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

[Ol Grey Mare]

Boy, don't I know it!! Even I've changed how I do things since the beginning, adding things from posts on here that made more sense or could prevent problems that they'd had but that I hadn't had - knowing the word "yet" was never far away.

I've even thought about kinda letting this thread die and starting over with a revised thread, but oh! the valuable photos and explanations that they'd never see......'tis a conundrum!

LOL - eventually BYC powers-that-be might make that call for you -- I know that some of the other large, active threads reach a point where they are "archived" and a new thread started - something to do with the way it causes the site to run......but in the meantime I think there is immense value in folks being able to read through from the start and see the evolution of the thread and see all the different approaches, trial/error, etc that you and those who have participated have had.

ETA - fwiw, those threads were much larger/longer than this is at this point.

 

[Blooie]

Hmmmmm.....thinking back I DID write an article on this, separate from the thread but kinda copied and pasted....I could just edit that! Oooh, my wheels are turning!!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I had my MHP wrapped in a pillow case & plastic wrap. In an attempt to get as close as possible to the MHP, the chicks were tearing the plastic wrap and getting stuck inside.

I had to remove the plastic wrap.

ETA: Can some of you post suggestions/pics how to covering & protecting your heat pad? I'm sure there are some in this threat, but that's a lot of post to sort through. Thanks!

P.S. I have zero ability or equipment to sew. lol

FWIW, I put the pillowcase over the whole thing, with cloth diapers over that, and it helps, but yes, some poop will get to the heating pad cover (when they get older they kick the diapers off sometimes). After brooding is done, I soak and then wash the pillowcase along with the diapers. I separately clean the heating pad covers (only because they are usually a lot less dirty). And I use diluted bleach spray on the actual heating pad itself, let sit, and wipe clean, then vinegar. Same for the cords that are dirty. Just do it before putting it away for the season (it 's a pain to have to do it AFTER storage).

Just my 2 cents...

- Ant Farm

 

[Merrymouse]

Making my MHP and already have a question. Does it matter how you orient the cave/hearing pad? I mean is it better if the wider than deep. Or is deeper and narrow better. I curved it so it's wider than deep but I haven't attached anything. Yet so I could just curve it the other way. This is how I have it now. Wider and narrower. If that makes sense here is a pic

Thanks in advance for your help!

Also should I cover the heating pad with press and seal too or just the towel on top?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Making my MHP and already have a question. Does it matter how you orient the cave/hearing pad? I mean is it better if the wider than deep. Or is deeper and narrow better. I curved it so it's wider than deep but I haven't attached anything. Yet so I could just curve it the other way. This is how I have it now. Wider and narrower. If that makes sense here is a pic
Thanks in advance for your help!

Also should I cover the heating pad with press and seal too or just the towel on top?

I'd recommend wider across the hoop and less deep front to back. So they can all get in and out easily. (Edit to clarify - I'd keep it the way you have it now in that photo.)

BTW, in case anyone wondered what would happen if you left a very sturdy MHP with a welded wire frame in with a brooder full of 4-5 week olds... You get a Mama Heating Pancake.

(The MHP heat has been off for a week. Time to move in the roosts...)

- Ant Farm

 

[Merrymouse]

Ok here is my MHP to share. I used the extra large heated pad sunbeam. First I'm using my dog crate which I lined the sides with cardboard to help keep in the shaving and keep chicks from escaping. Is this cardboard high enough at least for the first two weeks or should I start over and use bigger/taller cardboard

then I added about 3 or 4" of pine shavings.

Then 4 or so layers of paper towels. Now on to the MHP. Here are the supplies

I used welded wire cut to size and all sharp points grinded down. Then I covered the edges in blue painters tape just for an extra measure of safety. Put my heating pad on the underside and secured with bungees. I'm not liking the bungees I have so may have to get different ones

covered that with a zippered pillow case

And covered the pillow case with more bungees.

