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

[Blooie]

Nite LG!

 

[azygous]

Well, I did add a water heater insulating blanket to the whole set-up. It's a 5 gallon Igloo water cooler with a Bright-Tap nipple water system screwed into the hole the spigot went in. I'll let you know how it works as the winter really gets cranking.

The chickens were starting to eat the insulation blanket so I chased them all off and fixed it, then slipped a wool cover over the entire thing, protecting the insulating blanket from busy beaks as well as adding even more insulation against freezing. I'm pretty sure it's going to do the job.

The $9 heating pad is tiny and cute (10x10") and just the right size for sitting over the nipple system.

 

[aart]

Well, I did add a water heater insulating blanket to the whole set-up. It's a 5 gallon Igloo water cooler with a Bright-Tap nipple water system screwed into the hole the spigot went in. I'll let you know how it works as the winter really gets cranking.

The chickens were starting to eat the insulation blanket so I chased them all off and fixed it, then slipped a wool cover over the entire thing, protecting the insulating blanket from busy beaks as well as adding even more insulation against freezing. I'm pretty sure it's going to do the job.

The $9 heating pad is tiny and cute (10x10") and just the right size for sitting over the nipple system.

Ohhh .....interesting!
Keeping the reservoir 'warm' would be key.
Would love to see pics.
Heating pad controlled by thermocube?
Do you have a heater inside cooler too?
<plugs the question hole>

 

[azygous]

The heating pad ($9 at Walmart) is a stay-on one setting control, but it's not plugged into a heat cube. I turn it on at night and just let it do its thing. On single digit days the pad will be chugging away keeping the nipples from freezing. This setup should be a whole lot cheaper to operate than an in-tank heater.

The pad is secured with a shoe lace to the tank so it folds over the Bright Tap.

Chickens help me re-tape the water heater blanket. Such efficient helpers.

An old wool blanket sewen into a bag is pulled down over the water heater blanket and tucked under at the bottom to keep busy beaks from tearing up the insulation and eating it, and it adds additional insulation.

 

[aart]

Great pics! Thanks!
Sure would be interesting to track the power usage.
I used a KillAWatt with my aq heater....only $3-4 a month.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@azygous

Have you used this setup in previous years?

If so, did it do the job?
If not, can you keep us updated as to how it works this year?

ETA: I tried something similar several years ago but was going to use an automotive heat pad for engine blocks. They're very inexpensive and I attached it like you did but on spring -type water cups. HOWEVER... those little rubber-type heat pads put off VERY STRONG FUMES so I packet it back up and returned it to the store. Too dangerous to be around birds.

I never even thought of a small people heat pad, so I was never able to complete the experiment.

 

[azygous]

This is the first winter I've tried this, but the other night it got down into the teens and one of these tanks was sitting where it got the full brunt of cold air moving from the north and the nipples were totally functional come dawn.

Last winter, I tried several things to try to keep the nipples from freezing and nothing worked. Those included heating little bags of rice, laying them across the top of the Bright Tap and wrapping some insulation around them and also covering the entire thing with the wool blanket bag.

Then this year the idea to use heating pads for my two water tanks popped into my head, and Walmart just happened to have this tiny heating pad, perfect size for what I had in mind. The other tank has my old three-speed pad on it, which works fine, too, but is rather large for the job. Probably any sort of heat pad would work. Anything to keep the water behind the nipples from freezing.

 

[bruceha2000]

Quote:

I'm sure it would work well for that too LG though I would think many would need 2 pads

Well, I did add a water heater insulating blanket to the whole set-up. It's a 5 gallon Igloo water cooler with a Bright-Tap nipple water system screwed into the hole the spigot went in. I'll let you know how it works as the winter really gets cranking.

The chickens were starting to eat the insulation blanket so I chased them all off and fixed it, then slipped a wool cover over the entire thing, protecting the insulating blanket from busy beaks as well as adding even more insulation against freezing. I'm pretty sure it's going to do the job.

The $9 heating pad is tiny and cute (10x10") and just the right size for sitting over the nipple system.

This is the first winter I've tried this, but the other night it got down into the teens and one of these tanks was sitting where it got the full brunt of cold air moving from the north and the nipples were totally functional come dawn.

Last winter, I tried several things to try to keep the nipples from freezing and nothing worked. Those included heating little bags of rice, laying them across the top of the Bright Tap and wrapping some insulation around them and also covering the entire thing with the wool blanket bag.

Then this year the idea to use heating pads for my two water tanks popped into my head, and Walmart just happened to have this tiny heating pad, perfect size for what I had in mind. The other tank has my old three-speed pad on it, which works fine, too, but is rather large for the job. Probably any sort of heat pad would work. Anything to keep the water behind the nipples from freezing.

Might want to stick this in one of the "winter water" threads or start a new one so people can find it.

 

[suchcutenails]

Good morning! I posted a couple of weeks ago about our broody hatch, and how I wasn't worried about the babies outside with mama thanks to using this method to raise my first chicks. Well...things have been going really well, until now (maybe). The babies are 2 1/2 weeks old, they have LOTS of feathers, mom runs them around with all the big girls, and everyone is happy. But yesterday, she started to act like she was bothered by them. Today, she really doesn't seem to be concerned about the fact that it is 30°, lots of wind, and they are shivering. She has been leaving them behind, and they are CHEEPING really loudly. I spent a little time with them huddled on my lap, in my jacket. It seems very unsafe, especially for their little feet. I'm wondering if I should try to set up a heating pad out there for them in case she is done with them? She has been SO great, but I'm worried that if she abandons them, they'll die

Thoughts?

 

[bruceha2000]

I would ABSOLUTELY set up a MHP cave and put it close to where she has them now. You'll probably need to show them it is warm in there by placing them inside and holding your hand over the entrance until they notice the pad on their back is warm and comfortable. Could be you only need to do that with one and the rest will figure it out. If not, show each of them. My chicks were raised by a broody in June so I didn't have anywhere near the temps yours are seeing.