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

[duluthralphie]

Oh cool I didnt know those heat pads had a thermostat... The plus is they are waterproof.

As far as making an arch... you only really need it raised up high enough so they have to huner down a tad to get in.. Ideally angling it lower in the back than the front. so they can self regulate.... this is the whole exercise here.

Self regulation because they really know what they need.
Lights off so they can really sleep at night.
The ability to brood in the coop without going to extreme measures.
By brooding in the coop they get innoculated for different things... but best of all they get their flora and fauna going in the gut.

NO DUST IN THE house.....

deb

depends on whose house.....

 

[realsis]

Oh cool I didnt know those heat pads had a thermostat...    The plus is they are waterproof.

As far as making an arch...  you only really need it raised up high enough so they have to huner down a tad to get in..  Ideally angling it lower in the back than the front.  so they can self regulate....  this is the whole exercise here.

Self regulation because they really know what they need. 
Lights off so they can really sleep at night.
The ability to brood in the coop without going to extreme measures.
By brooding in the coop they get innoculated for different things...  but best of all they get their flora and fauna going in the gut.

NO DUST IN THE house.....

deb

Thank you so much. so how hot should I adjust the thermostat? should I make it 95? so as far as the cave goes I want them to huddle under it? I'm so nervous here but hubby read your thread and has complete confidence. I wish I could be as sure. !! I do feel confident that the thermostat can be adjusted but I'm so worried it won't be warm enough. I'm just afraid I will mess it up somehow and kill them. but huby is all for it so I'm hoping it works. when we get it together for a test run I will show you all pics and you all can tell me what you think

 

[Hholly]

Thank you so much. so how hot should I adjust the thermostat? should I make it 95? so as far as the cave goes I want them to huddle under it? I'm so nervous here but hubby read your thread and has complete confidence. I wish I could be as sure. !! I do feel confident that the thermostat can be adjusted but I'm so worried it won't be warm enough. I'm just afraid I will mess it up somehow and kill them. but huby is all for it so I'm hoping it works. when we get it together for a test run I will show you all pics and you all can tell me what you think

You just have to keep an eye on them at first. If they settle down and get cozy, they won't be crying in distress. If they don't seem to want to be in the cave at all, turn down the temp. They will let you know.

 

[RonoKT]

I found this thread a few month ago after seeing "electric hens" on eBay and thinking I could DIY somthing. I brooded 13 broiler birds under a reptile heat mat and some welded wire. I now have 11 chicks under a heat mat in a box and am making another for another batch of chicks. My heat mat has quite a curve on it, smaller chicks bunch against the side and larger chicks a little further out under the heat, this is in a greenhouse in London and have gone down to a few degrees below freezing. I have insulated the inside of the box. I keep a heat lamp as a secondary heat source at the moment because I am brooding mixed ages I want multiple heat sources to avoid bullying. I have been able to reduce the wattage I am using to heat a smaller area though.

 

[alyssaallycat]

This is brilliant!

 

[realsis]

seeing the success and creativeness of everyone does inspire me and give me confidence. Although I must admit without hubby's insistence I would have been to timid to try it. Hubby saw the brilliance in it instantly! After I showed him the thread he absolutely insisted we brood our chicks this way. me being afraid to try new things was uncomfortable but he thought this idea was absolutely GENIUS!! I don't know why I get so afraid to differ from the "old ways". I guess im just getting old myself! now that the idea has set in, I'm pretty excited about it. For those who are curious the Matt was purchased from Amazon to use for seedlings. it goes to 100 degrees and has a thermostat control (bought separately but made to fit the seedling matt) this winter it has been under my tortoises. Do you all think the Matt will work out for the chicks? the tortoises haven't touched the matt, it's under their shelter.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL... Bird dust ..... I tried brooding in my moms garage.... 45 guinea keets....

Standard fare at the time Two big tubs of Jackbooting screeeching Keets.... They could shoot out of the tum abotu four feet by the time they were two weeks old. all that fluttering aobut spread that dust VERY EVENLY.... Moms garage will never bee the same.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

seeing the success and creativeness of everyone does inspire me and give me confidence. Although I must admit without hubby's insistence I would have been to timid to try it. Hubby saw the brilliance in it instantly! After I showed him the thread he absolutely insisted we brood our chicks this way. me being afraid to try new things was uncomfortable but he thought this idea was absolutely GENIUS!!

I don't know why I get so afraid to differ from the "old ways". I guess im just getting old myself! now that the idea has set in, I'm pretty excited about it. For those who are curious the Matt was purchased from Amazon to use for seedlings. it goes to 100 degrees and has a thermostat control (bought separately but made to fit the seedling matt) this winter it has been under my tortoises. Do you all think the Matt will work out for the chicks? the tortoises haven't touched the matt, it's under their shelter.

just remember you are trying to emulate nature... Watch a momma hen some time.... they will be out and about and those chicks will be zooming back and forth for a warmup yep even in the snow.

Just listen to the chicks If they cheep alot they are too cold. If you provide space for them to get away from the heat and they spend most of their time away its too hot.

Also As Beekissed says too warm and you risk pasty butt.

Now that I have said all this I have to say I havent done this yet. But when I do I will be starting with about 50 Guineas and about 25 Sumatra. once done and I have them in the coop then I start on my little projects.

Guineas for sale meat and eggs and keets
Sumatras because they are wily enough to run with the guineas and are incredible broodies.

blue egglayers
Wellsummers
Muscovys
and some BEEKER babies..... runner ducks


Muscovys for meat and broodies Runner ducks for eggs.

all for entertainment...

deb

 

[realsis]

they are adorable!! if I could afford it I would have a farm.! Sadly it's far too expensive in California for a farm or too much acreage. The best we can do is a 10,000 sq. feet back yard outside of town. which is pretty good considering the average lot size in most community's in California for the average income people like me and mine.but if I had more land I've have ducks, chickens, and all kinds of animals! Those baby ducks sure are cute!! ♡♡♡♡

 

[Blooie]

I have to be up front and tell you, @realsis that the only pad I've ever used is a regular people-type Sunbeam heating pad. I don't know if anyone else out there is using one - if so I hope they'll speak up and relay their experiences with it. So I can't offer any advice beside the usual "watch your chicks". That seems to be the best way no matter what the heat source is.

The issue with brooding this way is that it just plain seems too simple to work. We seem to think that in order for something to be really effective, it takes a lot of babysitting and fussing. But Mama Hen is just out there with nothing more than feathers and instinct, and seems to do just fine.

Edited to add because I forgot: @RonoKT I think you win the prize for thinking "outside the box". Sorry, couldn't resist the pun. I don't think anyone has used a cardboard box for the cave before.