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

[myfivegirls]

 

I dont have my chicks yet but this heating pad I bought is doing a great job keeping my toes warm right about now, Just sayin

Haha...one advantage with the heating pad over the brinsea or premiere plates...can you use them on human bodies in the 'off season'!!

Off season?   

While I did take a break from hatching, it was sure tempting at times.

 

[DonnaFreak]

I've read through hundreds of the replies on this thread, but haven't seen my question come up. Granted, I haven't read all EIGHT THOUSAND of them, but I'm gonna ask anyway! LOL! I'm just wondering...is there any reason why i can't use hardware cloth to form the frame (as opposed to using it for a patch) instead of chicken wire? I'm only asking because I have extra hardware cloth I could use, but I have no chicken wire. I don't see any point in buying a whole roll of chicken wire just for a small piece if the hardware cloth will work. Would it get too hot, or would it be fine?

Donna

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I've read through hundreds of the replies on this thread, but haven't seen my question come up. Granted, I haven't read all EIGHT THOUSAND of them, but I'm gonna ask anyway! LOL! I'm just wondering...is there any reason why i can't use hardware cloth to form the frame (as opposed to using it for a patch) instead of chicken wire? I'm only asking because I have extra hardware cloth I could use, but I have no chicken wire. I don't see any point in buying a whole roll of chicken wire just for a small piece if the hardware cloth will work. Would it get too hot, or would it be fine?

Donna

I have the same question. And I am unsure of really anything that I could use to make the frame with!

 

[aart]

I've read through hundreds of the replies on this thread, but haven't seen my question come up. Granted, I haven't read all EIGHT THOUSAND of them, but I'm gonna ask anyway! LOL! I'm just wondering...is there any reason why i can't use hardware cloth to form the frame (as opposed to using it for a patch) instead of chicken wire? I'm only asking because I have extra hardware cloth I could use, but I have no chicken wire. I don't see any point in buying a whole roll of chicken wire just for a small piece if the hardware cloth will work. Would it get too hot, or would it be fine?

Donna

Depends on how you are using the wire.....
.....hexagonal chicken wire is inherently weaker than HC.

It getting hot wouldn't be the issue but it's strength in holding up the pad....
.....again depending on how you are constructing your MHP.

Can you post a pic of what style you are trying to build?

 

[DonnaFreak]

Depends on how you are using the wire.....
.....hexagonal chicken wire is inherently weaker than HC.

It getting hot wouldn't be the issue but it's strength in holding up the pad....
.....again depending on how you are constructing your MHP.

Can you post a pic of what style you are trying to build?

I'm trying to build one inside a dog cage like in the original post in this thread. After rereading it, I saw she used wire fencing rather than chicken wire, but I'm wondering if they need wire that's more open than 1/2" hardware cloth so they can feel the softness of the heating pad cover, or if the hardware cloth is fine to use?

Donna

 

[Beekissed]

I've read through hundreds of the replies on this thread, but haven't seen my question come up. Granted, I haven't read all EIGHT THOUSAND of them, but I'm gonna ask anyway! LOL! I'm just wondering...is there any reason why i can't use hardware cloth to form the frame (as opposed to using it for a patch) instead of chicken wire? I'm only asking because I have extra hardware cloth I could use, but I have no chicken wire. I don't see any point in buying a whole roll of chicken wire just for a small piece if the hardware cloth will work. Would it get too hot, or would it be fine?

Donna

I don't know of anyone using chicken wire on the brooder frame...as Aart said, it just wouldn't be sturdy enough to support the pad and the load of chicks that like to climb on top fo the structure. Hardware wire may be too flimsy too, depending on the size of the brooder...but I think it would bow under the weight of multiple chicks too. I used a piece of 2x2 welded wire for mine and that seemed to suit just fine.

Some people are using cooling racks, cooking sheets, wire, even cut down totes to form the roof of the brooder, so it's only limited by your imagination and your available materials. As long as it's adjustable and sturdy enough to do the job, you should be alright. Keep in mind that you'll want the HP to touch the backs of the chicks at all times, as that is how the heat is used...it's a contact heater.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm trying to build one inside a dog cage like in the original post in this thread. After rereading it, I saw she used wire fencing rather than chicken wire, but I'm wondering if they need wire that's more open than 1/2" hardware cloth so they can feel the softness of the heating pad cover, or if the hardware cloth is fine to use?

