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

[bruceha2000]

By moving to the other side they are saying "Thanks for the Mama Heating Pad!

Kinda makes sense, a hen heats from the top, not from underneath. But then it won't be long before the "kids" are hanging out on top of the MHP, just as they do on top of a hen.

 

[Blooie]

Yep, what Bruce said! Watch their behavior, it’ll tell you a lot! Oh, and your dues are paid!

 

[saraiquimby1]

Got my brooder ready to go for my first go with mail order chicks and MHP!!
Chicks come next week

 

[NNYchick]

By moving to the other side they are saying "Thanks for the Mama Heating Pad!

Kinda makes sense, a hen heats from the top, not from underneath. But then it won't be long before the "kids" are hanging out on top of the MHP, just as they do on top of a hen.

I decided to put the peep pad under inside in case MHP wasn’t low enough. They seem to go side to side I guess it’s giving them one more temperature zone. I nearly had a heart attack though I went up there and they sleeping sprawled out on it, kind of like when chickens sunbathe. I thought they died, lifted up MHP and they all sprang up like whats your problem,trying to sleep here.

 

[aart]

I decided to put the peep pad under inside in case MHP wasn’t low enough. They seem to go side to side I guess it’s giving them one more temperature zone. I nearly had a heart attack though I went up there and they sleeping sprawled out on it, kind of like when chickens sunbathe. I thought they died, lifted up MHP and they all sprang up like whats your problem,trying to sleep here.

Not sure you should use another heating devise as a 'false floor',
could be too hot on that side and not warm enough on the other,
better to get a few boards to stack under there and remove as they grow.
Many folks have done that if they can't adjust the height of pad.

 

[NNYchick]

Not sure you should use another heating devise as a 'false floor',
could be too hot on that side and not warm enough on the other,
better to get a few boards to stack under there and remove as they grow.
Many folks have done that if they can't adjust the height of pad.

Ok I’ll just unplug it so it’s not generating heat. I planned on doing that anyways. I just wanted to be sure they were warm enough first day out of incubator.

 

[backyardfarmgirl]

A question about the heating pad...
It sounds like many people are using the Sunbeam Express with 6 levels.
My question is, do I need that many levels or will just three work? I need to keep my expenses down right now so I'm looking at this one:
Sunbeam King Size
It does NOT have the auto shut-off, so I know that's good.
Someone on Amazon said they contacted Sunbeam and they said these are the temps of the different levels on this one: Low 110 F, med 138 F, high 160 F

Also, is this too big of a pad for 10 or so chicks?

(Sorry if this has been asked already. I read quite a few pages from this thread but I just couldn't read all 1,018!)

 

[bruceha2000]

That will work, you don't have to have the 6 settings. And it isn't too big for 10 chicks. You can have too many for a given size pad but not too few. They will use whatever space they need.

 

[backyardfarmgirl]

Great! Thanks! I'm eager to get it so I can get everything set up. I'm so excited!!!! It's my first time raising chicks!!

 

[NNYchick]

A question about the heating pad...
It sounds like many people are using the Sunbeam Express with 6 levels.
My question is, do I need that many levels or will just three work? I need to keep my expenses down right now so I'm looking at this one:
Sunbeam King Size
It does NOT have the auto shut-off, so I know that's good.
Someone on Amazon said they contacted Sunbeam and they said these are the temps of the different levels on this one: Low 110 F, med 138 F, high 160 F

Also, is this too big of a pad for 10 or so chicks?

(Sorry if this has been asked already. I read quite a few pages from this thread but I just couldn't read all 1,018!)

I bought this sunbeam model (732-500) too and it is working great quite and happy little chicks. I ordered it pick up at store from Walmart, that way I could double check model number without the hassle of dealing with shipping it back. A few of the reviews from the model on Amazon complained they sent a different model and it had auto shutoff. As far as size I’m glad I went with the king, I have 9 Silkies under it and I think that many would outgrow the smaller size.