Mama Hen Heating Pad

[rosemarythyme]

As far as the heating pad, if this is a typical human use heating pad that's functioning properly, they never get too hot to safely touch, so they won't heat up metal that much either.

You can see my heating pad set up here, note that the entire frame is wire: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

I start on high and dial it down from there. It's always recommended to test it in advance so you get an idea how hot it runs (I use my hand, if using a thermometer remember you are not checking ambient air temperature but rather the surface temp of the pad), and also run it for about 24 hours before the arrival of chicks.

According to the general guidelines/minimums, 10x16 is enough for 16 chickens.

Yup. But note that's the "minimum" - more space is always better. 4 chickens in 160 sq ft will be far happier than 16 in the same space.

 

[Pumphrey]

As far as the heating pad, if this is a typical human use heating pad that's functioning properly, they never get too hot to safely touch, so they won't heat up metal that much either.

You can see my heating pad set up here, note that the entire frame is wire: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

I start on high and dial it down from there. It's always recommended to test it in advance so you get an idea how hot it runs (I use my hand, if using a thermometer remember you are not checking ambient air temperature but rather the surface temp of the pad), and also run it for about 24 hours before the arrival of chicks.

Yup. But note that's the "minimum" - more space is always better. 4 chickens in 160 sq ft will be far happier than 16 in the same space.

Thank you! This makes sense. I really appreciate the link to your set up. I have decided to get 2 chicks instead of one. I have Dominique, Barred Rock. I was thinking of getting 2 more Dominiques but am really drawn to the Aracaunas. Again, thank you for explaining everything in simple terms. I feel more comfortable going forward.

 

[Pumphrey]

As far as the heating pad, if this is a typical human use heating pad that's functioning properly, they never get too hot to safely touch, so they won't heat up metal that much either.

You can see my heating pad set up here, note that the entire frame is wire: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

I start on high and dial it down from there. It's always recommended to test it in advance so you get an idea how hot it runs (I use my hand, if using a thermometer remember you are not checking ambient air temperature but rather the surface temp of the pad), and also run it for about 24 hours before the arrival of chicks.

Yup. But note that's the "minimum" - more space is always better. 4 chickens in 160 sq ft will be far happier than 16 in the same space.

 

[Pumphrey]

Great instructions with photos on how to build the Mama Hen Heating Pad set-up.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Great instructions with photos on how to build the Mama Hen Heating Pad set-up.

No prob! Note that I set mine up a lot differently than most, most mama heating pads are either laid out flat or curved down to form a cave (mine's like a U like a hen's belly). Just goes to show you have a lot of leeway in how you set yours up, there's not one set way to do it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

For the record, I have 16 chickens in a run and yard area of about 650 sq ft. Might be more area, tbh. I don't know off hand.

 

[Somshine]

I've always used a mama hen for my chicks. But I used to use a small box with a heating pad underneath it. Now that I'm hatching out a lot of them I finally made one. I got a seed starter heating pad to go on the top. It has a thermostat. There is a 104 and 113 is the highest setting which are both within range of a hens body heat. I keep the setting on 104. Mine is about two square feet so when they're tiny babies I put a heating pad on low under the entire brooder box only under 1/3 to half of the mama hen box. That way one side is nice and warm and one side is cooler without getting too cool so they can sort of adjust themselves under there. After a few days I take the heating pad out from underneath. I also do not have the heating pad directly against the wire. I bought a little scrap of fabric that's furry like you'd make a stuffed animal with so that it kind of fluffs out from the wire so they don't have to cuddle up to the wire. I put my thermostat between the wire and the furry stuff so it's controlling the temperature their backs go against. My hatch is due in 2 days but I grabbed four chicks I wanted to mix in with them. Having the heat under one side is helpful since there aren't as many as well and the mama hen box is so big. They're under there now nice and quiet.