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

[Blooie]

Gooooood babies!

 

[aart]

It could be a better temperature.

Do you have an infrared temp gauge?
....am curious in the temps comparison on the surface of the plate vs the pad.

 

[Doc7]

 

[jo777]

I have a quick question- and I've read through a lot of the pages, but not all 1100+ How many chicks can fit under the MHP using the 12x24 model, and do you usually start it on low or med temp? My thermometer about 1/2" from the MHP is reading about 95. I have 20 eggs about 5 days from hatch, all developing well. No idea how many will make it- just getting it all ready for them!

 

[Doc7]

Don’t worry about temp, those are used for heat lamps which is transfer of heat via the air to the chicks. A heat pad works on direct contact heat so a temperature chart is not required. Throw out the thermometer.

Based on my experiences If inside I recommend medium and if outside I recommend medium for a week and then low after that (if it’s in the 90s Fahrenheit where you are). My chicks thrived. I will let others weigh in on size but my guess is all the eggs that succeed of your 20 if you have built like a flat rectangle (with a low end and a high end so chicks can adjust to their individual back height). if building a rounded cave you will lose some surface area where it’s too low and too high. I used a flat cookie sheet for mine.

 

[PetesChicks]

20 might be a little too many; especially when they start growing. I only had 6 (and one passed on the first week) and there was more than enough room. I’m sure someone will chime in with experience with more chicks.

They get the heat from pressing their back against the pad, so try to measure the temp. right against it. My chicks came in the first week of May, it was still pretty chilly here (they were in an unheated garage), and Medium was fine for them.

Good luck!

 

[Blooie]

They should all do fine. It’s not that cold right now and by the time they outgrow it, they probably won’t even need it. I think the most I had under there was 18 but they were never all under at the same time anyway except at night, and even then at just a couple of weeks old they spent a lot of time on top or alongside it.

We don’t worry about temps under MHP. 95 is probably too warm but you are measuring closer to the pad than I did the only time I measured it. I got 85.2 degrees in a 69 degree room and they were doing great. That seems to the average for everyone who had measured on the floor of the cave. Watch the chicks instead of the numbers and adjust accordingly. Too warm and they either won’t use it or hang at the front. Too chilly and they tend to huddle at the back. If they are running in and out, and loafing on top or beside it, it’s just right.

If I’m starting chicks outside, which is what I do, the setting will depend on the temperatures and number of chicks. Remember that cuddled up they throw off heat too. In temps in the twenties and lower, I start it on 5 or 6 and turn it down if I need to. They need a little more those first couple of days, especially in our cold springtimes here in Wyoming. Indoors you can start at 4 or 5 and change it if you need to.

Good luck with your hatch! We’ll need photos, of course!

 

[aart]

I will let others weigh in on size but my guess is all the eggs that succeed of your 20 if you have built like a flat rectangle

Yes, definitely go flat instead of a 'cave' to increase capacity.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/
I found 16 to be pushing it by about 4 weeks...but can depend on ambient temps and conditions.

 

[bruceha2000]

If I had young chicks out in the barn the past week I'd have to worry about getting an A/C unit for them. Even with the false "fact" that they need 24x7 temps starting at 95°F the first week they would have been overheated. All the poor chickens are standing around panting and holding their wings out.

Which goes back to the pad setting being based on ambient temp and chick behavior.

 

[jo777]

Thanks all! I'm sure (but not hoping the case) that all 20 will not hatch.. we are using a room that is a/c'd but will turn that down to a nice warm temp when the hatch happens.. So ambient will be about 80 or more! 90+ in my area. Thanks for the input. Lockdown happening tonight. Will update later this eve or tomorrow! I'm excited!