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

[Blooie]

I don't know, Deb. By that age mine weren't under it anymore.....pad was off and removed from the brooder pen and Agatha's nest (she was broody) went into the brooder pen. I had 15 up to the age of 3 weeks using the big pad. Mostly by then they were snuggling on top of it or all around it, with just a few going under it.

 

[aart]

How many 4-6 week old chicks fit under one heating pad?

Agrees by that age they should be done with the heating pad.

Population could definitely be a problem with the heating pad....depending on ambient temperatures.

That's one place where using it flat, instead of caved/curved, could be advantageous is it covers a slightly larger area both under and on top of it.

I had 17 just hatched chicks under mine last fall for a couple days(hatched a batch for someone else) and they fit ok, but it would have gotten tight pretty quick.

 

[Percheron chick]

It's currently a balmy 8* and my 4 10 week old chicks are still using their momma at night. I'm letting them tell me what they need. I plan on brooding 50 chicks early February. I found a deal for a large sweeter heater but know that they will quickly outgrow it and need additional heat source. Maybe do a test batch of 10.

 

[aart]

It's currently a balmy 8* and my 4 10 week old chicks are still using their momma at night. I'm letting them tell me what they need. I plan on brooding 50 chicks early February. I found a deal for a large sweeter heater but know that they will quickly outgrow it and need additional heat source. Maybe do a test batch of 10.

Sure they'll use it if it's there....but would they be fine without it?....probably.
Go for the sweetheater if you can afford it.

 

[perchie.girl]

I don't know, Deb. By that age mine weren't under it anymore.....pad was off and removed from the brooder pen and Agatha's nest (she was broody) went into the brooder pen. I had 15 up to the age of 3 weeks using the big pad. Mostly by then they were snuggling on top of it or all around it, with just a few going under it.

Not me unless @Percheron chick is name deb too.

 

[Blooie]

Oh, shoot! I'm so sorry! I know better than that, too, but Ken was hovering over me waiting for me to finish on BYC so we could start taking down the Christmas stuff and I didn't look carefully enough. Forgive me?

 

[perchie.girl]

Oh, shoot! I'm so sorry! I know better than that, too, but Ken was hovering over me waiting for me to finish on BYC so we could start taking down the Christmas stuff and I didn't look carefully enough. Forgive me?

LOL... My bad for not putting a smiley face.

deb

 

[Blooie]

LOL... My bad for not putting a smiley face.

deb

You know I love ya......smiley face or not!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

 

[circlehouse]

I have spent a week reading through all the posts here. What an amaizing idea! I will be getting my fist chicks this spring and I am so excited!
We will be completing our coop first and brooding them in it.
I am going to be buying all the chick paraphernalia gradually so as to not give my husband sticker shock.

Anyway what size heating pad should I get for 10 chicks?
Thanks so much!