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

[AllynTal]

How many chicks would fit under one heating pad? Assuming the size the OP uses, 12x24 inches, but on a tunnel that will make it something more like 12x18 or 12x12..... if I'm raising 60 chicks, how many heating pads will I need?

Don't make them tunnel-shaped. Make the ceiling flat so you can fit more chicks under the pad than would fit in a tunnel-shaped setup. I agree with junebuggena, divide them into 2or 3 brooders each with their own pad. The 12x24 pad can be found for $15, so it's not a big investment.

 

[ShrekDawg]

 
How many chicks would fit under one heating pad?  Assuming the size the OP uses, 12x24 inches, but on a tunnel that will make it something more like 12x18 or 12x12.....  if I'm raising 60 chicks, how many heating pads will I need?

Don't make them tunnel-shaped. Make the ceiling flat so you can fit more chicks under the pad than would fit in a tunnel-shaped setup. I agree with junebuggena, divide them into 2or 3 brooders each with their own pad. The 12x24 pad can be found for $15, so it's not a big investment.

Where is it for $15!? I bought mine at CVS a year ago for like $40

of course CVS is like the most expensive place to go but it's like 2 minutes from our house and the one I got on Amazon broke

 

[mirandalola]

Multiple heating pads in one brooder don't seem to work out well. The chicks all try to crowd under the same pad, ignoring the other empty ones. Probably divide them into groups of about 20, each group in their own brooder, with their own pad.

Or maybe just put all three heating pads on one long tunnel (and when I say "tunnel" I do understand that it will be flattened at first, then raised as the chicks grow) and let them all crowd under there together? Hubby built me a nice big brooder on our back porch and I don't really want to divide it up...

 

[junebuggena]

Or maybe just put all three heating pads on one long tunnel (and when I say "tunnel" I do understand that it will be flattened at first, then raised as the chicks grow) and let them all crowd under there together? Hubby built me a nice big brooder on our back porch and I don't really want to divide it up...

The problem with that strategy is piling up. Chicks in the middle of the crush that need to cool down can't get to the exists in a timely manner, become weak and get flattened. Big tunnels have been failures.

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote: If the pads are placed in line, and open at front and back long side, then covered with a towel or other draping, so that each chick in the long MHP only has a maximum of 6" to move to get out from under the pad, that should not be a problem. A bit of ingenuity should provide a safe brooding experience for that many chicks using MHP. But, as Bee says, it may simply be easier to use a heat lamp. If I was faced with that many chicks to brood repeatedly, I think I'd consider building an Ohio Brooder. Less electricity involved, more heat concentrated in a smaller area.

 

[aart]

Quote: If the pads are placed in line, and open at front and back long side, then covered with a towel or other draping, so that each chick in the long MHP only has a maximum of 6" to move to get out from under the pad, that should not be a problem. A bit of ingenuity should provide a safe brooding experience for that many chicks using MHP. But, as Bee says, it may simply be easier to use a heat lamp. If I was faced with that many chicks to brood repeatedly, I think I'd consider building an Ohio Brooder. Less electricity involved, more heat concentrated in a smaller area.
True if the flat design is used......but tunnel/cave design, not so much.

Agrees that for 60 chicks, lamp would be much easier....or a big sweeter heater.

 

[Blooie]

I agree totally with @Beekissed and @junebuggena

There are situations where MHP just isn't practical, and that many chicks is certainly one of them.

 

[Blooie]

Step one:

I just ordered this:

Yep, that'll do it!

 

[snow5164]

I placed my brinsea chick heater at the door of my cave with a space for them to escape at each side and front and back , laid a towel over the whole thing and 40 chicks have plenty of room to run in and out all the exits !!! It became a game about two minutes after setting up " the addition" some ran on top some threw the doors .... chicks make me so happy

 

[aart]

I placed my brinsea chick heater at the door of my cave with a space for them to escape at each side and front and back , laid a towel over the whole thing and 40 chicks have plenty of room to run in and out all the exits !!! It became a game about two minutes after setting up " the addition" some ran on top some threw the doors .... chicks make me so happy

Pics of this setu, please?.....am intrigued!