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

[OCeggs23]

Your little peeps look happy

Thanks! They seem to be.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Thank you very much for posting all the pictures. That was extremely helpful!

 

[debid]

That's me! I was just headed over here to post - to "pay more dues", so to speak. I have one "smaller" one with the king sized heating pad, and a MEGA one with two standard sized heating pads. I used welded wire as the frame (HW cloth not strong enough), and on one, used duct tape on the sharp parts, and on the other, split poly tubing. (DO NOT USE GARDEN HOSE - it outgassed nasty fumes when heated.) I've made a number of these now. Smaller one: BIG one: The one above in action with my new batch of chicks (pre and post paper towel removal). There are 27 chicks under there, lots of room to spare. By having sloping sides, they can press up against the side if they need more heat, or sleep in the center if they need less. You can reshape it taller if you need to (e.g., if you're raising goslings). [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR] - Ant Farm Edoit to add: One benefit of using the welded wire is that you can sort of flex it to "adjust" the height without having to take it apart - that is, pull the legs out a bit to make it lower for smaller chicks, etc. - though I have found that it's best to have it a bit taller to let them come and go easily - they will press against or nap along the sides if they need more heat, and others like to run in and out of the center.

Nice work! I feel the same about this shape -- they seem happy to dig in under the low part when it's cold out and they'll play in the high center and zoom in and out.

 

[Merrymouse]

Question? Where can I get a small piece of welded wire? All I can find is a huge roll of the stuff where you have to buy the entire roll. Chicks due to hatch in 13 days so want to set everything up soon. Thanks

 

[debid]

Question? Where can I get a small piece of welded wire? All I can find is a huge roll of the stuff where you have to buy the entire roll. Chicks due to hatch in 13 days so want to set everything up soon. Thanks

It doesn't have to be welded wire. I cut up a broken tomato cage to make a basic frame and attached hardware cloth to the center. I'm a fan of using what you have.

 

[Merrymouse]

@debid yes. I agree use what you have. I've been in my shed, basement, garage racking my brain and ransacking my place trying to come up with something to use. Nothing. So I'm out to buy some welded wire. Any suggestions?

 

[perchie.girl]

@debid yes. I agree use what you have. I've been in my shed, basement, garage racking my brain and ransacking my place trying to come up with something to use. Nothing. So I'm out to buy some welded wire. Any suggestions?

go someplace that will let you buy it by the foot... True value hardware comes to mind.

 

[NotAFarm]

deb! I was just going to mention my DH works part time (he's "retired") at a True Value and they sell wire by the foot. Call and check with your local store.

 

[debid]

@debid yes. I agree use what you have. I've been in my shed, basement, garage racking my brain and ransacking my place trying to come up with something to use. Nothing. So I'm out to buy some welded wire. Any suggestions?

I almost used an old wire coat hanger. IDK what the hanger came with but it was very heavy wire. Maybe from a leather jacket purchase? IDK.

People here have used cookie/cake cooling racks. There are the little wire shelves with legs meant to fit inside a cabinet...

 

[Merrymouse]

That it. True value. I'll try that. I knew I saw it somewhere on a big roll that you could buy by the door but couldn't remember. The stores I checked you could only buy the huge roll. Awesome! I knew I could count on my fellow BYC er's