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

[MistyMountain]

Hey Y'all. This may have been asked before, but I probably missed it. New chicks set to arrive this month and I plan to use MHP this time around. I will have 25, and plan to get the king size heating pad. If it proves to be too small in the future, we will adapt and adjust as needed.

So, my question….

Sunbeam 732-500 King Size Heating Pad with UltraHeatTechnology (Dial with only Low/Med/High) NO auto shut off

Or

The fancier Xpress heat one with various heat settings, LCD display that is more than double the price….

In other words…. is the former option sufficient??

They will be brooded outdoors, 70-80* during the day, 50-60* at night temps for the next week, only to become more consistent if not warmed for our location.

 

[Blooie]

Hey, MM!!! Good to see you! Any newer heating pad with either the ability to disable the "auto-shut off" feature or one that doesn't have "automatic shut off" should work fine. Since I brood outside and the ambient temps out there fluctuate so much, I prefer the digital control where I have the ability to fine tune the heat more than just hi, med, low, but that's just my personal preference. Older heating pads - those we've had in the back of the linen cabinet for years and years, send Ken into the electrical weebies - he says that with use over and over again, then being folded up and put away, the heating element wires can become brittle and possibly short out. Today's pads use a better heating system and the "advantage of youth" on their sides!

With those temps, you probably won't even need it for very long. So go for it, and remember that your dues are photos of your chicks!!!

 

[MistyMountain]

Thanks Blooie!! The basic pad is only $13 on amazon, so I thought I would start with that. They will be in my mini coop (better evict that calf soon!) which is all wood, board and batten siding and good ventilation all around. It was built just for brooding chicks. I'm just excited that I don't have to deal with the heat lamp anymore. I found the 250w was ALWAYS too hot no matter how big the brooder was or how far away from the ground it was hanging. I kept having to play the light bulb swap game depending on how they were acting.

Now… nothing against MHP… buuuut if one or more of my proven hens goes broody… MHP will get benched for the season

Either way, dues will be paid.

 

[Blooie]

Thanks Blooie!! The basic pad is only $13 on amazon, so I thought I would start with that. They will be in my mini coop (better evict that calf soon!) which is all wood, board and batten siding and good ventilation all around. It was built just for brooding chicks. I'm just excited that I don't have to deal with the heat lamp anymore. I found the 250w was ALWAYS too hot no matter how big the brooder was or how far away from the ground it was hanging. I kept having to play the light bulb swap game depending on how they were acting.

Now… nothing against MHP… buuuut if one or more of my proven hens goes broody… MHP will get benched for the season

Either way, dues will be paid.

Shucks....who wouldn't prefer a broody over a heating pad cave for raising chicks? I never seem to get one!

But I remember that I loved watching Agatha with Scout. Be great to see that with a whole batch of little ones - minus the frostbite, of course!!

 

[aart]

Quote: I've got a nest cover hinged in place, just forgot to lower it in the afternoon, it may also be in need of some modification with such little buggers in there.......
.....it is now on my late afternoon task list, along with topping off the chicks feeder as their consumption as gone beyond it's capacity for 24 hrs.

Thanks @Blooie and @aart

YW

 

[bruceha2000]

Thanks Blooie!! The basic pad is only $13 on amazon, so I thought I would start with that. They will be in my mini coop (better evict that calf soon!) which is all wood, board and batten siding and good ventilation all around. It was built just for brooding chicks. I'm just excited that I don't have to deal with the heat lamp anymore. I found the 250w was ALWAYS too hot no matter how big the brooder was or how far away from the ground it was hanging. I kept having to play the light bulb swap game depending on how they were acting.

Now… nothing against MHP… buuuut if one or more of my proven hens goes broody… MHP will get benched for the season

Either way, dues will be paid.

Given it is later in the year and temp variation won't be as extreme as it is earlier in the year, I bet the cheaper (saving money is good

) pad will work fine with 3 vs 6 settings. Especially if you have potential broodies waiting in the wings. I used my MHP cave for 2 nights before they went under Zorra for natural brooding.

 

[dyorto]

My EE is 6 weeks. I've never had EEs before. Are those tufts on the side of the head typical? My other one has a smooth all black head

 

[Blooie]

Yep, typical and wonderful!

 

[dyorto]

Love all of those! We've been calling her Tufts

 

[Blooie]

Easter Eggers are just about my favorites!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-easter-eggers-of-oleo-acres