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

[debid]

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Do you think this will be enough protection for them overnight or should I bring them back in?  I don't have a solid structure to keep them in yet, I'm still working on building the coop.

So, it's a chain link kennel with hardware cloth, too? And then you're wrapping it on 3 sides and the top with tarp or plastic. Yes, that's plenty. They'll need the heating pad and I'd turn it back to high. It might be helpful to cut a hole in a cheap plastic tote and put the pad in it so they feel the protection of being inside something but they can handle cold air from the start as long as you provide a broody hen or electric equivalent.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I have read a lot of this thread, but still I'm not sure about this. Sorry if this has already been addressed. What should the back of the MHP look like? Should it be open so they can get out through the back? Or should it be closed so the heat will stay in? And also should the MHP be slanted? Also I'm sorry for all the questions, but how tall should it be at the tallest point and the lowest point?

 

[jessnurse05]

Thank you @debid

It's just a big wire dog crate, big enough for a great dane. It is only a temporary home since I'm working on building the coop. I had the heating pad on medium, but I turned it up to high. They huddled on top of it for a while, but didn't go underneath. They were not thrilled about having their view blocked by the tarp, but I would rather them be warm, lol! These chicks are very vocal when they are unhappy. Here is what the setup looks like. The blue and white towel peeking out from the straw is where the heating pad is. You can see that the chicks are nowhere near it so I know they are warm enough right now.


The big girls think that the kennel makes a great perch!

 

[jessnurse05]

I have read a lot of this thread, but still I'm not sure about this. Sorry if this has already been addressed. What should the back of the MHP look like? Should it be open so they can get out through the back? Or should it be closed so the heat will stay in? And also should the MHP be slanted? Also I'm sorry for all the questions, but how tall should it be at the tallest point and the lowest point?

I'm no expert since I'm here asking questions too.

Mine is on top of a 6 inch wide piece of wire mesh, it's narrow enough from front to back that I can tuck the heating pad and towel down to the ground (but not on the ground, they can't sit on top of it when they are also under it) in back and it still covers the front edge of the mesh too. I pushed it up against the back of my dog kennel brooder as well as I could, but my chickies discovered that they could push stuff around back there and pop their heads out from behind it! It was really cute. They decided that it wasn't much fun after a while and I still try to keep it pushed up against a wall as best I can so it's more cave-like in there. Mine is at the height of their backs when they are standing. At first I had it too low and even though they could crawl under it they were panting in there so I made the whole thing taller. I hovered over my chicks the first day and it only took a little while for me to notice that! Mine is about the same height all the way back, but since the heating pad comes down to the floor on the sides and the back the chicks can snuggle up against the sides when they are cold. I watched them a lot for the first day since I hatched them from eggs and it was my first time hatching AND my first time with the MHP I was a nervous mommy! But chicks are resilient and they will let you know if they are uncomfortable.

I hope that helps.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I'm no expert since I'm here asking questions too.  

Mine is on top of a 6 inch wide piece of wire mesh, it's narrow enough from front to back that I can tuck the heating pad and towel down to the ground (but not on the ground, they can't sit on top of it when they are also under it) in back and it still covers the front edge of the mesh too.  I pushed it up against the back of my dog kennel brooder as well as I could, but my chickies discovered that they could push stuff around back there and pop their heads out from behind it!  It was really cute.  They decided that it wasn't much fun after a while and I still try to keep it pushed up against a wall as best I can so it's more cave-like in there.  Mine is at the height of their backs when they are standing.  At first I had it too low and even though they could crawl under it they were panting in there so I made the whole thing taller.  I hovered over my chicks the first day and it only took a little while for me to notice that!  Mine is about the same height all the way back, but since the heating pad comes down to the floor on the sides and the back the chicks can snuggle up against the sides when they are cold.  I watched them a lot for the first day since I hatched them from eggs and it was my first time hatching AND my first time with the MHP I was a nervous mommy!  But chicks are resilient and they will let you know if they are uncomfortable.

I hope that helps.  

