Now that my babies are being handfeed. I am so scared that the heating pad may short out or burn them. I will feel more comfortable getting a good brooder. What is the best value and best buy?

Sorry can't help you but just bumping this up hoping someone can.

I use a fish tank with the Heating Pad UNDER the tank, half of the tank leaving the other half without so if they get too hot they can move over to that spot...I use about two inches of PINE shavings on the bottom of the tank with paper towels on top...that way you can change the towels often..good luck

When I travel, I use the little hand warmers that you open up and put in your pocket...they work like a charm! I only place them under 1/2 of the bedding so the babies can regulate themselves. As far as the brooder goes I put a heating pad under half of my "container" for the same reasons.

How old are your babies ? When i got my 2 youngest Quakers ( Bailey & Quincy) they were 3 weeks old, I didn't have a brooder, so i used a snugglesafe pad, it kept the babies nice & warm, i had them in a travel carrier, with paper towels on the inside bottom of carrier, & their snuggle safe pad, wrapped in paper towels. The snuggle safe pad, you heat in the microwave for a few minates depends on the watts of your microwave. The snugglesafe, is a bright pink disc, kept the babies, warm for hours, can be kept warm, up to 8 hours. I paid $ 40.00 for it.