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

[galaga6846]

Too tall, chicks need to press their backs against it. Have to adjust as they grow

Shoot. I was hoping to find some used to thing. Thanks

 

[aart]

Too tall, chicks need to press their backs against it. Have to adjust as they grow

It's also too narrow, would cause a possibly fatal traffic jam.

 

[galaga6846]

It's also too narrow, would cause a possibly fatal traffic jam.

I only wanted a couple chicks, I just want to add two to our flock this spring

 

[wyoDreamer]

I agree too narrow and not adjustable and only limited access points.

BUT, I guess I set my heating pad too high because it is high enough for them to walk in without ducking and I raise it when their heads touch the pad. No way my chicks could press their backs to the heating pad. It seems to be warm enough for them - I haven't lost a chick and I brood out in the barn with no other heat source. Springtime upper 20's for a low temp.

A mouse chewed my Mamma Heating Pad up last winter and I brooded last spring with a couple of "warming plates" from Fleet Farm (DH bought them for me as a surprise). Started with one on the bottom and one on top of roof. After 2 weeks, that was too warm for them between the plates because I found them sleeping on the roof instead of inside the cave; so I moved the warming plate from the floor up onto the roof and placed over 2 inches of fine wood chips on the floor for them to sleep on. That worked and they moved back into the cave until they were fully feathered at 4-5 weeks old. Then they all slept on the roof, lol.

 

[galaga6846]

I have built a makeshift brooder heater from a heating pad under stretchy soft fabric and upside down tray. There are two ways out, and it's low enough to the ground that a baby chick can warm its back. I placed soft feathers onto the underside for extra comfort.

The problem is that I can't seem to warm the area underneath to a temperature higher than 80°. I have searched but couldn't find an answer.

 

[aart]

The problem is that I can't seem to warm the area underneath to a temperature higher than 80°.

You don't measure the temperature of the space, you measure the temperature of the surface that the chicks should be able to press their backs against.
An infrared temp gauge is the best way to do that.

 

[Blooie]

The temp on the floor of the cave under the pad averages around 82.5 degrees. MHP doesn’t heat the air, as my friend @aart said. The chicks warm by coming into contact, or very close to contact, with the underside of the pad.

 

[galaga6846]

Well, in that case it seems like it'd be perfect! I'm also thinking of using wooden shim to raise it over while they're rapidly growing. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[galaga6846]

The temp on the floor of the cave under the pad averages around 82.5 degrees. MHP doesn’t heat the air, as my friend @aart said. The chicks warm by coming into contact, or very close to contact, with the underside of the pad.

I think I got it! This is about 2" from the pad to the table. If I need to, I can set shims underneath to raise it up. I know it's goofy with the colors, but my daughter is going to love it. And I think the chicks will appreciate the feathers. I will put something on top to protect it from poop and whatever other grossness may accumulate, but I'm not sure what yet. I'm thinking I may carve out a piece of plastic from the lid of the brooder bin, and make slots that fit the raised parts of the paper tray that are supposed to keep another tray on top in place.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

that looks very cute! I would just caution to make sure the heat vents etc aren't blocked if it's an electric heating plate. If it's too covered it could be a hazard I think.