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

[Blooie]

@thegreatwhite I'd be careful with using multiple digital devices that weren't made to work together.

I remember a warning against using a rhesostatic dimmer extension cord with a digital heating pad by someone well versed in electronics....
......they said it could blow the digital electronics.

See? THAT'S why bouncing ideas off one another is so valuable. Ken said almost the same thing a few minutes ago. Learning, always learning.....

 

[Blooie]

Yes, what you said, Blooie, lol.

But I am wondering if Vian can't disable 'auto shut off' on his particular heating pad.

That's a real possibility. And I think that something else that folks are forgetting is the chicks themselves. If owners don't see the chicks constantly under the pad, they assume they are cold. We've become so accustomed to "knowing" that the babies have to be kept under a heat lamp with precise temperatures. And we've also grown used to putting them into a container where the temperature of the entire box is warm, believing that that's what best for them. So when those chicks aren't under the cave, or when they've gathered in a little huddle to warm up away from it, they think there's something wrong. Well, chicks aren't under their broody all day long, either. When she's off on her own for few minutes foraging - even if she's staying close by - they will sometimes gather in a downy clump and catch a quick nap.

From some of the posts and messages since this thread started, I've begun to rethink one thing - I'm wondering if it's worth it to try to put older chicks (like 3 weekers) under MHP for the first time. I'm sure that after the harsh, steady light of the heat lamp, suddenly having it cooler, darker, and making them actually seek out the heat for themselves for the first time might be too much of a drastic change. I wonder if that's why some are having trouble getting this system to work for them. We all know adult chickens don't like change - what makes us think that chicks are any different? Do I think they can be trained to it? Possibly. If they were put into it at night when it's dark they would probably cuddle close together for security and additional warmth and come out in the morning, but they might not know to run back under it to warm up during the day. By 3 weeks they shouldn't need frequent warm-ups, but since I'm not a chicken psychiatrist I can't say for sure. I also think that they might have to be tucked under the cave after dark for a few nights to really "get it." So my gut feeling at this point in time is that this will work perfectly for chicks a week old or less, but might take a little extra "training" for older ones. With the warming temps just around the corner and the increased feathering, the chicks are already pretty close to being allowed to live out in the coop anyway, so is it worth the extra effort to do that training? I can't decide that for anyone else - each situation and owner is different.

I plan on taking the weekly "chick check up" video later this afternoon. I'm also hoping to let a few of the bigger chicks loose in the run (under supervision, of course) and see how the Bigs do with the Littles outside of the brooder. The goal by the first of April is to have them almost ready (if not completely ready) for daytime integration, and I think we'll start that while they are out foraging. We've had an escapee from time to time, and they've been just fine, so we'll see. Last time one escaped, she ran out from between my feet when I opened the pen to change water and put fresh food in their feeder. She made a beeline right for Agatha (how did she know to seek out the only chicken I've ever had go broody in the past?) and although Aggie was a little surprised, she didn't react harshly. The others milled around, trying to figure out what this interloper was doing on their side of the fence, but nobody bothered her. Actually I made a bigger disturbance in the run trying to catch her than the original escape caused in the flock. So we'll see what today brings.

 

[Vian]

Yes, what you said, Blooie, lol.

But I am wondering if Vian can't disable 'auto shut off' on his particular heating pad.

Like I said, my heating pad simply doesn't have "auto shut off" it's not a feature of that heating pad. When I check on them in the morning, 8 hours later, the heating pad is still on, still warm, just not what I would consider warm enough.

Lastnight I left them with just the cave and heating pad. This morning it was down to 75 inside the cave again. I turned on the heating lamp for an hour while I got ready for work, then shut it off again when I left. When I got home, the thermometer in the cave read 93. All the chicks are fine. I just worry that 75 isn't warm enough for them.

Also, I'm female.

 

[lynnehd]

From some of the posts and messages since this thread started, I've begun to rethink one thing - I'm wondering if it's worth it to try to put older chicks (like 3 weekers) under MHP for the first time. I'm sure that after the harsh, steady light of the heat lamp, suddenly having it cooler, darker, and making them actually seek out the heat for themselves for the first time might be too much of a drastic change. I wonder if that's why some are having trouble getting this system to work for them. We all know adult chickens don't like change - what makes us think that chicks are any different? Do I think they can be trained to it? Possibly. If they were put into it at night when it's dark they would probably cuddle close together for security and additional warmth and come out in the morning, but they might not know to run back under it to warm up during the day. By 3 weeks they shouldn't need frequent warm-ups, but since I'm not a chicken psychiatrist I can't say for sure. I also think that they might have to be tucked under the cave after dark for a few nights to really "get it." So my gut feeling at this point in time is that this will work perfectly for chicks a week old or less, but might take a little extra "training" for older ones. With the warming temps just around the corner and the increased feathering, the chicks are already pretty close to being allowed to live out in the coop anyway, so is it worth the extra effort to do that training? I can't decide that for anyone else - each situation and owner is different.

