbers they put on the plates are for newly hatched birds,
they can outgrow them quickly...just like the prefab coop population numbers are exaggerated.

I know! It says you can fit 20 Chicks under that thing but I reckon they'd be crammed in under the plate like sardines if that's the case - I'm only getting a pair of goslings so I think this should be just fine for them - I'm planning on taking the first two weeks of their life off work to look after them anyway so I can keep an eye on their progress and sort out any issues that might arise.

 

[aart]

I know! It says you can fit 20 Chicks under that thing but I reckon they'd be crammed in under the plate like sardines if that's the case - I'm only getting a pair of goslings so I think this should be just fine for them - I'm planning on taking the first two weeks of their life off work to look after them anyway so I can keep an eye on their progress and sort out any issues that might arise.

Nice to be able to take the time off!
I've read that ducklings need less heat than chicks, maybe goes for goslings too.
I'd ask in the geese forum to get some first hand experience advice.
The top of the plate can give enough heat as they grow too.
Ambient temps can also make a difference.

 

[Leader Bee]

Nice to be able to take the time off!

Yeah, I get 27 days holiday here in the UK plus an additional 8 which are national holidays so plenty of time to look after them. I'll be brooding indoors so ambient temps will be nice for them as well.

 

[aart]

I'll be brooding indoors so ambient temps will be nice for them as well.

What are plans to move them outside?
Keep that in mind when you are managing your temps.
Best to keep ambient temps as cool as possible.
Do you have other birds?

This is for chicks, but applies to all baby poultry, so may give you some tips.....

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:
They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.

The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
-If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
-If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
-If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. If you do use a heat bulb make sure it's specifically for poultry, some heat bulbs for food have teflon coatings that can kill birds. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.


Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate

 

[Leader Bee]

What are plans to move them outside?
Keep that in mind when you are managing your temps.
Best to keep ambient temps as cool as possible.
Do you have other birds?


Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:
They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps.


Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY

Thanks Aart, really useful information there - I hadn't actually even thought about moving them outside being an issue; I assumed that around 3-4 weeks they'd be large enough and well feathered enough to move outdoors but it sounds like from what you're telling me i need to "wean them into it" so to speak?

These are going to be my first birds so I won't have to worry about integration problems with others.

I'll be going with the Ecoglow 600 heat plate I mentioned earlier; I had concerns about lamps causing eye problems when on 24/7 which led me to find this thread.