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

[Blooie]

Hijacking allowed here - and besides, you aren't hijacking you're asking a MHP question!

There are pads that allow you to totally bypass the "auto-shut off" feature. If you look on the first page of this thread, you'll see in one of the photos I posted that the control on mine allows you to switch it to "Stay on". @henless found a pad that doesn't even have "auto shut off" and even turns itself back to the last setting in the event of a power outage. Links provided below:

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2013-...kmr1&keywords=Sunbeam+x-tra+large+heating+pad
This is the one I use, when I can find it! (No, I still don't know where I put it!) Walmart sells a smaller version.

http://www.sunbeam.com/pain-relief/...ology-blue/000771-810-000.html#sz=12&start=18
This is the one Henless uses.

And welcome!!

 

[henless]

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2013-...kmr1&keywords=Sunbeam+x-tra+large+heating+pad
This is the one I use, when I can find it! (No, I still don't know where I put it!) Walmart sells a smaller version.

http://www.sunbeam.com/pain-relief/...ology-blue/000771-810-000.html#sz=12&start=18
This is the one Henless uses.

And welcome!!

LOL you can't find your pad blooie?? I found my small pad, but can't find my pad cover that I washed and put it up "where I could find it"!

I had to pull my small one out for my "mini" hatch. I had the large one all set up and ready to go. I had to make a new holder for the small pad since I was using my rods for the large one. I just got some hardware cloth made a flat "cave" and it's working fine. I'll have to reinforce it in a week or so since the babies like to get on it a lot. Once they get bigger, they will be pushing it down into the shavings.

 

[mduerksen]

Hijacking allowed here - and besides, you aren't hijacking you're asking a MHP question!     There are pads that allow you to totally bypass the "auto-shut off" feature. If you look on the first page of this thread, you'll see in one of the photos I posted that the control on mine allows you to switch it to "Stay on".  @henless
 found a pad that doesn't even have "auto shut off" and even turns itself back to the last setting in the event of a power outage. Links provided below:

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2013-912-XpressHeat-Heating-Extra/dp/B005NZ66KU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425566319&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=Sunbeam+x-tra+large+heating+pad
This is the one I use, when I can  find it!  (No, I still don't know where I put it!)  Walmart sells a smaller version.

http://www.sunbeam.com/pain-relief/...ology-blue/000771-810-000.html#sz=12&start=18
This is the one Henless uses.

And welcome!!  

The too one is the one I found at Walgreens, same price too if you don't have prime or don't want to wait for shipping l. I am a bit impatient; )

 

[Bowldy45]

@Blooie , or anyone else lol.

I am putting together my MHP today, but my question is, does the metal frame and / or chicken wire on the bottom side where the chicks will be huddling in for the heat, need to be covered with a towel? Will the wire get to hot from the heating pad to possibly burn them? I have a small towel tapped up so it will be between the chicks and the wire, but I can see it is not going to last very long.

 

[COChix]

@Blooie
, or anyone else lol.

    I am putting together my MHP today, but my question is, does the metal frame and / or chicken wire on the bottom side where the chicks will be huddling in for the heat, need to be covered with a towel? Will the wire get to hot from the heating pad to possibly burn them? I have a small towel tapped up so it will be between the chicks and the wire, but I can see it is not going to last very long.

Most people are wrapping their frames in a pillow case or such, as th bigger concern is chicks getting trapped in the wire, thus chick suicide.

 

[jrjoplin]

Chicks arrived this morning, the call from the post office came at 6:30. We had an appointment at the VA this morning so my wonderful postal workers allowed me to come get them before they opened (I'm sure it was for their benefit as I could hear the chicks the moment I entered the lobby). Having to leave was probably the best as by the time we got home the chicks were acclimated and eating, drinking and running in and out as needed from under the heating pad. I have a small huddle outside the cave so I'm going to turn it down one setting and see if they move more inside. I'll take pics this afternoon for dues payment.

 

[Bowldy45]

Most people are wrapping their frames in a pillow case or such, as th bigger concern is chicks getting trapped in the wire, thus chick suicide.

Thank you so much CoChix!! I really appreciate your help.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks! 

Well, it's not easy peasy. Even though I had a horrible hatch, it was still fun and I learned a lot. I'm hoping next time will be better.

She is special. It actually worked out ok. I had planned on getting a few brown egg layers for eggs this Winter. I wanted Australorps, but Barred Rocks were my 2nd choice. Besides, since they are barred, breeding to one of my Cream Legbars next year will give me sex linked F1 Olive eggers. 

Thanks bunches! I can't believe yours are old enough to lay. Seems like just yesterday you were bringing them home!!

It's a big learning process. I knew nothing about hatching before this. Now I know more and hope to have a better hatch next time. Shipped eggs are even harder due to all the stress they get from going through our postal system. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get a decent hatch. Is this your first hatch?

Congrats aart!! I was so excited to see my first pip. It only took Merida an hour to hatch after she pipped. Good luck!!

Thank you! She is a cutie pie. She sure loves her Mama pad. She'll have her back up against it and her little head will just drop as her eyes slowly shut. 

No problem! She definitely seems like a survivor! And I know right!? I can't believe it either!!! They're so big now too! 2 started last Sunday the 20th right at almost 21 weeks then a third started after 2 days and laid 2 days then quit now a third started the other day and yesterday we got 4. The original 2 have been consistently laying since they started so that's a plus. I really hope the others start soon but I know that at just over 22 weeks they're not late yet and it's pretty amazing to have half laying already. Anyhow, I can't believe it either! I was just looking at chick pictures recently and they were sooo tiny!!!!!

 

[dyorto]

@Blooie
, or anyone else lol.

    I am putting together my MHP today, but my question is, does the metal frame and / or chicken wire on the bottom side where the chicks will be huddling in for the heat, need to be covered with a towel? Will the wire get to hot from the heating pad to possibly burn them? I have a small towel tapped up so it will be between the chicks and the wire, but I can see it is not going to last very long.

I have my pad right on the wire the frame. Heat or burning is not an issue, but I did worry about them getting stuck when they were tiny and all piled up. So for peace of mind and especially if you have a lot of chicks (I have only 6) I would cover with a pillowcase

 

[Blooie]

x2 Putting the entire assembly in a pillowcase tends to resolve a lot of potential problems. If you're not sure how to do that, @Beekissed posted how she does it and it makes good sense. Here's a link to that page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update/450