Pseudo Brooder Heater 'Plate'

[LindaB220]

Been meaning to update this... added 3" and 2 1/2" long carriage bolts as feet to raise it up as chicks got larger at about 2 weeks.
Then they stopped sleeping under it and cuddled in a corner instead so I removed it from the brooder. They are still inside in a 62 degree room.
I also swapped out the towel on the top with a piece of vinyl that's much easier to clean and used some clips to hold the heating pad and vinyl to the rack.

Here it sits on top of brooder....need to change back to shorter legs as I have 4 new day olds coming next week.

Hi Aart, I know this is an older thread, but I am so going to do this soon. I hear that we're going to have an early hard winter. Now that I'm hatching I'm going to switch from the heat lamp. Never have trusted them. I've got 13 eggs White Plymouth Rocks in the 'bator on day 9 now and 2 more shipments in the next 2 mo. Gonna be busy. And this is so easy to do. Kudos

 

[donrae]

Linda, thanks for bringing this thread up, I don't know how I missed it! I'm coveting the heat plates, but the cost is really a factor. These heating pads are great, and about my level of skill

. I love the video Bee linked showing the pad partially buried under the straw--now I'm trying to figure out how to work that into my brooder routine. I've always done the heat lamp, but never been 100% thrilled with it.

 

[LindaB220]

Linda, thanks for bringing this thread up, I don't know how I missed it! I'm coveting the heat plates, but the cost is really a factor. These heating pads are great, and about my level of skill

. I love the video Bee linked showing the pad partially buried under the straw--now I'm trying to figure out how to work that into my brooder routine. I've always done the heat lamp, but never been 100% thrilled with it.

I'm in La and it's hot here. Not too cold in the winter. But I need some heat and I just am not comfortable with the lamp. I'm thinking about Aoxa's barn burning down. I think I'm going to lash the heating pad to the grill and cover it with a pillow case or something. Then put straw over and around it. I'm new to chickens this year so have no broodies and this is going to be my chance for a happy growout. My White Plymouth Rocks are on day 10 right now so I'd better get crackin.

 

[RR1011]

So glad I found this thread when I was looking at brooder options, so I wanted to bump it for anyone else who may be interested. I made mine today even though my chicks wont be ready for 6 weeks. I made mine very similar to Aarts. I think I will add a piece of vinyl table cloth around the heating pad at the top like Aart did. I have the baking sheet raised 2.5". Will raise it as they grow. I figured Id switch the heating pad to a seed mat later on to lower temps as they need it.

 

[LindaB220]

That looks great. Keep in touch with the results. Haven't made mine yet. Life gets in the way, right?

 

[aart]

So glad I found this thread when I was looking at brooder options, so I wanted to bump it for anyone else who may be interested. I made mine today even though my chicks wont be ready for 6 weeks. I made mine very similar to Aarts. I think I will add a piece of vinyl table cloth around the heating pad at the top like Aart did. I have the baking sheet raised 2.5". Will raise it as they grow. I figured Id switch the heating pad to a seed mat later on to lower temps as they need it.

Nice job on the heater!
Does that heat pad have an 'automatic off' feature...can you disable that feature?

I'd strongly suggest a much bigger box for a brooder, I found that they need to be able to escape from under the heater front and back.
...and they'll be jumping out of there by 1 week old....lol...I had some 4 day old chicks in an ice cream bucket (~8" deep) and they were jumping out

 

[RR1011]

Life certainly does get in the way especially when one has young kids and works!

Aart, my heating pad does not have an auto shut off. I've used it as a seed mat as well. I need the boxes to fit in my dog cages as they need extra protection from my dogs & cats. I will increase their room as they get bigger or as I come across a bigger box, no problem there.

 

[LindaB220]

Well, my back is to the wall. No choice but to make it. I'm having knee replacement surgery on March 10, so will put the two week old Sebrights in a growout pen with one of the versions like Bee has. I've got time to set it up and living in Louisiana it will work perfectly. This is one of those times when I think, "What was I thinking" (ordering eggs). Ha.

 

[aart]

My seed tray heater will be here Tuesday, I'll need to get some new racks I think.

 

[PetRock]

Has anyone tried a Thermo-Peep Heated Pad? I just saw this on Jeffers.

http://www.jefferspet.com/products/k-h-thermo-peep-heated-pad-9-x12#more-info