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

[BBZZZZTT]

Heh, I'm just lucky to have so many vets guiding me in chicken adventures!

 

[Blooie]

Heh, I'm just lucky to have so many vets guiding me in chicken adventures!

x2!! The members of the Broody Brigade are fantastic at guiding - and sometimes chiding! And I'm grateful to Patrice Lopatin, whose video got this idea rolling around in my head, and @Beekissed, who was instrumental in making the idea a viable alternative!

 

[NNYchick]

Will a 12x15 heating pad be big enough for 12 bantam silkies chicks? I found a 10x16 Baker cooling rack.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Will a 12x15 heating pad be big enough for 12 bantam silkies chicks? I found a 10x16 Baker cooling rack.

If I'm understanding what I'm reading people have successfully had 19 under that size. I've been trying to get an idea for my currently 31 viable eggs due to hatch on Friday. (Tryed to be a realist and it bit me in the butt. Gathered 43 gave 8 to a hen planned on not high hatch rate.)

 

[aart]

Will a 12x15 heating pad be big enough for 12 bantam silkies chicks? I found a 10x16 Baker cooling rack.

Prooooobably. Can depend on the ambient temp of the brooder area how long they will need heat. I've had 16 LF under a 12x24 and it was a stretch when brooded in the coop in spring.

That is one con to using a pad for heat - capacity can be much less than a lamp.

 

[Blooie]

@aart is right, there are limits to MHP as far as capacity is concerned. But several people have used two side by side, basically one frame with two pads, I think. Hope they chime in there -

 

[kesrchicky16]

@aart is right, there are limits to MHP as far as capacity is concerned. But several people have used two side by side, basically one frame with two pads, I think. Hope they chime in there -

That's what I'm trying to figure out. How much frame per chick? I know I'll need multiple pads.

 

[Blooie]

Math rarely enters into MHP, which is another reason I love it. I have to count the dots on the dice to play board games and have to bribe someone to play Cribbage with me. So those temperature numbers we're advised about - you know, 90-95 first week, dropping 5 degrees per week until they are practically laying eggs in the brooder, and all that square foot per critter stuff I just ignore. Crowded chicks tell you they're crowded, and if you just look into the brooder you can SEE there isn't enough space without resorting to measurements. The one time I checked temps with MHP in response to a friend's question about it, it was 82.5 degrees on the floor of the cave in a 69 degree room. According to the "experts" my chicks should have been chilled to death. Instead they'd already been in there for over a week, and were strong and active. So math? <shrug>

There is no set formula here. Let me see if I can find the posts where this was discussed. Hmmmm I'll be back...

 

[kesrchicky16]

Math rarely enters into MHP, which is another reason I love it. I have to count the dots on the dice to play board games and have to bribe someone to play Cribbage with me. So those temperature numbers we're advised about - you know, 90-95 first week, dropping 5 degrees per week until they are practically laying eggs in the brooder, and all that square foot per critter stuff I just ignore. Crowded chicks tell you they're crowded, and if you just look into the brooder you can SEE there isn't enough space without resorting to measurements. The one time I checked temps with MHP in response to a friend's question about it, it was 82.5 degrees on the floor of the cave in a 69 degree room. According to the "experts" my chicks should have been chilled to death. Instead they'd already been in there for over a week, and were strong and active. So math? <shrug>

There is no set formula here. Let me see if I can find the posts where this was discussed. Hmmmm I'll be back...

Thank you I tried but got lost. This is much more helpful than some other members.

 

[Blooie]

Okay, I did find something that will get you started anyway. The poster in this section was asking about meat birds, and their heat requirements are a little different but that doesn't change the "hows" and "whys" of using MHP - they pretty much self adjust. These pages discuss how to set up multiple pads. The most I've used it for is 17 or 19 (can't remember which now) so I just used the large Sunbeam pad, which is 12X24. I think @lazy gardener has raised larger broods under MHP - maybe she'll pop in and offer her expertise. In the meantime, here's the link to those pages of the thread. It's a starting place, anyway.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/page-995

In answer to @NNYchick - and I apologize for missing your post before now - for 12 bantams I think what you have will be fine....pushing it a little maybe but they only really use it for a couple of weeks before they are spending more time on top than underneath. Personally I'd feel more comfortable using the larger pad longer term, but for the first few days the pad I use in the house is the smaller pad, the one you have. (I always keep them in the house for a day or so when they first hatch or arrive so I know they are eating, drinking, know where to get warm, and aren't suffering any shipping or hatching stress, then outside they go) For my first batch of Mama Heating Pad chicks, the smaller pad was all I had at the time, and they did just fine....I think there were 10 standard sized chicks.....