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

[COChix]

Yep, here's the deets: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate
Best part is adjustable legs....and yes, will use it again this year, it worked great!
May add some 1/2 HC on the bottom of rack so heads can't push thru.....haven't had that happen to disastrous effect, but it's a possible risk.

Great, thanks for the link and tips on the HC. How many chicks did you raise with this?

 

[aart]

Quote: Haven't had a ton, maybe 10-12 tops long term...had 18 under there for a few days, hatched for someone else.

 

[COChix]

Haven't had a ton, maybe 10-12 tops long term...had 18 under there for a few days, hatched for someone else.

Thanks, That is what I was looking for the numbers that fit underneath it. I am hoping to have a much larger hatch this year and am debating on one or two pads.....

I read your page, it is hard to tell but it looks like you have legs in the front of the cave but then maybe it is lower towards the back. Did I see that right?

 

[Hholly]

Quote:
I've got 25 under mine right now. I'm using the arched frame though. Now that they are growing I'm going to have to rework the frame a little. But they are also going on top of it now too.

 

[COChix]

Quote:
I've got 25 under mine right now. I'm using the arched frame though. Now that they are growing I'm going to have to rework the frame a little. But they are also going on top of it now too.

Thanks for that, last year I used a tomatoe cage cut in 1/2 wrapped with chicken wire for our frame. We hatched 15 and they quickly outgrew that, so I made another MHP with a metal dish shelf that worked well. They spent a lot of their time on top of the MHP than under so I wanted something more substantial than what I had last year.

 

[aart]

Quote: There are 4 legs, carriage bolts threaded into t-nuts so they are adjustable for both overall height and slant.
You can use different length carriage bolts as needed.

 

[COChix]

There are 4 legs, carriage bolts threaded into t-nuts so they are adjustable for both overall height and slant.
You can use different length carriage bolts as needed.

what a great idea, thanks for sharing with us all. Yourself, @Beekissed, @Blooie have all been very helpful to me in sharing. I have no building skills to speak of, so to see what you all are capable of is inspiring. It is helping me learn some building skills.

 

[FaerieGlynne]

Hi all!
I tried to read through all 250 pages but just don't have the time, so I hope that I didn't miss my answer aready.
I'll be getting 6 ducklings in April and am making my plans. I love this set up because mine will be starting out I the shed that will be their coop ( DH has a strong no animals in the house policy) and I feel this would be a good better set up.
Has anyone tried this setup with ducks? What sort of modifications do you think I'll need?

 

[aart]

Hi all!
I tried to read through all 250 pages but just don't have the time, so I hope that I didn't miss my answer aready.
I'll be getting 6 ducklings in April and am making my plans. I love this set up because mine will be starting out I the shed that will be their coop ( DH has a strong no animals in the house policy) and I feel this would be a good better set up.
Has anyone tried this setup with ducks? What sort of modifications do you think I'll need?

I don't remember anyone using this for ducks specifically in this thread.
But I did a quick search and found this https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/878757/heat-plates-for-brooding-ducklings.

I don't see why it wouldn't work except for the added risk of ducks and 'water all over'......
.....make sure connection to pad is securely attached above floor level in case of any serious spills.
Might need to make it taller too.

Might want to start a thread asking about 'heat plates' over in the Duck Forum.

 

[Beekissed]

Hi all!
I tried to read through all 250 pages but just don't have the time, so I hope that I didn't miss my answer aready.
I'll be getting 6 ducklings in April and am making my plans. I love this set up because mine will be starting out I the shed that will be their coop ( DH has a strong no animals in the house policy) and I feel this would be a good better set up.
Has anyone tried this setup with ducks? What sort of modifications do you think I'll need?

Yep...I have. It works just like it does for chicks, though the ducklings had to be showed a couple of times where to find "mama" and didn't catch on as quickly as did the chicks, once they found it and slept under it for the night, they used it even longer than did the chicks. They don't fledge out as quickly as chicks, nor did they seem to harden off to the cold as quickly, so they used the HP much longer.

I used it on two different sets of Khaki Campbell ducklings and they both reacted the same way...quieter, more contented acting, really seemed to appreciate the dark warmth of the mother brooder way more than they were in the store under the heat lamps.