Donna

That sounds fine if it's sturdy enough. You can always suspend the HP under the wire with the use of small bungee cords and some people have even fastened it there with zip ties or screws.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I've read through hundreds of the replies on this thread, but haven't seen my question come up. Granted, I haven't read all EIGHT THOUSAND of them, but I'm gonna ask anyway! LOL! I'm just wondering...is there any reason why i can't use hardware cloth to form the frame (as opposed to using it for a patch) instead of chicken wire? I'm only asking because I have extra hardware cloth I could use, but I have no chicken wire. I don't see any point in buying a whole roll of chicken wire just for a small piece if the hardware cloth will work. Would it get too hot, or would it be fine?

Donna

I use hardware cloth for mine.

You can use whatever. Chainlink fencing probably wouldn't work though lol but even a rack from a toaster oven, or whatever.

 

[myfivegirls]

I've read through hundreds of the replies on this thread, but haven't seen my question come up. Granted, I haven't read all EIGHT THOUSAND of them, but I'm gonna ask anyway! LOL! I'm just wondering...is there any reason why i can't use hardware cloth to form the frame (as opposed to using it for a patch) instead of chicken wire? I'm only asking because I have extra hardware cloth I could use, but I have no chicken wire. I don't see any point in buying a whole roll of chicken wire just for a small piece if the hardware cloth will work. Would it get too hot, or would it be fine?

Donna

I used in 2016 plastic coated hardware cloth (1/2"x1" cage wire), one without a wooden frame, but the rest with a frame.
Here's some photos:
This was an indoor brooder out of a christmas tree bin - so it's long & narrow.
I converted to using the pet pee pads on top, so they could be easily thrown out.




Outdoor MHP using wooden frame - slanted, so higher in the front, lower in the back.


Covered with cut-up sheet



After following & reading everyone's advice, I'm planning on making a few adjustments this year.
One, is attaching the pad on the bottom, since this group of chicks were trying to snug up to the pad, but the wire did make it hard
to make the direct contact that's been recommended.

Also, I'm thinking of adding threaded rod to the legs, so it can adjusted easier as they grow.



I also raised Cornish with this method, and the hardest part was trying to raise it higher. I tried putting a thin board over the heating pad to push the heat downward, but that didn't work so well.

This was one group - taken May 25th, so we still had cool nights, but the chicks were pretty active during the day.

Not the best photo, but they loved getting heat from pad below
& heat from the sunlight!


I will say the hardware cloth I used is very heavy-duty, not the flimsy stuff you find in TSC & other "box stores" today.
I bought it "new" (stored for abt 8-10 yrs) from a rabbit/small animal cage maker who ordered it wholesale; I think it's 14 guage vs some hardware cloth is 16 or 18 guage.
It's very stiff, as I had to use pliers or sandwich the wire between two boards to bend it.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Even though we don't have any chicks yet, March 28th +/- for delivery, we are well on our way in getting ready. We, too, have read much of this thread and what we are gong to try is chicken wire because we have some BUT what I used was 1/16" thick, 1/2" wide and 36" long aluminium from Home Depot, about $2.50 a piece. I am using 2 pieces with a 1/8" stiffner rod(was used in prototype but wife wanted the "cave" not as deep so rod is probably not needed. Anyway, I just bent the aluminium to form an arch the height we wanted, 6" in front and 4" in the back. I used plastic wire ties to attach the chicken wire over the hoops. With the heating pad on top and towels on top of that, this should work fine. I folded Gorilla(or duct) tape over both sides of the cut wire, sandwiching the sharp wires from being a danger. Testing indicates that the "roof" of the cave will be 90+ degrees.

We recently read the article by Blooie about brooding outdoors in the coop. It looks like we are going to try this and in honor of her great contributions to this site, we are going to name one of our girls, Blooie!! TBC, BB Second pic has our dog's tail showing!