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

[fuzzi]

I can understand your reasoning!!! Our heating pad we bought specifically for the MHP isn’t nearly as hot as our ancient heating pads (the ones we still use on ourselves… those old ones get hot but oh so lovely for our muscles!!!) BUT I will say that I measured the temperature underneath the MHP we built with the new sunbeam and it read 82ish!!! So it still works!!! Just to encourage you!

I created a MHP in February with a brand new Sunbeam heating pad. I never used a thermometer but judged how well it was working by the chicks' reactions. I did turn it up to high when the chicks cheeped loudly (outdoor brooder) but it's worked great for my brood. They're fully feathered out and appear to be happy and healthy.

 

[Chixchik]

I created a MHP in February with a brand new Sunbeam heating pad. I never used a thermometer but judged how well it was working by the chicks' reactions. I did turn it up to high when the chicks cheeped loudly (outdoor brooder) but it's worked great for my brood. They're fully feathered out and appear to be happy and healthy.

Yes!!! I’m learning so much by observing their behavior!!! It’s awesome! I really enjoy having chickens and chicks!!! And this group is wonderful!!!

 

[fuzzi]

Yes!!! I’m learning so much by observing their behavior!!! It’s awesome! I really enjoy having chickens and chicks!!! And this group is wonderful!!!

I agree, BYC is a wonderful place to learn and share. I've been here a year but only active for the last three months or so.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I got a new heating pad this year too. The chicks aren’t complaining, but it sure does seem to not stay as hot . I did notice when I tested it on myself that it seems to turn off and back on again (like a gas oven does to maintain temp) - so maybe they have an internal thermostat? Anyway, the hotness will back off slightly for a minute then come back. The old one seemed to just be ONNNNN until you turned it off.

That or this one is defective- still keeping a close eye on it just in case

 

[MagistraTn]

I posted a new thread about this, but maybe it’s better to ask here? Sorry if my netiquette is poor…

first time building and using MHP. Second year with chooks. Still learning

Attached pic is my outdoor set up. I have 12 new chicks coming Thursday or Friday. I wasn’t sure they’d all fit under the mhp and was alarmed that it was only 58f on the floor under it this morning. I shored it up with an extra towel and added our old brooder plate due to the low temp under the pad and it also looking small for 12.

what do y’all think?

the brooder is hardware cloth (though I covered the door by the Mhp with one of those paper Amazon bags to stop any drafts in that area) on the front and on 2/3 of the top (to also covered with cardboard right now). It’s located in an mostly enclosed section of our coop/run. Big girls roost in the rafters (I know, but we are moving and they’ll get retrained then when rafters don’t exist) above. Our night time temps are forecasted in the mid 50s for the next couple of weeks.

 

[aart]

I wasn’t sure they’d all fit under the mhp

How big is it?

and was alarmed that it was only 58f on the floor under it this morning.

You don't measure the floor temp with a plate/pad/MHP.
The surface of the plate, where they touch their backs, should be from 100-120°F.
Measure it with a infrared temp gauge.

 

[MagistraTn]

How big is it?


You don't measure the floor temp with a plate/pad/MHP.
The surface of the plate, where they touch their backs, should be from 100-120°F.
Measure it with a infrared temp gauge.

12x24, but the wire cookie rack I used is slightly smaller, and some of the pad is draped to the floor. I started out with an under shelf basket, but it seemed like it was too tall for the first week or two. Then I searched like mad for your thread and it took me a week to find my way back to your instructions. (Not that I’m a good student…ugh). A *lot* of over thinking has been happening here! My husband wants to insulate the whole brooder box with cardboard around the outside. my gut says they will be fine, but my brain…

I don’t think we have an infrared thermometer, could I use the end of a meat probe?

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

12x24, but the wire cookie rack I used is slightly smaller, and some of the pad is draped to the floor. I started out with an under shelf basket, but it seemed like it was too tall for the first week or two. Then I searched like mad for your thread and it took me a week to find my way back to your instructions. (Not that I’m a good student…ugh). A *lot* of over thinking has been happening here! My husband wants to insulate the whole brooder box with cardboard around the outside. my gut says they will be fine, but my brain…

I don’t think we have an infrared thermometer, could I use the end of a meat probe?

Press your hand against the underside of the setup (like your hand is the baby chicken’s back). If it feels nicely warm, you should be good.

 

[MagistraTn]

Press your hand against the underside of the setup (like your hand is the baby chicken’s back). If it feels nicely warm, you should be good.

Thank you. It is nicely warm.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Thank you. It is nicely warm.

And I think 12x24 should work? Once they are even a couple weeks old, you will likely have some that prefer to sleep on top of it, which will basically double the available warm spots. Or you can extend the cookie cooling rack so the edges can be used as well.

My main tips are to make sure a chick can exit all sides if needed, so no one gets trapped and smothered, and cover the pad with something washable since once they start using the top it will be poop city.