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

[csneill]

Anyone know if they sell a heat pad at Walmart that I will be able to just turn on & leave on & it doesn't have an auto off? I bought one at target today but it has an auto shut off & I don't see any way to bypass it.

 

[poodlechicks]

I bought mine at Walmart. It's a sunbeam xpressHeat 12"x 15" that has the stay on option. The model is 2014-915

 

[jrjoplin]

Please let me know how this goes for you--- I have 25 on the way as early as next week. Amazon already provided the 12" x 24" sunbeam heating pad. I had planned on making the MHP the same way-- bakers rack and adjustable hardware legs, or very similar. Brisnea markets a heating plate for 20 chicks that is 12" x 8", so I am hopeful this will be more than enough with open ends and our warmer temps showing up. If not, we will have to regroup and adjust 

My 24 were under the 12x24 and did fine. My MHP is closed on 3 sides I'll likely rework it so that is open at the front and back for the next batch of chicks just to ease the traffic jams.

 

[Angiebubs]

Please let me know how this goes for you--- I have 25 on the way as early as next week. Amazon already provided the 12" x 24" sunbeam heating pad. I had planned on making the MHP the same way-- bakers rack and adjustable hardware legs, or very similar. Brisnea markets a heating plate for 20 chicks that is 12" x 8", so I am hopeful this will be more than enough with open ends and our warmer temps showing up. If not, we will have to regroup and adjust

Mine will hatch next Thursday so you might beat me in testing this out. Going to figure out the design/size etc tonight so I can get an order into amazon Keep me posted how this works for you

 

[csneill]

So I had an old hp here at the house that I think should work- no 'auto off' option here! Here are my 7 little wellies just 4 days old! I love them so much already! We have an established flock they will join soon- planning to do this whole integration thing you all keep talking about! They are checking out this new blue 'cave' I just surprised them with!

 

[poodlechicks]

adorable!

 

[aart]

Quote: Were they inside or outside?
All underneath or sleeping on top too?
How old when they gave up the MHP?

At 4 wks 16 couldn't fit underneath or on top tho they tried.

 

[jrjoplin]

Were they inside or outside?
All underneath or sleeping on top too?
How old when they gave up the MHP?

At 4 wks 16 couldn't fit underneath or on top tho they tried.

I think they stopped sleeping all underneath around 3 weeks. That was about the time I raised it as high as it would go and turned the heating pad down to 2. They moved outside to the chicken tractor at 4 weeks and some of the smaller chicks still slept under it till almost 5 weeks. I removed it when it looked like they were all on top or on the roosts and none were sleeping in the cave at around 5 1/2 weeks. My temperatures were never that low there might have been a night or two in the 40s but most of the time it was in the 60s and 70s.

 

[lazy gardener]

Please let me know how this goes for you--- I have 25 on the way as early as next week. Amazon already provided the 12" x 24" sunbeam heating pad. I had planned on making the MHP the same way-- bakers rack and adjustable hardware legs, or very similar. Brisnea markets a heating plate for 20 chicks that is 12" x 8", so I am hopeful this will be more than enough with open ends and our warmer temps showing up. If not, we will have to regroup and adjust

The 12 x 24 should work for that larger batch of chicks if you make it like a heat plate, still putting it low enough that they can touch it with their backs. you could use a larger towel, and drape it so it covers 2 sides to help hold the heat in.

My babies at 2.5 weeks are no longer using MHP. They are outdoors, sleeping in a huddle in the corner of their loft. It was down to 43* last night. I wonder if they gave it up because it's too warm for them, or if they are so big now that they all won't fit. Perhaps they have the "all or none" mentality.

 

[saraem]

Well, I had hoped to come back with photos of my chicks all lounging on and snuggled under MHP but no such luck. They definitely thought it was a big scary monster that was going to eat them and refused to even go near it. Some finally did figure out hanging out on top, but when they did this the big guys took all the real estate and the little one ended up on the ground beside it, peeping pitifully.

I finally gave up and made a box with the heating pad lying along the floor and up the back side. Tried turning off the lamp again and they all huddled in the corner where the light used to shine, trying to crawl under each other and complaining

This was as close as I could get them to it and may not even end up using it at all as it's going to get warm again next week. The big girls are spoiled anyway, they really don't need the heat anymore and have only gotten it this long because of the tiny one.

Either way, I'm happy to own a new heating pad and I'm ready whenever we get our next batch of chicks