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

[Blooie]

Adding to my question, how cold do you think is too cold for brooding outdoors with a heat cave? The second heating pad should arrive tomorrow, and the temps are supposed to drop. 19 degrees Monday night. Is that too cold? If the heating cave is the right temp, would they be alright? The brooder is a converted tractor. A 4x8 frame wrapped in HC, with a tarp over half. The heat would be in the back of the covered half for wind block. Would this setup be okay? We can bring them in if necessary, they would just loose some space for a few days.

That totally depends on your personal comfort zone. Me, I like to keep them inside for a day or two until I know they are using the pad as it was intended. I can observe them to see if they are running happily in and out or snoozing on top. Then I know we’re at the sweet spot for heat. If they won’t go in or stay right at the entrance it might be too warm under there. If they huddle in a corner under it and are still cheeping they’re too cold. Oh, and the fly in the ointment is sometimes if it’s too hot they’ll avoid it altogether, then huddle together in a chilly little ball of fuzz far away from it and be too cold. So you may have to make a judgement call at that point and decide for them what they need, adjusting the temp or pulling up on the center of the frame a bit until they are purring at night and running in and out during the day.

if you know they are content after a day or so, you can try to put them outside, but I won’t tell you to do that just because I’m comfortable with mine out there in those temps. If I did that and you put them outside on my say-so and they start to suffer, then it’s my hiney on the line.

I made some modifications. It's 77-80° on the table directly under the heater, and 102.5° at the pad in the highest setting. I got some shims to raise it up at an angle as well. I haven't applied the Press n Seal yet, but I have a roll. How many inches clearance should I start it out at?

Can you try to get the temp under the pad up by a couple of degrees? 82 seems to be the sweet spot. Of course, you have no bedding under there yet, and that can make a difference since they insulate and hold heat well. Hang in there with us - you’re getting there!!

 

[galaga6846]

What should the clearance start at? 2"?

 

[galaga6846]

That totally depends on your personal comfort zone. Me, I like to keep them inside for a day or two until I know they are using the pad as it was intended. I can observe them to see if they are running happily in and out or snoozing on top. Then I know we’re at the sweet spot for heat. If they won’t go in or stay right at the entrance it might be too warm under there. If they huddle in a corner under it and are still cheeping they’re too cold. Oh, and the fly in the ointment is sometimes if it’s too hot they’ll avoid it altogether, then huddle together in a chilly little ball of fuzz far away from it and be too cold. So you may have to make a judgement call at that point and decide for them what they need, adjusting the temp or pulling up on the center of the frame a bit until they are purring at night and running in and out during the day.

if you know they are content after a day or so, you can try to put them outside, but I won’t tell you to do that just because I’m comfortable with mine out there in those temps. If I did that and you put them outside on my say-so and they start to suffer, then it’s my hiney on the line.

Can you try to get the temp under the pad up by a couple of degrees? 82 seems to be the sweet spot. Of course, you have no bedding under there yet, and that can make a difference since they insulate and hold heat well. Hang in there with us - you’re getting there!!

81.6°

 

[galaga6846]

@Blooie under the pad, the surface ranges from 71°-85°, from front to back with shims in place. Just hoping the clearance is right.

 

[bruceha2000]

How many inches clearance should I start it out at?

Typically they start at 2" in the back, 4" in the front.

 

[aart]

Typically they start at 2" in the back, 4" in the front.

I usually start a bit lower than that.....but there's no real hard numbers, much must be played 'by eye'.

 

[bruceha2000]

Certainly true, following the "if they won't come out ......" advice will serve them well.

 

[Blooie]

My goodness…..here it is chick season and this thread is as quiet as can be. Usually this is the time of year when the questions start rolling in! I miss that!

@galaga6846 Yours should be here by now…how’d they do?

 

[janiedoe]

My goodness…..here it is chick season and this thread is as quiet as can be. Usually this is the time of year when the questions start rolling in! I miss that!

@galaga6846 Yours should be here by now…how’d they do?

I've sent links for this thread to so many non-bycers. I'll bet you get some questions soon.

 

[RoyalChick]

My goodness…..here it is chick season and this thread is as quiet as can be. Usually this is the time of year when the questions start rolling in! I miss that!

@galaga6846 Yours should be here by now…how’d they do?

We are all just happily watching our chicks!
In full transparency I don’t use an MHP, i bought a heat plate - but the same principles apply, and it was this thread that convinced me to get the plate rather than use a lamp.
I do make a cave out of my plate using a little blanket.
My babies are two weeks old and are now out in the coop. Inside at 70f they were sleeping mostly outside the cave. Now they are outside with lows in the low 40s they are going in it fully at night.