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

[MesMama]

And here's a better one of the lid

 

[henless]

@Blooie , or anyone else lol.

I am putting together my MHP today, but my question is, does the metal frame and / or chicken wire on the bottom side where the chicks will be huddling in for the heat, need to be covered with a towel? Will the wire get to hot from the heating pad to possibly burn them? I have a small towel tapped up so it will be between the chicks and the wire, but I can see it is not going to last very long.

Maybe I did mine different from everyone?

I put my heating pad under the wire frame. When the chicks press up against it with their backs, they are pressing against the pad, not the wire frame. I used bungee cords to hold it up against the wire frame.

Normally I would have the heating pad cloth around the pad. But, it is put up in my house where I could find it, and of course, I can't find it. The chicks don't seem to mind not having the cloth there.

 

[Blooie]

Maybe I did mine different from everyone?

I put my heating pad under the wire frame. When the chicks press up against it with their backs, they are pressing against the pad, not the wire frame. I used bungee cords to hold it up against the wire frame.

Normally I would have the heating pad cloth around the pad. But, it is put up in my house where I could find it, and of course, I can't find it. The chicks don't seem to mind not having the cloth there.

That's how Bee does it too, @henless along with a lot of others.

 

[dyorto]

I have Theisens (farm and home store), True Value and Walmart. I'm headed to town tomorrow and I'll check around, I didn't think about True Value

Walmart should have them for sure.

 

[MesMama]

Thanks all! Hopefully I can find something local

 

[aart]

Edited to add: Hey, @aart How's the hatch coming along? I was wondering earlier....

8 hatched so far, but 1 may have bad abdomen, 4 from each cross........
.....1 yesterday, 1 overnight, 4 this morning, 2 this afternoon....couple pips that I can see, one wrong end.
Today is day 22...so another 24-48 hours and I'll shut it down.

 

[Naturalchicken]

One must definitely have a towel wrapped around the heating pad and chicken wire or other metal support that is arched over the chicks.

 

[aart]

@Blooie , or anyone else lol.

I am putting together my MHP today, but my question is, does the metal frame and / or chicken wire on the bottom side where the chicks will be huddling in for the heat, need to be covered with a towel? Will the wire get to hot from the heating pad to possibly burn them? I have a small towel tapped up so it will be between the chicks and the wire, but I can see it is not going to last very long.

I don't use a towel at all, chicks can touch the metal rack I use...no burned combs have happened.

Funny tho, this thought crossed my mind not an hour ago,
while watching the newly hatched chicks toddle around in the bator,
their heads well within range of the heating element.

 

[Beekissed]

The brooder has a lid and blocks most of the natural light from coming in, here's a pic, and this is on a sunny day

I get it...though that looks like plenty of natural light to me.

Maybe I did mine different from everyone?

I put my heating pad under the wire frame. When the chicks press up against it with their backs, they are pressing against the pad, not the wire frame. I used bungee cords to hold it up against the wire frame.

Normally I would have the heating pad cloth around the pad. But, it is put up in my house where I could find it, and of course, I can't find it. The chicks don't seem to mind not having the cloth there.

Should be just fine....wouldn't be any different than the Ecoglow brooder with the hard plastic top on it that the chicks press up against. At least the heating pad is soft and cushy. I put mine up under the wire also, as I wanted the chicks to have direct contact with the heat source without the hardness of the wire getting in the way. Your chicks look very contented.

 

[Redufresne]

I rather agree with Jen here....I put mine outside in coop/run at four weeks with MHP, but water and food were in the coop, not in the run. In the first day they learned how to go up and down the ramp and put themselves to bed in the coop all by themselves. I would put water and food near MHP, then when satisfied they were managing the new space well, I would move it back to the run....mine have been super comfy and happy this way...

You are all wonderful. I made the leap and put them in the big coop with two MHP that I made taller for them now that they are bigger. Hey can be under it or on top of it, up to them. They played and played in the wood shavings and straw while I brought stuff out to them. Food, grit, etc in a corner. I was struggling with how to hang the water with nipples and I just hung it out of my way from a hook that was already in the coop while I figured it out. But all six chicks went up to the water hanging there, reached up their heads, and drank lots of water! So the water is staying there until I teach them to go to the feeding/water station. I will spend time with them out there tmorrow and again on Sunday and Monday. The in between days we are only at home enough to make quick checks on them. They seem so mych happuer in the spacious quarters! I just couldn't keep them all so confined anymore. Thanks to those who responded to me with encouragement to just DO it. I will post updates and photos tomorrow!