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

[galaga6846]

@aart the heating pad is a Sunbeam, without auto shut off.
It's attached with elastic bungee cords, and the soft stretchy fabric is sewn and stretched over the pad and tray for extra security. The feathers are now on the INSIDE. The tray is plastic, yes, but so are a lot of brooder bins with heat lamps. It's a rigid plastic, and is definitely not in danger of melting or warping.

And, the shims are ready!

 

[aart]

@aart the heating pad is a Sunbeam, without auto shut off.
It's attached with elastic bungee cords, and the soft stretchy fabric is sewn and stretched over the pad and tray for extra security. The feathers are now on the INSIDE. The tray is plastic, yes, but so are a lot of brooder bins with heat lamps. It's a rigid plastic, and is definitely not in danger of melting or warping.

And, the shims are ready!

I didn't think the plastic was an issue.
I don't like using any cloth wrap tho,
read too many stories of chicks crawling in a gap and getting stuck.

 

[galaga6846]

I didn't think the plastic was an issue.
I don't like using any cloth wrap tho,
read too many stories of chicks crawling in a gap and getting stuck.

Another member was worried about the plastic. I am actually headed to the hardware store right now to look at some other options for modification purposes. I wanted to just use things I had on hand, but maybe I'm going to have to think more money and time into this project than I thought

 

[Blooie]

The plastic should be okay. When I mentioned it I didn’t realize that it wasn’t a solid plastic letter tray.

 

[galaga6846]

I appreciate it, truly

 

[bruceha2000]

I think I'd toss the feathers, chicks like to taste test everything. And for reasons I'll never know, chickens like rigid styrofoam. NEVER insulate anything in their area with it without covering it with cardboard or plywood.

 

[Weeg]

We tried this cave today with some 2x3 welded wire for the cave, Sunbeam heating pad, and tapped the hand towel down to the top. We ditched the plastic wrap though, couldn't get it to stick. Seemed to work great! We then realized that our heat pad didn't have a way to turn off the Auto-off. Getting new heating pads and trying again on Wednesday.
Quick question, the chicks have been using a heat lamp so far, they are 4 days old. When we put the heating pad in, they huddled under it and didn't come out. I increased the heat to high, but had the same result. The pad was very warm, I'd be surpsied if it was to cold. If I pulled them out to adjust it, they would hang outside the pad and huddle like they were cold. I had to place them next to it and they would finally go in. Is it jsut because they weren't used to it? Shouldn't they be zipping in and out? The pad was low enough for them to touch their backs to it.
Thanks for the help! Every informative thread, and this setup is much cheeper than any heating plate.

 

[Blooie]

They usually don’t come out for awhile, sometimes not for a whole day. It’s calming, dark, relaxing, warm, and very Mom-like. They like it. So before doing a lot of adjusting of the heat, just lift the cave up a bit and peek in on them to be sure they are okay. Another way to check seems kinda mean, but then that’s never stopped me. Put your hand in and sort of scoop them all out. When they scream at you and then scurry back under, listen for the loud cheeping to be replaced with quiet little trills and purrs. When you hear it, smile. They consider it home!

 

[homeandhens]

We tried this cave today with some 2x3 welded wire for the cave, Sunbeam heating pad, and tapped the hand towel down to the top. We ditched the plastic wrap though, couldn't get it to stick. Seemed to work great! We then realized that our heat pad didn't have a way to turn off the Auto-off. Getting new heating pads and trying again on Wednesday.
Quick question, the chicks have been using a heat lamp so far, they are 4 days old. When we put the heating pad in, they huddled under it and didn't come out. I increased the heat to high, but had the same result. The pad was very warm, I'd be surpsied if it was to cold. If I pulled them out to adjust it, they would hang outside the pad and huddle like they were cold. I had to place them next to it and they would finally go in. Is it jsut because they weren't used to it? Shouldn't they be zipping in and out? The pad was low enough for them to touch their backs to it.
Thanks for the help! Every informative thread, and this setup is much cheeper than any heating plate.

I am in the same exact boat! My chicks did the same thing with the cave and I thought they were too cold.. I fortunately, also had a heating plate on hand and decided to put that in the brooder as well, and the chicks seem to prefer the plate over the cave. We have our brooder in a uninsulated, but closed-in deck. It is going to be 37 F by 5am… I am worried that they will get cold, but gonna leave both options on all night. I have heard of people using the cave in below freezing and negative temperatures, so I am not sure why my chicks were doing the same thing.

 

[Weeg]

They usually don’t come out for awhile, sometimes not for a whole day. It’s calming, dark, relaxing, warm, and very Mom-like. They like it. So before doing a lot of adjusting of the heat, just lift the cave up a bit and peek in on them to be sure they are okay. Another way to check seems kinda mean, but then that’s never stopped me. Put your hand in and sort of scoop them all out. When they scream at you and then scurry back under, listen for the loud cheeping to be replaced with quiet little trills and purrs. When you hear it, smile. They consider it home!

Okay, this makes me feel much better. When I checked on them they seemed very warm, cozy and happy. Definitely no peeping, and they were warm when I pulled them out to hold them. We'll put a heat lamp back in until we get new pads, but good to know what to expect once we get it setup again. Thanks for the help!