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

[casportpony]

Right now I have 8 muscovy ducklings in the 50 gallon brooder that is taken up by half of the eco glow 50, and I can assure you that they are fine.

-Kathy

 

[Blooie]

Thank you, Kathy. I still think that by the time the feeder and the waterer get put into that one, the poster is pushing it, but as I said before, for the first few days it will most likely be fine. Anything after that is "ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances."

 

[lazy gardener]

I agree with you, Blooie. Looking at the bin in question, there is absolutely no way that those chicks can adequately be brooded in that bin. chicks need room to be chicks. And if they have no room to do so, behavioral problems are going to be rampant, not to mention any health issues associated with over crowding. The only plus of the situation is that there is not a heat lamp dangling over that small bin. I do not like to come across as callous, but... the needs of the animal need to be met first and foremost before any other consideration.

 

[bruceha2000]

Not that I am even slightly interested in a "space heater" for my chickens at any age, what is the heat source of a Sweeter Heater?

I can't see any reason to start chicks in an area that isn't big enough to raise them until they go out to the coop. And those bins are anything but cheap, unless you happen to have one around the house that you aren't going to use for anything else, why bother?? Cardboard is cheap, easily obtained and quite flexible with regard to design.

 

[Shezadandy]

Not that I am even slightly interested in a "space heater" for my chickens at any age, what is the heat source of a Sweeter Heater?

I can't see any reason to start chicks in an area that isn't big enough to raise them until they go out to the coop. And those bins are anything but cheap, unless you happen to have one around the house that you aren't going to use for anything else, why bother?? Cardboard is cheap, easily obtained and quite flexible with regard to design.

It's radiant heat- mypetchicken has a good description of it. I already had my water tanks hanging around. I like my short one because around 2-3 weeks they can hop in and out- a nice place to perch and another thing to stimulate them. Also not as spendy at a farm store as one might think- want to say it was around $30 but it's been too long to remember. Personally I like to keep them in a small contained area for the first week and then enlarge their world once they're looking for room to go go go. We've all got our favorite way of doing things.

Eventually (depending on how long you choose to keep them separated) the chicks will eat the cardboard. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow-- but they will rip into it.

 

[Dmontgomery]

I apologize in advance, I'm sure the answer to this question is somewhere in this thread or elsewhere on BYC already....
Can the MHP method work for brooding 20 chicks at a time?

 

[aart]

I apologize in advance, I'm sure the answer to this question is somewhere in this thread or elsewhere on BYC already....
Can the MHP method work for brooding 20 chicks at a time?

Depends on what sized pad you get..adn the ambient temps where they are brooded.
I did 16 under a 12x24 and it was tight once they got bigger,
but by 4 weeks when they were 'spilling' out from underneath,
they were fairly well feathered and it was pretty warm outside in the coop where I brooded them.
The top of the pad can offer some warmth too.

If you go with a double pad set up, make it 12 x 48 not 24 x 24 so they can get out from under without being trapped by their brethren.

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote: I'd like to chime in here: When I brooded a large clutch under the 12 x 24, I found that they abandoned it much sooner than I thought they should have. It was cold, and they were still not very feathered. So, I had to put on my "think like a chicken" hat. I found that chick logic went like this: Because they all would not fit comfortably under MHP, there would be a couple left out of the huddle. So, the whole group moved over to the corner of the coop where they could all huddle together. I then raised one end of the pad up on a little lip on the wall of the coop, and raised the front end as well. Then draped a towel over so it left a bit of open space at edges so they could duck in and out 2 sides, but it still held in a bit of heat. They happily moved back into their cave, and even though it was "higher" than initially recommended, at this stage, it provided enough heat.

 

[aart]

Quote: I'd like to chime in here: When I brooded a large clutch under the 12 x 24, I found that they abandoned it much sooner than I thought they should have. It was cold, and they were still not very feathered. So, I had to put on my "think like a chicken" hat. I found that chick logic went like this: Because they all would not fit comfortably under MHP, there would be a couple left out of the huddle. So, the whole group moved over to the corner of the coop where they could all huddle together. I then raised one end of the pad up on a little lip on the wall of the coop, and raised the front end as well. Then draped a towel over so it left a bit of open space at edges so they could duck in and out 2 sides, but it still held in a bit of heat. They happily moved back into their cave, and even though it was "higher" than initially recommended, at this stage, it provided enough heat.
Maybe I am misunderstanding but, mine was 'floor space' issue rather than a height problem.... as my pad frame legs are adjustable.
How many chicks did you have @lazy gardener ?

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote: I'd like to chime in here: When I brooded a large clutch under the 12 x 24, I found that they abandoned it much sooner than I thought they should have. It was cold, and they were still not very feathered. So, I had to put on my "think like a chicken" hat. I found that chick logic went like this: Because they all would not fit comfortably under MHP, there would be a couple left out of the huddle. So, the whole group moved over to the corner of the coop where they could all huddle together. I then raised one end of the pad up on a little lip on the wall of the coop, and raised the front end as well. Then draped a towel over so it left a bit of open space at edges so they could duck in and out 2 sides, but it still held in a bit of heat. They happily moved back into their cave, and even though it was "higher" than initially recommended, at this stage, it provided enough heat.
Maybe I am misunderstanding but, mine was 'floor space' issue rather than a height problem.... as my pad frame legs are adjustable.
How many chicks did you have @lazy gardener ?
I think my biggest brood was 22. Maybe 29? I forget. My frame was curved, so not as much available space under it as yours. I'll need to use both pads this spring, as I'm getting chicks through mail, and hatching some extras (I think.)