Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

Temp in the cooler is in the high 80s. I covered it with puppy pads. There are 12 chicks. The heat lamp is in the middle of the 2x4' brooder but it is completely open at one end and fresh cold air is moving into it all the time. They are spending all their time at the warm end which tells me they are happy with the temp. Outside temps are hovering around the freezing mark here.

10AcreChick said:

I haven't posted much on this, but have been reading along. Just three more days until my chicks arrive (or two if the USPS is faster), and my brooder is all set up! I changed my caves a little after readings ya'lls adaptations. They are holding at 86 degrees on setting six.

I am kind of worried about whether the chicks will use the vertical nipples right away. Should I be?

Here is a pic:

More pics to come!

Click to expand...

I share Deb's confusion. Do you have a lot of chicks coming? If not, then they would benefit more from the extra floor space than from the extra heat. I know it's really hard to put away the "keep them warm, warm, warm, never let them experience a moment of cool" theories, but think about how a mom takes care of them. She only heats herself, and if the chicks need a little of that warmth they go to her, or she finds them and settles over them. The only warm spot is that directly under, on, or tucked up close beside her.

As far as the vertical nipples go, shouldn't have any problem getting them to use them. Gently pick up one or two of your more adventurous chicks, hold them at the nipple, and click it a couple of times. They'll figure it out, the others will see it, and training time is over.




First day with us....a couple got really got at it and taught the others in just minutes.


I always start my chicks out with just the vertical nipples. When I know they've are big and strong enough to trip the mechanism, they graduate to the horizontal nipples that I use in the big run. Never had a single issue.

I am expecting 21+ chicks (the lady at Cackle said "we have a bigger hatch than expected and it would be a shame if some extras found their way into the box"...Lol). Do you think one cave would be enough? I do plan on moving them out to the coop by week two (if I can get my butt off there and get the brooder section done). Then I could put both MHPs out there. More floor space would be nice.

Forgot to mention... The caves are open at the back, though lower at the back than the front.

10AcreChick said:

I haven't posted much on this, but have been reading along. Just three more days until my chicks arrive (or two if the USPS is faster), and my brooder is all set up! I changed my caves a little after readings ya'lls adaptations. They are holding at 86 degrees on setting six.

I am kind of worried about whether the chicks will use the vertical nipples right away. Should I be?

Here is a pic:

More pics to come!

Click to expand...

I started my chicks on vertical nipples from day 1. Mine are attached to the bottom of an empty small vinegar jug. I was worried about them drinking too, so I put the lid from a peanut butter jar under the nipples. The first day, when I saw the chicks out, I would tap the nipples. The lid would catch the drips making a little puddle for them to drink out of. By day 3, they were all using the nipples. (I think they were drinking sooner, but I didn't see it.) I still have the lid in to catch drips. I have to clean the lid out twice a day because it gets full of wet bedding, but much better than a chick waterer.

HAPPY 48th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO BLOOIE & KEN!!

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Happy Anniversary to a couple who were meant to be together. May you have a wonderful blessed day!

Happy Anniversary, Blooie and Ken!!!! Just two more years until the GOLDEN!

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