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

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I just noticed your design is different than mine. My heating pad is on the ground, and I have the cave covered in a towel (want to upgrade to wool). We turned the MHP on high last night, and it stayed between 78 and 88, and it was 40 outside. Still 78 this am, but they are all tucked in happily chirping. I had covered the whole brooder with blankets, and they had frost. I will turn MHP back to low or off during the day. It's hard to get it right. In the house, it got too warm, but outside at 40 it needs to be on high, but when it warms up, I have to turn it back down to low. A little frustrating, but it doesn't seem to have hurt anyone so far.

They were hesitant yesterday to roam outside the crate, but they adapted quite nice. They napped in the sun, ran around, tried flying and were play fighting (I hope) and didn't seem to have any issues. 2 more nights in the 30s, and then a nice warm up.
 
Rwood5093 said:
I just noticed your design is different than mine. My heating pad is on the ground, and I have the cave covered in a towel (want to upgrade to wool). We turned the MHP on high last night, and it stayed between 78 and 88, and it was 40 outside. Still 78 this am, but they are all tucked in happily chirping. I had covered the whole brooder with blankets, and they had frost. I will turn MHP back to low or off during the day. It's hard to get it right. In the house, it got too warm, but outside at 40 it needs to be on high, but when it warms up, I have to turn it back down to low. A little frustrating, but it doesn't seem to have hurt anyone so far.

They were hesitant yesterday to roam outside the crate, but they adapted quite nice. They napped in the sun, ran around, tried flying and were play fighting (I hope) and didn't seem to have any issues. 2 more nights in the 30s, and then a nice warm up.
Click to expand...

How are you measuring the temps on it? I think most people are doing the heating pad on top because the chicks can stand up to warm their backs, like they would with a real mother hen. I haven't read enough of the thread to know if others have worked out fine using it on the ground instead.

I'm totally glad the weather looks to improve a bit again. We have to go run out to Moncks Corner in a bit and pick up a screen door for the new coop, then once we get back, I'll play the chick tango and send the crew outside. My little EE baby is staying inside though. She's still moping around and not herself.
 
Rwood5093 said:
Measuring with what I have.. My outdoor thermometer. I put the sensor inside the cave.
Click to expand...
Heat pads or plates do not work like lamps,
the chicks are warmed by touching the pad or plate,
Whereas a lamp heats the air and ground underneath it.

So measuring the temp of a pad or plate will not work like measuring the temp of heat provided by a lamp.

Best to go by behavior of chicks to determine proper setting for pad or plate.
 
aart said:
Heat pads or plates do not work like lamps,
the chicks are warmed by touching the pad or plate,
Whereas a lamp heats the air and ground underneath it.

So measuring the temp of a pad or plate will not work like measuring the temp of heat provided by a lamp.

Best to go by behavior of chicks to determine proper setting for pad or plate.
Click to expand...
Yep, yep and yep. I wasn't even interested in what the readings in the cave were....the chicks were happy so they told me all I needed to know. I'm not a "heating-pad-setting-fusser" either. I just set it up, put it on about 5 if when I brood outside if it's really cold, and then leave it. They aren't living under it, just dashing under for a quick warmup and with the heat just right above their backs that doesn't take long. Bear in mind that spring time is chick season, but here spring can still be in the 20s, so that's why mine is up so high. It's not that way for long - usually by 4 weeks it's off completely.
 

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