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

[Blooie]

I never recommend putting Press 'n Seal directly ON the heating pad. When you use MHP, you want the letter side down, toward the chicks. It seems to be the warmest side. So you are left with the fuzzy part on top, but it also gets nice and warm. When you peel off the Press 'n Seal, it will leave a sticky residue in the fibers of the pad. As the P&S warms, the adhesive it uses softens. The chicks will stomp all over it, further sticking it down. Do I think it will harm the pad? Nope. But it will make it progressively more difficult to clean when you have a buildup of adhesive from the constant pulling it off and putting more on, added to the tramping of little feet..

It's far better, if you are of the Press 'n Seal persuasion, to put the P&S on a towel or something so that it isn't in direct contact with the heating pad. Just my two cents worth, with NO scientific basis...just a little common sense. The additional towel or diapers or pillow case you chose to use does have a another purpose besides keeping poop directly off the heating pad - it also gives a little extra buffer between the chicks and the heat of the pad. It still gets warm, and they still like to cuddle up there, but it's kinda like when you use a heating pad. If you put it right on your skin, it can get a little hot. If you have a layer of clothing between you and the pad you still get the warmth - just not as intensely.

 

[debid]

I press & sealed my diapers mostly because I had a chick break a toenail freeing herself from a towel with the last brood and my diapers were a bit tatty as well. Loose threads are bad news for chicks.

 

[chickieschicks]

Hi there! I've been considering raising a few backyard chickens with my family for a couple of years and decided to finally do it. My 2 1/2 year old's favorite part of our local farm is visiting the chicken house, so I know she's going to be thrilled. Anyway, I plan to keep the baby chicks in the house until they've feathered but being the over-cautious person I am, I began to worry about the heat lamps and fire hazards, so I google "raising baby chicks with a heating pad instead of lamp" and low and behold I came across this thread! I just realized about an hour ago that it's almost 900 pages long! So please forgive me if this has been asked before but I see that the recommended heating pad is this sunbeam https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2013-912-XpressHeat-Heating-Extra/dp/B005NZ66KU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425566319&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=Sunbeam%2Bx-tra%2Blarge%2Bheating%2Bpad&th=1 However, I actually had already ordered this one: https://www.amazon.com/PureRelief-Fast-Heating-Technology-Temperature-Convenient/dp/B01KVYTV86/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

Do you happen to remember if anyone has had success with pads other than the Sunbeam? This one has mostly good reviews but only 700 something as opposed to the thousands of sunbeam reviews. The few 1 star reviews say that the heat isn't as hot as expected but I'm wondering if this will be an issue since my chicks will be indoors. Any advice or opinions on this one would be very helpful! I do know that it has a continuous heat option. You really should be able to charge for your MHP advice! Thanks for being so helpful and willing to share!

*UPDATE* I received the XL Xpress brand heating pad today and had to return it, even on it's highest setting it was barely getting warm. Luckily the sunbeam will arrive by Thursday through Amazon Prime AND there is an $8 off Sunbeam coupon for amazon prime members right now so I lucked out! Just wanted to let anyone know who might be contemplating buying one.

 

[Blooie]

I press & sealed my diapers mostly because I had a chick break a toenail freeing herself from a towel with the last brood and my diapers were a bit tatty as well. Loose threads are bad news for chicks.

Yep. I did that originally as a way to keep them from pecking ta the fringes on the old towel I put in...the wipe-off or peel-off discovery came the next day!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Well those pictures could certainly help a lot with what I'm about to ask but I'm going to ask anyway. Would anyone be kind enough to do a concise recap of the various materials/methods uses for covering the heating pad? I most definitely want to use the Glad press n seal to cover the pad so that it is liquid-proof (it has a fuzzy cover over the actual plastic heating pad). I still haven't decided on whether I'm going to attach the pad to the top or bottom of the wire but either way, has anyone found a method where it's not necessary to use towels or pillow-cases? I would like to avoid having chicken waste-soiled cloths having to go through the washing machine if at all possible. I thought of just using paper towels but I'm afraid they will slip off of the MHP, especially if the pad is on top with a layer of press n seal, because it will be slippery.

Has anyone used hay alone without any towels or cloths? And can hay be used when the chicks are very young?

Also, maybe the press-n-seal is no longer recommended? Has anyone had any issues with it? I did see someone in an earlier post mention that it was just plastic wrap and not sure if anyone has pointed it out since then but it isn't just regular cling wrap, it sticks to itself and therefore, I think would make a great liquid barrier...

I use hay alone, no cloths or anything. The heating pad is plastic and any poop bakes and flakes off lol. Any left can be wiped clean. The reason they come cloth covered is for our comfort and also because we have bare skin. You'd end up with the same effect as leather seats on a hot day when you're wearing shorts, with sweat and stickiness. That's not really an issue for something with fur or feathers.

ETA The brinsea plates and others like it don't have cloth on them either.

 

[Blooie]

Outside I still use a towel on top. I have a stack of threadbare ones I've collected (if I hold 'em up to the light and I can see through 'em they go in the rag stack) along with some I bought at Goodwill. I use it under the straw because they that sensation of ducking under to get inside. Works for them, they're happy, and I can take the towel off, give it a good flip and a shake, and the dried poop usually flips off. I ain't running them through my washer, either. When they get bad, they get tossed and replaced with a new layer of straw. Seems I'm always replacing straw!

 

[stacyh40]

I have my pad between 2 piece of fine mesh hardware with different size bolts holding it up so it's is higher in th front

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Outside I still use a towel on top. I have a stack of threadbare ones I've collected (if I hold 'em up to the light and I can see through 'em they go in the rag stack) along with some I bought at Goodwill. I use it under the straw because they that sensation of ducking under to get inside. Works for them, they're happy, and I can take the towel off, give it a good flip and a shake, and the dried poop usually flips off. I ain't running them through my washer, either. When they get bad, they get tossed and replaced with a new layer of straw. Seems I'm always replacing straw!

I keep piling straw on top and they keep kicking all off and I try to tell them I'm just trying to help them stay warm but they don't seem to care

 

[SunHwaKwon]

1/4" dia bolts would be plenty...carriage bolts are full threaded, can get them cheap in bulk at TSC up to 4" long (I think). A couple pieces of wood and Tnuts(Ace hardware~0.50/ea) eliminate the need for a wrench to adjust.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate

I just ordered one of those racks thanks to @lprby(didn't get that right, but she knows who she is) gonna rebuild.

I just got around to checking the link. That's a pretty nice setup! I don't have a wood shop though so I always have to set up my saws and such out on the deck and the weather isn't right for that right now, but I'll consider it once spring finally comes around.

I hope someday I'll have a bigger parcel of land not just for more chickens and breeding pens and such but somewhere I can actually keep all my tools and stuff set up! Right now my miter saw, table saw, stands, and all are shoved in a corner on the front porch behind the XL dog crate brooder full of chicks!

 

[debid]

I keep piling straw on top and they keep kicking all off and I try to tell them I'm just trying to help them stay warm but they don't seem to care 

Dang kids never listen.