Interesting! Just today I put 3 chicks under a MHP (my version with the reptile heat pad and the thermostat with probe, on a wire frame), made into a tall cave.
They had had the Premier 1 Heat plate and really were not using it at this point; sitting to the side at night.
Also, I have two new chicks, so decided to use the Premier heat plate for them.

I had to show the 3 week chicks the cave, but after some shifting around, they took to it very well and are sound asleep, at about 82f.
It is now working better for them than the heat plate, and will be easy to taper down the temperatures.
I think at this point they just like the security of having a 'cave' to retire to.


Anyway, Vian, here is a picture of the controls for a heat pad with the auto shut off feature. Since most people using MHP have not had drops in temperatures, I wonder if this is the issue.

 

[Vian]

Like I said, the heating pad doesn't have auto-off. It stays on until I manually switch it to "off". I think it's just not powerful enough to keep the cave warm when the ambient temperature is so low (high 30's to low 40's at night) However, the chicks seem to be fine with it. They huddle together underneath the cave at night, and are up and chirping when I check on them in the morning.

 

[Blooie]

Thanks, Lynnehd. I had posted a photo of that same control before, but forgot to point that out, so I appreciate that! Mine ran about 82 degrees in the cave as well. I wasn't looking for that "optimum 95 degrees for the first week", just comfortable Littles who could decide what they needed and go get it! I'm happy that you did get your 3 weekers to use the cave. I've been wondering if that was possible, so it's reassuring to hear that it is first hand from someone who has been able to do it.

I didn't get the video of the Littles today. Got busy with life - you know how that goes! My 3 year old super special granddaughter is disabled (but don't tell her - God forgot to tell her so we'd rather she not know it! tee hee ) and I had her today. It's a little hard to bring her out there in her wheelchair...the tires get so yuckky! But I'll get out there tomorrow.

@Vian ....I sure wish I could help you more.....I know you'd really like this to work.

Edited to add: It sounds like you are getting it to work! I'm doing my happy dance for ya!

 

[Vian]

I think they are old enough now, and feathered out enough, that they don't need the high temps the heat lamp was providing. Only their bellies and heads don't have feathers at this point.

 

[Blooie]

I think they are old enough now, and feathered out enough, that they don't need the high temps the heat lamp was providing. Only their bellies and heads don't have feathers at this point.

 

[aart]

Like I said, my heating pad simply doesn't have "auto shut off" it's not a feature of that heating pad. When I check on them in the morning, 8 hours later, the heating pad is still on, still warm, just not what I would consider warm enough.

Lastnight I left them with just the cave and heating pad. This morning it was down to 75 inside the cave again. I turned on the heating lamp for an hour while I got ready for work, then shut it off again when I left. When I got home, the thermometer in the cave read 93. All the chicks are fine. I just worry that 75 isn't warm enough for them.

The 'cave' concept is a little different than the plate concept.
With a plate you adjust the height of the heat surface to be juuuust above, or even touching, the level of their backs, and raise it up as they grow larger.
That way you are heating the chicks and not the space in the 'cave'.
I found it difficult to accurately measure the temp under a plate and go by their behavior instead.

Regarding switching older chicks from lamp to cave or plate...
...I found I had to shove them under there and 'hold' them for just a minute until they felt the heat, had to do that maybe 2-3 times until they 'got' it.

Got some press and seal yesterday...that stuff is strange, it doesn't feel really sticky until you press hard, then it does stick and does leave a residue.
I just tried it on the counter top, should stick to the wood OK.

 

[lynnehd]

The 'cave' concept is a little different than the plate concept.
With a plate you adjust the height of the heat surface to be juuuust above, or even touching, the level of their backs, and raise it up as they grow larger.
That way you are heating the chicks and not the space in the 'cave'.
I found it difficult to accurately measure the temp under a plate and go by their behavior instead.

Regarding switching older chicks from lamp to cave or plate...
...I found I had to shove them under there and 'hold' them for just a minute until they felt the heat, had to do that maybe 2-3 times until they 'got' it.

You're right, I did have to help them along for a few minutes, but then they settled down nicely.
(Of course, as far as the older 3 week chicks, switching from a plate to a MHP 'cave' isn't the same as switching from a light source to a MHP, but I bet it could be done).

With only two new hatchling chicks (adding to my 'flock'), the plate seemed to work better than the MHP set up as a cave. However, the heating pad set up flat on a metal cooling rack probably would have worked just as well. Or, more chicks would have helped.