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

[Blooie]

@MotherClucker11 The only reason this thread has worked as well as it has for as long as it has is because we treat each other with courtesy, respect, and a good dose of humor, even when we don't agree with a post or a member's way of doing things. However, people are just trying to be helpful because raising chicks with MHP is a different arena - for one thing MHP takes up a good square foot of space in the brooder by itself and many people (myself included in the beginning of this way of raising chicks) don't realize that at first. I see that you are new here and to BYC, and since you are not new to raising chickens our advice might seem misplaced. But being new is not an excuse for rudeness, at least not on this thread.

 

[Shezadandy]

Glad it worked as well for you as it does for those of us who have been doing it for awhile. You're a lot more detail oriented than I am....I just pick up or hatch the chicks, stick 'em under the heating pad, and that's what they use for the first 3-4 weeks. I turn the heat down and/or raise the cave when they start spending more and more time on top than underneath, until it's off, leave it set up for another couple of days, then pull the entire brooder. I like it simple, and the chicks thrive so I'm happy.

Thanks Blooie! Definitely. I got spoiled with 2 broody hens that did a wonderful job so hadn't been "mom" for almost a year. The other reason I was looking for an alternative to my Sweeter Heater for the first weeks of chickhood was size. Of course got the biggest one on a good sale- and

(me laughing at myself) ... which isn't practical for the first couple weeks in a tub as it won't fit in there and be low enough for them to use, and too big to let there be a cooler area if lowered in at a slant.

MHP was fantastic, especially with my first ever incubator hatches who looked so much happier under MHP than flopping around in the incubator. Before it was shipped chicks or broodies on the job.

Right about that 2 week mark, and maybe this was a function of only having 4 chicks (smallest group I've raised) -- one little brat (they took turns doing it) would go up on top.. and would peep the "cry of mortal distress" for however long I tried to ignore it - knowing that each one knows how to get up on top and back down and was just fine... The 30th (or so) trek down to the basement to 'rescue' led to the change. They had me trained.

Ultimately I guess it's a hybrid of sorts... it's just a larger version of the MHP with the Sweeter Heater instead of a heating pad with heavy flagstone underneath to get them closer to it, and now it's just a matter of time until that one night where they stay up on their big perch to sleep and that's that. =)

They were a lot cuddlier to my hands than any other group before- certainly at the week old mark they'd flock underneath to warm up.

Day One

One Week


The "older chick" house with the "cave" inside the tub and the perch outside the tub-- and the month olds underneath.

 

[Blooie]

That heater sure isn't for me, but you know, we have people interested in MHP but who are planning on more chicks than just MHP can support. This might be a brilliant solution for them!! So glad you shared it...and consider your Broody Brigade dues paid!

 

[aart]

That heater sure isn't for me, but you know, we have people interested in MHP but who are planning on more chicks than just MHP can support. This might be a brilliant solution for them!! So glad you shared it...and consider your Broody Brigade dues paid!

Sweeter Heater around long before MHP's....another device that inspired my DIY version.
I would love to have one of those puppies!

 

[Blooie]

Sweeter Heater around long before MHP's....another device that inspired my DIY version.
I would love to have one of those puppies!

Oh, I know, @aart and I have recommended them to others on different threads. It's just nice actually seeing it in action here on the MHP thread, since folks come here and ask about how to heat larger number of chicks. We can explain until the cows come home, but with these photos we see it working.

 

[Shezadandy]

Sweeter Heater around long before MHP's....another device that inspired my DIY version.
I would love to have one of those puppies!

Yep, that was the "splurge" item before the first chicks arrived- heat lamps have always scared me, and still do, so while I have one for the backup emergency (i.e. S.H. dies), goal was to never have to plug it in. There's definitely a plastic smell those first few days (manufacturer tells us this and to run it well in advance of chicks) - other than that, no complaints.

I was lucky enough to end up on a property with lots of extra rock products, so just made a staircase of sorts out of the thick flagstone for them to complete the cave effect when switching from the original MHP with the small heating pad cave- the flagstone held some good heat for quick warm ups too. And led to some great queen of the mountain contests- easy enough to just take away one layer at a time as they got bigger. =)


Thanks everyone!

 

[casportpony]

Hopefully 3 or 4 (due Wed) but its a big bin but i just looked at the pic it doesnt look as big in the pic.

Welcome to BYC! I think your 100 liter bin is plenty big for 4 or 5 chicks. They will probably need something bigger pretty quick, but for the first two weeks they should be okay.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Quote: The bin that @motherofclucker is using is 33-3/4-Inch length by 19-3/8-Inch width by 13-3/8-Inch height

Might be slightly large at top, but not by much.

FYI, I brood many of mine in a 50 gallon livestock tanks that's 31 in. x 52 in. x 12 in. Last batch I had were qty 12, and they did just fine in it.

@Blooie , I do love your heating pad solution, but for me it's been easier to use an Eco-Glow, though it has a bunch of manufacturing/quality problems.

-Kathy

 

[Blooie]

With all due respect, Kathy, please look at the photo again. It's the one drawback to using MHP - the amount of space it takes up. We aren't dealing with a heat source suspended above the living space.....instead MHP is PART of their living space. Just by itself, MHP can take up a good square foot of the available room. If you look at the picture, the feeder isn't in there yet, nor is the waterer, let alone 4 or 5 lively chicks. This might work for a couple of days, but it's not going to work for a couple of weeks if the poster wants to use MHP.

 

[casportpony]

With all due respect, Kathy, please look at the photo again. It's the one drawback to using MHP - the amount of space it takes up. We aren't dealing with a heat source suspended above the living space.....instead MHP is PART of their living space. Just by itself, MHP can take up a good square foot of the available room. If you look at the picture, the feeder isn't in there yet, nor is the waterer, let alone 4 or 5 lively chicks. This might work for a couple of days, but it's not going to work for a couple of weeks if the poster wants to use MHP.

I think their 4-5 chicks will be fine in there for at least a week.

-Kathy