MHP Construction ideas needed

[Rick&Chris]

I’ve done some research on the MHP method and found lots of great information on this site! We are trying to get set up for our babies that are coming next week. I’ve seen some recommendations to put hte pad over the chicks and others about leaving it on the floor of the cage for them to sit on. My question about leaving the heating pad flat on the bottom of the cage, what setting would you leave it on (High, medium or low)? I’m afraid to burn their little feet and bodies.

Or should I just construct something to go over their heads on an angle (although it only gets to 89 degrees underneath on the high setting). My husband wants to do the heat lamp but I am fearful of a fire! We are using an old baby play pen as a brooder. I purchased a black rubber mat at Lowe’s for the bottom.

Appreciate your input!!

 

[aart]

I used mini-bungie cords to hold pad under rack,
long bolts for legs with Tnuts for adjustable height,
and a piece of corrugated cardboard for a disposable top
(with plastic between cardboard and rack to protect rack and pad from juicypoops).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

 

[staceyj]

How about a cooling rack with legs?
Here’s an example because I don’t feel like climbing up on a chair to get mine down and take a picture. Lol.

 

[Christabean]

Just chiming in my zero-cost option of a cardboard frame made from a canning jar package. I know a lot of urban farmers/homesteaders probably have these on hand as well!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I made mine by using Glad Press & Seal (I don't think there's a good substitute for this - don't use regular plastic wrap!) to attach the heating pad to a piece of welded wire about the same size as the heat pad. Then I used zip ties to zip tie the corners of the wire "frame" to a wire dish shelf.

Because of the sizing of everything the heat pad ended up hanging down in a slightly U shape, so I never had to adjust the height. The chicks could press all the way under it when they were small, and then further from the center once they got larger, and then on top of the U. I don't have the greatest photo of mine but it's on the left here. I later added a piece of cardboard on top, zip tied in place, to make sure none of the chicks would get their legs caught in the wire shelf.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think I am 100% overthinking this baby chick process! My babies come in 2 days!! I really want to do the MHP for the heat source, but am now rethinking it (again) due to the possibility that the babies could get entangled in the coverings. Can I do the heating pad with no covering and maybe a piece of cardboard on top?

I left the cover on (as the pad by itself felt rather toasty) but Glad Press n Sealed the entire thing well so there were no openings. After being in use 3 or 4 weeks, it showed no signs of wear and tear.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The wire shelf I used is 5" tall. Rather than cutting it down or lowering it you could also mound up the bedding under it. I never took temp readings off my heating pad (and the settings were just low-med-high) but the chicks were obviously getting enough heat since they did just fine.

 

[aart]

Someone had one hanging from chains...IIRC it hung from a frame that kept it from swinging too much. Made it easy to raise and lower.

 

[Mosey2003]

Over their heads is better. 89 under it will do if they aren't in a cold drafty room, plus they are supposed to be able to physically touch it, so I don't feel like it would need to be any warmer.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

You can use a couple of coat hangers to bend into a frame that will hold the heating pad up and make a little “cave” for your babies. Just search thru some of the posts here for more details. Personally, I prefer to use a heating plate like this one: https://smile.amazon.com/RentACoop-...6&sr=1-9&keywords=chick+brooder+heating+plate. You can set it up and not have to worry about it being too hot or cold and they loooooove to perch on the top from about day three on! I cover the top (yellow part) of mine with self-stick Saran Wrap to keep the mess to a minimum.