Then I used two cloth diapers side by side and covered them with press and seal and put those on top. They are just resting on top and are not secured down so we'll see how that goes. Put everything in my crate

It's a little higher in the front than the back. There is room in the back if the chicks what to exit that way. I think it might be overall too low and I might have to adjust. These will be my first chicks so not sure. I have the pad on now. It doesn't feel all that warm in the cave. It's warmer when you press your hand against it but by no means would I call it hot. A little worried about that but I'm going to trust you all. 16 chicks coming from Meyer hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday and the weather just said we are getting about 20" of snow those days. Another worry. If you see anything I did wrong or have suggestions I'm all ears. Thank you for sharing your expertise with me. It is truly appreciated. Oh and I ordered a nipple waterers but it has not arrived yet so I have the regular waterer for now. I'm hoping nipple waterer comes in before the chicks do

 

[barred2rock]

Quote:
I used the press and seal and my chicks haven't been able to tear it

Apparently, I misunderstood what "Press & Seal" is, just figured it was just different wording or a brand name for plastic wrap. I've been informed

, thanks all!

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Merrymouse:

Your MHP set up looks awesome! We will try and do the same. You are on a short countdown to the arrival date, can't wait to read your account along with pictures! How is the progress on your coop going??? BB

 

[Molpet]

Ok here is my MHP to share. I used the extra large heated pad sunbeam. First I'm using my dog crate which I lined the sides with cardboard to help keep in the shaving and keep chicks from escaping. Is this cardboard high enough at least for the first two weeks or should I start over and use bigger/taller cardboard then I added about 3 or 4" of pine shavings. Then 4 or so layers of paper towels. Now on to the MHP. Here are the supplies I used welded wire cut to size and all sharp points grinded down. Then I covered the edges in blue painters tape just for an extra measure of safety. Put my heating pad on the underside and secured with bungees. I'm not liking the bungees I have so may have to get different ones
covered that with a zippered pillow case
And covered the pillow case with more bungees. Then I used two cloth diapers side by side and covered them with press and seal and put those on top. They are just resting on top and are not secured down so we'll see how that goes. Put everything in my crate
It's a little higher in the front than the back. There is room in the back if the chicks what to exit that way. I think it might be overall too low and I might have to adjust. These will be my first chicks so not sure. I have the pad on now. It doesn't feel all that warm in the cave. It's warmer when you press your hand against it but by no means would I call it hot. A little worried about that but I'm going to trust you all. 16 chicks coming from Meyer hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday and the weather just said we are getting about 20" of snow those days. Another worry. If you see anything I did wrong or have suggestions I'm all ears. Thank you for sharing your expertise with me. It is truly appreciated. Oh and I ordered a nipple waterers but it has not arrived yet so I have the regular waterer for now. I'm hoping nipple waterer comes in before the chicks do

15 chicks will be cramped in there .. 1/2 sqft per chick first 2 wks then 1 sqft for the next 2 wks.. then 2 sqft
higher card board because they will scratch like crazy
I ended up making the MHP by just using bungees on the outside of the zippered pillow case.. worked well
some of the heating pads have a side with writing on it that is a warmer side .. put that side so the chicks can press against it when they are inside.. this is more of a contact heater so the temp in the cave isn't going to be hot

 

[junebuggena]

Ok here is my MHP to share. I used the extra large heated pad sunbeam. First I'm using my dog crate which I lined the sides with cardboard to help keep in the shaving and keep chicks from escaping. Is this cardboard high enough at least for the first two weeks or should I start over and use bigger/taller cardboard then I added about 3 or 4" of pine shavings. Then 4 or so layers of paper towels. Now on to the MHP. Here are the supplies I used welded wire cut to size and all sharp points grinded down. Then I covered the edges in blue painters tape just for an extra measure of safety. Put my heating pad on the underside and secured with bungees. I'm not liking the bungees I have so may have to get different ones
covered that with a zippered pillow case
And covered the pillow case with more bungees. Then I used two cloth diapers side by side and covered them with press and seal and put those on top. They are just resting on top and are not secured down so we'll see how that goes. Put everything in my crate
It's a little higher in the front than the back. There is room in the back if the chicks what to exit that way. I think it might be overall too low and I might have to adjust. These will be my first chicks so not sure. I have the pad on now. It doesn't feel all that warm in the cave. It's warmer when you press your hand against it but by no means would I call it hot. A little worried about that but I'm going to trust you all. 16 chicks coming from Meyer hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday and the weather just said we are getting about 20" of snow those days. Another worry. If you see anything I did wrong or have suggestions I'm all ears. Thank you for sharing your expertise with me. It is truly appreciated. Oh and I ordered a nipple waterers but it has not arrived yet so I have the regular waterer for now. I'm hoping nipple waterer comes in before the chicks do

That is only going to be enough room for about a week or two. One of the drawbacks of this brooding method is how much space the pad takes up.