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

[aart]

Temps - only low eighties on both the Vrooder heat plate and the K&H pad.

Surfaces of heating plates and pads should be at least 100°F.
Are you sure you got good contact between therm and surface?
Not sure I'd use a pad under a plate.

 

[ladybrasa]

Not sure I'd use a pad under a plate

So you don’t think heat above and below is a good idea for around freezing temps?

As far as thermometer contact - I can’t swear it was close enough. TBH not sure where the sensor actually is on the digital, and the “analog” one has a plate around it.

Is the infrared thermometer thingie something easily found places like Walmart? (Assuming it’s a people thing ...)

 

[aart]

Is the infrared thermometer thingie something easily found places like Walmart?

Yep.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-Infrared-Thermometer-with-Batteries-Model-1504/47702069

 

[ladybrasa]

Ooo so that’s a hardware/tools section thing!

 

[ladybrasa]

SO. Travelled to WallyWorld and they were out of most heating pads except a small one with auto cutoff. I did find the exact infrared thermometer that aart posted! Yay! BUT I got home and was told we already had one! It’s from Dollar General of all places. Had no idea they had stuff like that.

Anyway, used the DG infrared thermometer on the plates/pads - getting 106-111 on the Vrooder heat plate surface, and I think it was about 95? on the K&H hard pad. So I guess combined it would be too much? The towel overtop was in the 70s. Not sure I can take air temp under there since the vrooder needs to be touched to transmit heat. I do feel much better now, though! So I guess next step is to get some straw and some chicks and see what happens...? I could scoot the K&H pad so it’s only half under the heat plate so chicks would have options and see where the poops land overnight ...? I think I’ll do that unless y’all think otherwise.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

SO. Travelled to WallyWorld and they were out of most heating pads except a small one with auto cutoff. I did find the exact infrared thermometer that aart posted! Yay! BUT I got home and was told we already had one! It’s from Dollar General of all places. Had no idea they had stuff like that.

Anyway, used the DG infrared thermometer on the plates/pads - getting 106-111 on the Vrooder heat plate surface, and I think it was about 95? on the K&H hard pad. So I guess combined it would be too much? The towel overtop was in the 70s. Not sure I can take air temp under there since the vrooder needs to be touched to transmit heat. I do feel much better now, though! So I guess next step is to get some straw and some chicks and see what happens...? I could scoot the K&H pad so it’s only half under the heat plate so chicks would have options and see where the poops land overnight ...? I think I’ll do that unless y’all think otherwise.

I would just have a backup plan in case the chicks tell you they are unhappy. If they are underneath but still "peep screaming" at you, they are likely too cold. Have a plan about that. If they are out or half out of the hot area and scream peeping at you, they may be too warm under there. Or need you to hers them under (baby chicks are DUMB). Watch them when they arrive to make sure they figure out where to go to get warm, food, water, etc, and then pay attention to them for about 15 minutes once it's cold after dark right before you go to bed. They should all be underneath and barely making noise. Maybe just some quiet peep-murmurs and trills.

 

[aart]

Anyway, used the DG infrared thermometer on the plates/pads - getting 106-111 on the Vrooder heat plate surface,

There ya go! Perfect!

So I guess combined it would be too much?

Yes, that was my thought.

 

[bruceha2000]

I’m sorry if any of the following has been addressed in this thread - yeah I’m not reading through 1100 pages!!

Why not, I did!!! Of course I also started when there were only about 10

So you don’t think heat above and below is a good idea for around freezing temps?

Read the first few pages from Blooie. She lives way north in Wyoming and brooded chicks in a MHP in temps way colder than "merely freezing".

I've not done that, I wait until early June to get chicks. In my experience, in my location it works better. I've had 5 batches of chicks. 3 were early June, 2 were early May. I figured I could get the pullets laying when the older hens knocked off in the fall. The did but they also quit for their first winter. EVERY early June chick has laid through the winter from their first fall to their second. In fact one of the 2019 June chicks is STILL laying! She never moulted last fall. First time I've had that happen.

 

[bruceha2000]

My 6 chicks shipped yesterday. Update from USPS at 4:50 last night said they were in transit to be delivered by 6 PM tonight. Not very surprised that they aren't here. I'll be up about 5 to see what the tracking says. If they are going through the local PO I can get them by 7 AM. The clerks don't mind sending cheeping chicks out before the window opens AT ALL.

I've got their Mama Heating Pad set up in the room off the living room and Nuit is still doing well staying broody but with forced "personal time" twice a day. Once the chicks arrive I'll keep them in the house one night and at 0 dark 30 the next night will stuff them under Nuit in the community nest box. The next morning the little family will be moved down to the brooder area.

I cleaned out the coop on Sunday, still need to move all that stuff out of the alley and into the compost bins. It will be cooler after tomorrow.

 

[K0k0shka]

with forced "personal time" twice a day

Why?