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

[aart]

Can you give a direct link to the Press 'n Seal? On Amazon I'm only seeing Glad's plastic wrap. What's the more specific name? Thank you tons. Sorry I'm so clueless!

Just google "Press 'n Seal" first link up is for amazon.

 

[HRoseY]

Hi! This is quite the thread.
Looks like a great method. I just have a few questions that I couldn’t quite find. I’m sure it’s out there somewhere but is a 12”by15” heating pad big enough for 6 chicks?
Also I’m planning on building a hoop coop and was thinking about possibly putting them in it from day 1. Would it be too big for them as small chicks? it’s going to be 8’ by 12’ish. It also won’t have a floor would it be ok to put the mhp in the nesting boxes or is that a bad idea? Should I build a platform to put it on? I’m mostly worried if it rains water going into the hoop coop and chilling the mhp. I can also brood them on the covered back porch if that would be safer for the first few weeks. Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[jreardon1918]

Hi! This is quite the thread.
Looks like a great method. I just have a few questions that I couldn’t quite find. I’m sure it’s out there somewhere but is a 12”by15” heating pad big enough for 6 chicks?
Also I’m planning on building a hoop coop and was thinking about possibly putting them in it from day 1. Would it be too big for them as small chicks? it’s going to be 8’ by 12’ish. It also won’t have a floor would it be ok to put the mhp in the nesting boxes or is that a bad idea? Should I build a platform to put it on? I’m mostly worried if it rains water going into the hoop coop and chilling the mhp. I can also brood them on the covered back porch if that would be safer for the first few weeks. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Here is the exact heating pad I bought for my MHP. It is a bit bigger than the one you suggest. I have used it three times. Each time in a brooder in the run. Two of the tree years the temperatures in the run got close to freezing. The chicks thrived.

I imagine your size will be fine for 6 chicks.
Good luck.

 

[jreardon1918]

My first brooding experience was stressful. Lost a few chicks. Keeping the chicks in the house and worrying about temperatures and heat lamps, was tough. Those chicks did make it to the outside run.

The MHP was the much better option. I did two articles on my take on the MHP. Here they are:
MHP in March outdoors

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/4th-time-is-a-charm.78573/

Using the MHP outdoors has made raising chicks "easy". Maybe a coop and run expansion is in order this summer.

Good luck.

 

[HRoseY]

Here is the exact heating pad I bought for my MHP. It is a bit bigger than the one you suggest. I have used it three times. Each time in a brooder in the run. Two of the tree years the temperatures in the run got close to freezing. The chicks thrived.

I imagine your size will be fine for 6 chicks.
Good luck.

Thanks for the info! I’d actually ordered that one too but was looking at the description and in some places it says it has an auto shut off… did you find that to be the case? When did you buy it?

 

[HRoseY]

My first brooding experience was stressful. Lost a few chicks. Keeping the chicks in the house and worrying about temperatures and heat lamps, was tough. Those chicks did make it to the outside run.

The MHP was the much better option. I did two articles on my take on the MHP. Here they are:
MHP in March outdoors

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/4th-time-is-a-charm.78573/

Using the MHP outdoors has made raising chicks "easy". Maybe a coop and run expansion is in order this summer.

Good luck.

Thanks for your help! Greatly appreciate it. Glad it worked well in the covered run!

 

[jreardon1918]

Thanks for the info! I’d actually ordered that one too but was looking at the description and in some places it says it has an auto shut off… did you find that to be the case? When did you buy it?

The one I bought does not have an auto shutoff. I tested it for a full 24 hours to make sure it stayed on.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks for the info! I’d actually ordered that one too but was looking at the description and in some places it says it has an auto shut off… did you find that to be the case? When did you buy it?

I have the same one and it does not have auto shut off. I think I've had mine for 2 years.

 

[HRoseY]

How big is too big to brood babies outside? Do you need to confine them to a smaller area at first to keep them from getting lost? They will be two days old we are getting them from a local hatchery. Coop would be 8’ by 12’

 

[jreardon1918]

How big is too big to brood babies outside? Do you need to confine them to a smaller area at first to keep them from getting lost? They will be two days old we are getting them from a local hatchery. Coop would be 8’ by 12’

There is a 2' x 4' brooder in the run. The run is 8' X 12'. The picture attached shows one of the three chick doors that allow the chicks to self integrate. I open those doors at 4 weeks old.