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

[aart]

Quote: Yes, mine was flat too.
They fit with room to spare as day olds but grow so quick....... another aspect of chickeneering where you have to think ahead.
Ambient temperature is a big variable with this.

 

[bruceha2000]

Aren't there larger pads with the "stay on" feature? Even if Sunbeam doesn't make one Sunbeam isn't the only show in town.

More than likely. Investigate and report back to the brigade soldier!

 

[Thiriel]

Anyone have any tips about raising standards and bantams together with MHP? Is one mama fine, or should I have two, one obviously smaller than the other?

 

[Thiriel]

Anyone have any tips about raising standards and bantams together with MHP? Is one mama fine, or should I have two, one obviously smaller than the other?

 

[Blooie]

I raised standards and bantams together and had no issues at all with just the one large pad....

 

[chonsey]

I have @50 eggs that will be hatching for the new year and the Sunbeam super large size heating pad I got from a co-worker doesn't seem to be working, she got it from QVC and Sunbeam stopped making them. It got to 30 below zero last winter and the heating lamps were not enough in my wooden brooder, so I used the heating pad setup inside my brooder in addition to the heat lamp to keep my chicks alive. So I have to see if I can fix the heating pad or replace it with something else. I have two wooden brooders and would like to use the heating pad setup for general use and add the heat lights for extreme temps, only.

Let me know if anyone can suggest where to purchase a couple of extra large heating pads, that will stay on.

 

[Blooie]

Are your wooden brooders outdoors? I don't trust any heating pad to keep chicks warm at -30 below and since I also darn sure don't trust heat lamps I'm not even going to attempt to imagine why you'd want to do them now instead of waiting. If power went out, even briefly, those chicks wouldn't stand a chance. If some of them wandered away from MHP it would take no time at all for them to chill and not find their way back to safety, and I don't know if the heating pad could even function well at those readings. Those kinds of temps are brutal on fully feathered, acclimated adults.

If, on the other hand, your chicks aren't outside in that and you are just wondering about replacing the heating pad, the one I use is this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2013-...kmr1&keywords=Sunbeam+x-tra+large+heating+pad

@henless and several others use this one, a more basic pad that has the ability to turn itself back on at it's last setting if power is lost -

http://www.sunbeam.com/pain-relief/...ology-blue/000771-810-000.html#sz=12&start=18

It could be that the other pad you have didn't stop working, but just has the automatic shut-off where it turns itself off after 2 hours. Any pad you use has to have a "stay on" feature that you can set so the pad doesn't shut off by itself. And for 50 chicks, one pad won't be enough.

 

[AutumnHens]

Well everyone, next week (probably early Thursday) we'll have 16 chicks arriving. Sadly only half the order is mine but the others may end up staying here for a few days till their owner comes to collect them. I will happily post pictures once I get them settled in. I already have the pool brooder set up in the garage I just need to wrap a towel and some press and seal around the MHP. I'd have already done it but I keep on forgetting to pick up the press and seal.

Right now I'm doing my best not to driver everyone around me insane with my countdown to chicks but I figure y'all will understand.

 

[bruceha2000]

We DO understand! Have you schooled the person getting the other 8 on MHP??

 

[Blooie]

We DO understand! Have you schooled the person getting the other 8 on MHP??

If it was up to Bruce the entire planet would be using MHP instead of heat lamps, right Bruce?