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

[COChix]

I watch the chicks.

The Master has spoken . Followed that sound advice and haven't been steered wrong since. Thanks Blooie.

 

[Blooie]

My pleasure, COChix!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

OK, guys, I'm really wiped out, but I wanted to post this before crashing to see what you guys thought and if I need to change anything. I went into lockdown yesterday with 15 cream legbar eggs (no idea how may will hatch - that's a whole other worrying topic). Setting up brooder, including building the MHP. (I have a Brinsea Ecoglow as backup, but would prefer to try this, as it seems more cozy/natural.) I am using the Sunbeam model 771, and the frame is 1/4" hardware cloth with edges folded for strength, with black duct tape over rough/sharp edges (question - do I need to brace it? Like with a piece of welded wire, too? As is, it's easy to adjust without collapsing, seems ok...). Covered in pillow case, had some issues keeping the pillow case from sagging, so used some little binder clips in back. Testing right now, and with Thermapen temp probe pressed up against the undersurface, it reads 110F on the high setting (that's surface temp, not ambient air temp under there) - but it feels comfortable to me.




















Comments? Suggestions?

- Ant Farm

 

[Hholly]

@Fire Ant Farm It might need a little more arch to it. Hard to tell how much space is under there, but make sure there's about 2.5-3 inches to start. And make sure the fabric doesn't droop too much underneath. I used some velcro strips to keep my pillowcase tighter against the heat pad. Good luck!

 

[Beekissed]

Looks good to me!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

@Fire Ant Farm It might need a little more arch to it. Hard to tell how much space is under there, but make sure there's about 2.5-3 inches to start. And make sure the fabric doesn't droop too much underneath. I used some velcro strips to keep my pillowcase tighter against the heat pad. Good luck!

I have it low because folks were saying be sure it touched their backs - but it's easy to raise it up if necessary. Velcro is a great idea! But I'm not sure I'll be able to get to it in time.

Look what I found this morning in the 'bator!



- Ant Farm

 

[Hholly]

I have it low because folks were saying be sure it touched their backs - but it's easy to raise it up if necessary. Velcro is a great idea! But I'm not sure I'll be able to get to it in time.

Look what I found this morning in the 'bator!



- Ant Farm

Yay!!! You will know right away if your MHP is tall enough. Keep us posted on your chickies!

I had a nice surprise waiting for me in the coop this morning!

This is my first chick from my own silkies. I panicked so I grabbed it out of the nest and brought it indoors since the high today will only be 23. So I luckily had another HP to set up another brooder. It took me a while to get this little one comfy. But it is now nestled under MHP2 taking a nap. Hopefully the other egg will hatch so he/she will have a buddy.

 

[akaruby]

Hi all! I have three 4 week old chicks that are using the heating pad in their brooder inside right now. They mainly just sit on it from time to time. They're getting so big already and I'd like to move them to a small coop I have outside. It's not insulated, but could move the coop into my garage if needed. What outdoor temperature would be too cold for them even with the heating pad? It's going to be -4 one night this weekend.

 

[eagrbeavr]

Fire Ant, I think it looks pretty good. Looked just like how I plan to have mine. Congrats on the chicks!

 

[bruceha2000]

Can anyone help me with the height of the frame? I have several steel frames just like this one from COChix, but different heights from 3" to 8". Does any one know what is the right height for one to two week old chicks? And I measured the temperature inside being about 80 degree. Is that too low? I have a second heat pad (hard surface for easy clean) can be put on the bottom if necessary. My original plan is to set the hard-surface pad (surface temperature is about 102 degree) outside so they have a different choice.

1. Skip the hard surface pad. A broody raised chick will never have a 102F floor to stand on AND THEY DON'T NEED IT. The warmest thing my June girls had to stand on was the broody hen. Some of them did it occasionally. Put your hand on the back of a chicken, it isn't particularly warm.
2. Stop measuring the air temp in the cave. As others said, you are not trying to heat the air, you are creating a warm surface for the chicks to get up against. The other chicks are part of that warm surface. Consider how YOU use a heat pad. Do you suspend it over your back or put it directly ON your back. Same thing.
3. Remember that they traveled, most likely by air, a day or two, maybe three without a heat source anything close to the underside of a hen. Near as I can tell, mine spent the night at the Cleveland airport. From there they flew to Nashua, NH and then were trucked 3+ hours to the local Postal "plant" then trucked another 20 minutes to the PO. You can bet your last nickel they were not in a 95F room during any of that time. Even chicks a couple of days old will spend MORE of their waking hours NOT under the hen than under her. They DO NOT need to be in a 95F ambient air environment 24x7. Watch the chicks, if they are all smushed in the back under the pad when they aren't sleeping, turn it up a bit. If they are all out at the front or not inside (once they understand that is their heat source) when they should be inside sleeping, turn it down.
4. I would use the 3" high one and put a piece of 2x2 (1.5") under each front corner. As the birds get taller, replace it with a taller piece. Or you can get fancy with adjustable legs. If you are going to be brooding chicks frequently, that would be the best thing. If you are going to do it every few years, no need to get fancy unless you want to. The idea is that by having a sloped roof they can choose what part they want to be under. Way in the back where they are up against the pad or closer to the front. Even though it is not your goal to heat the air in their cave, it will happen, especially if you have the towel "flap" in the front like Blooie does and they will decide for themselves what part is most comfortable at any given point in time.

I am fine then, mine was at around 84 under it on the granite countertop!

Now, how do I get my DW to stop looking at me with either a look of content for buying the chicks a new heating pad as she has her 20 year old one to use.. The age of hers was mentioned to me as soon as the UPS guy delivered it and I opened it........ and right after she said " what did you buy that for, we have one?"...

I should have lied.

I assume you meant contEMPT, not contENT. Does the old one have auto shutoff that can not be defeated? If so, that is your answer. If that is not the case, tell her it is because you are both old fogies and sometimes you will need a heating pad at the same time she does. Right now you are just using it to raise chicks until the need arises.

Hi all! I have three 4 week old chicks that are using the heating pad in their brooder inside right now. They mainly just sit on it from time to time. They're getting so big already and I'd like to move them to a small coop I have outside. It's not insulated, but could move the coop into my garage if needed. What outdoor temperature would be too cold for them even with the heating pad? It's going to be -4 one night this weekend.

What temp is the garage? At 4 weeks they should be fully feathered and ready for outside but that temp differential might be quite a shock. I think that is one reason some people like to get them and their MHPB into the coop outside early on. At 4 weeks a broody raised chick isn't under the hen much if at all. Never during the day as far as I saw. In fact, at that age mine moved THEMSELVES to the 4' high roost at night with the "big girls". Once most of them did, the hen and the other 2 went as well. Some "mama's girls" still tried to get under her wings for a few days but there is only so much room even under a really big Black Australorp and less if everyone has to stand on a roosting pole.

I do have to wonder why people who live in colder climates like you and I don't wait until at least March, April even better, to get chicks.