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

[feralhound]

I built mine a little less than a week ago, actually did it a little different. I had one of those shelving organizers laying around, the heating pad fit perfectly on top. Covered it and draped a towel around it to make a "cave", and on the inside I took the straw like packing my chicks came in and put it on the bottom/around the edges to hold the heat in.
It does the trick, holds in heat and I don't have to worry about any sharp edges or it being strong enough to hold all the chicks' weight.
And I swear I replaced that paper towel this morning lol

 

[AllynTal]

I built mine a little less than a week ago, actually did it a little different. I had one of those shelving organizers laying around, the heating pad fit perfectly on top. Covered it and draped a towel around it to make a "cave", and on the inside I took the straw like packing my chicks came in and put it on the bottom/around the edges to hold the heat in.
It does the trick, holds in heat and I don't have to worry about any sharp edges or it being strong enough to hold all the chicks' weight.
And I swear I replaced that paper towel this morning lol

I find that it works better if the pad is under the grill so they can press their backs into the soft ceiling. With the pad on top, they can't press their backs to the pad because of the grill. That may be why you have so much poop on top, because that's the only place they can get direct contact with the pad.

Or not....whatever works, keep doing it.

 

[mypolitedog]

Not a heating pad report but I did give the girls 20 live crickets that I bought at Petsmart today. They loved them! I want to fed them live prey as much as possible so they learn to hunt once they get the courage to master the steps I built into the pop door ramp. I've been bribing them with dehydrated worms, but if they aren't quick enough, the ants come marching in.

 

[plynneb]

Just went out to lock up the chickens and got to see the bigger chicks checkin out the newbys

It was cute to see them eyeballing the babies. Everyone seemed quite happy as they filled their crops for the night.

 

[perchie.girl]

Not a heating pad report but I did give the girls 20 live crickets that I bought at Petsmart today. They loved them! I want to fed them live prey as much as possible so they learn to hunt once they get the courage to master the steps I built into the pop door ramp. I've been bribing them with dehydrated worms, but if they aren't quick enough, the ants come marching in.

make sure they are getting grit in order for them to eat anything but chick food.

deb

 

[mypolitedog]

make sure they are getting grit in order for them to eat anything but chick food.  

deb

They have chick grit available at all times and their coop has a sand floor. Is this sufficient?

 

[aart]

Quote: They'll still be able to get heat from contact thru the rack.....tho the rack can be a 'stuck head' hazard.

 

[AllynTal]

They'll still be able to get heat from contact thru the rack.....tho the rack can be a 'stuck head' hazard.

To a certain extent, but not as well as they can when the whole ceiling is soft and they can press up into it. The grill is a limiting factor. One or two people lost chicks having their pads in the "stuck-head" position. I don't remember now who they were; I just remember the lesson learned.

 

[feralhound]

I find that it works better if the pad is under the grill so they can press their backs into the soft ceiling. With the pad on top, they can't press their backs to the pad because of the grill. That may be why you have so much poop on top, because that's the only place they can get direct contact with the pad.

Or not....whatever works, keep doing it.

They'll still be able to get heat from contact thru the rack.....tho the rack can be a 'stuck head' hazard.

When I peek in durring the day they're usually on the floor scattered about, where I live it's mid-upper 90's easily durring the day. I see some of them under it when I open the door first thing in the morning. They usually all run on top whenever they see me or "danger" until they realize I have food, I'm still trying to socialize them. i didn't realize they pressed their backs to it, but when I put my hand under it I can feel the heat difference and can touch the pad. I never thought of their heads getting stuck either, will have to modify that!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
most eggcellent