Fire risk with DIY mama heating pad?

[MLG1900]

Hello all! I am expecting a hatch very soon. I have previously used the red heat lamps for raising chicks. I see alot of you recommend the sunbeam heating pad, but I see reviews and pictures of the controls melting and smoking, or the item stopped working after a week. Wondering if anyone has other recommendations or history of problems?
Sunbeam 002013-511-000 Xpressheat Heating Pad, Burgundy, 12 x 24-inches

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JA9D914/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

 

[RoosterML]

I was using heating pads but just switch to ceramic heat emitter. Nothing wrong with heating pads I just wanted something requiring less cleaning/work. Any way is a fire hazard when you involve heat and electricity all you can do is try to minimize it as best possible

 

[kyleen]

What is the environment it will be in.

 

[MLG1900]

What is the environment it will be in.

Planning on setting up one of the early integration brooders in the chicken coop with the big girls that I have been reading about here and using the heating pad to make the mama heating pad. In the past, I have raised chicks in the house, in my craft room with a red heat lamp. It was terribly messy.

 

[ColoradoPip]

There are risks with everything, even while sleeping. Yes, it is possible for anything electric to malfunction and yes there is the potential for fire.

However, a lot of people have used the heating pads with no issues, there is a very long thread on the topic, started by @Blooie. In that thread you will find many, many people using it with great success!

She also mentioned in another post that you need to monitor the heating pad and check it for cold spots, broken connections, wear and tear, etc. I think that is a great idea to help ensure you don't have problems.

Generally these things are safe in a dry environment (which the chicks need as well!). And the idea of using it like a momma hen is ingenious!!! The main problem I see is most people don't maintain things, monitor things, etc. properly...people just aren't consistently reliable for the most part.

 

[Maple Hill Homestead]

There are people who sleep with electric blankets all night long and I don't see the heating pad as too much different. It is just a smaller version. Yes, it is a fire risk but so is everything else electric used to brood chicks. I have the ceramic heat emitter bulb as well. It has been great so far. Plenty of heat and no light all night long. I think I paid less than $15 for two on Amazon. They are also sold in pet stores that have supplies for reptiles.

ETA: The heating pad linked above has the 2 hour safety shut off feature. You want one without this feature to use it for a mama heating pad.

 

[MLG1900]

There are people who sleep with electric blankets all night long and I don't see the heating pad as too much different. It is just a smaller version. Yes, it is a fire risk but so is everything else electric used to brood chicks. I have the ceramic heat emitter bulb as well. It has been great so far. Plenty of heat and no light all night long. I think I paid less than $15 for two on Amazon. They are also sold in pet stores that have supplies for reptiles.

ETA: The heating pad linked above has the 2 hour safety shut off feature. You want one without this feature to use it for a mama heating pad.

Thanks. Unless the pictures are wrong, it shows that you can select "stay on" or "auto off" It is not easy looking for one with continuous on. CVS had all 2 hour auto shut off, Acme had all 2 hour auto shut off and Dollar General simply had ON / OFF. I am thinking I want to be able to adjust the heat to high, med, low with stay on feature.

 

[ColoradoPip]

I am pretty confident the sunbeam one you link is the one a lot of people use, but I am not 100% since I do not use one. You should search for the MHP thread, it says in there for sure

 

[aart]

I am pretty confident the sunbeam one you link is the one a lot of people use, but I am not 100% since I do not use one. You should search for the MHP thread, it says in there for sure

Yep that's the one I, and many others, have used.