Thank you! This really helps a ton. This is going to be my first time ever raising chicks! Or even really being around them! I am so excited!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I'm sorry if this question is already answered, it was a bit daunting to read the whole thread to find the answer. I have 4 chicks that are 3 weeks old. I have had them in a dog kennel in the house with a mama heating pad and I have it set on low right now. I haven't seen them under it in the last week, they will sleep on top or one day they were snuggled together on the other side of the dog kennel.

It's starting to get a little bit nicer here, but still down into the high 20s at night. I have let them go outside in another dog kennel that is reinforced with hardware cloth for their safety and I have mama heating pad in there with them. I am planning on covering 3 sides and the top of the kennel with a tarp to protect them from the wind. I was also considering using greenhouse plastic over it to hold more warmth when the sun is out.

Do you think this will be enough protection for them overnight or should I bring them back in? I don't have a solid structure to keep them in yet, I'm still working on building the coop.

Oops nvm!

 

[cholland]

Some notes after the first five days trying out the MHP.
Way better than a heat lamp. Much safer and the chicks sleep at night.
I have it closed in on three sides. Probably retains a little more heat that way.
The back slopes down about 3/4 inch more than in front. They can adjust where they are comfortable and a couple of the chicks are definitely larger so it needs different heights.

At first I set the pad on top of 2x4 inch wire. But they push up and would get their heads over the wires. I may have lost one chick this way, but it wasn't doing too well already.
So I used bungee cords and strapped it under the wire. Making sure everything is tight so when they push up they don't get tangled. Then I had one try to squeeze in between the pad and the towel I have draped over the top. They are bird brains!

Now considering wrapping the whole thing in something thin like a pillow case so they can't get in between anything. Although they are getting bigger, stronger and smarter? It may not be a problem in a few more days.

Another idea I am considering for next time would be to use some heavy duty Velcro and stick it to a piece of plywood or even cement board. Would need some adjustable legs. But you could remove it for cleaning and eliminate the risk of tangling, etc.

 

[Molpet]

Some notes after the first five days trying out the MHP.
Way better than a heat lamp. Much safer and the chicks sleep at night.
I have it closed in on three sides. Probably retains a little more heat that way.
The back slopes down about 3/4 inch more than in front. They can adjust where they are comfortable and a couple of the chicks are definitely larger so it needs different heights.

At first I set the pad on top of 2x4 inch wire. But they push up and would get their heads over the wires. I may have lost one chick this way, but it wasn't doing too well already.
So I used bungee cords and strapped it under the wire. Making sure everything is tight so when they push up they don't get tangled. Then I had one try to squeeze in between the pad and the towel I have draped over the top. They are bird brains!

Now considering wrapping the whole thing in something thin like a pillow case so they can't get in between anything. Although they are getting bigger, stronger and smarter? It may not be a problem in a few more days.

Another idea I am considering for next time would be to use some heavy duty Velcro and stick it to a piece of plywood or even cement board. Would need some adjustable legs. But you could remove it for cleaning and eliminate the risk of tangling, etc.

a lot of us put the whole thing in a sealed pillow case so they can't get trapped

 

[debid]

This might be a dumb question but couldn't you make the framework the same size as the pad and then use the cover the pad comes with over that? I was thinking of constructing it all flat and then bending the finished product into a cave.

My heating pad arrived today and it's the correct model but my tomato cage is too sturdy for the wire cutters I have. I need to borrow my dad's mini bolt cutters that I used to cut the chain link fence... At least I can be sure it won't be the least bit flimsy.

 

[Molpet]

This might be a dumb question but couldn't you make the framework the same size as the pad and then use the cover the pad comes with over that? I was thinking of constructing it all flat and then bending the finished product into a cave.

My heating pad arrived today and it's the correct model but my tomato cage is too sturdy for the wire cutters I have. I need to borrow my dad's mini bolt cutters that I used to cut the chain link fence... At least I can be sure it won't be the least bit flimsy.

my cover was too tight w/the frame.. I used a travel size zippered pillow case