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

susan251 said:

Hello all. I see this is in the Chick thread, but I thought someone might know.  I have 25 ducklings coming in two weeks, and i don't know if the large (12x24) heating pad will be large enough?  It will be my first time using one, so i don't know how to judge it.  Should i be planning for a second one?

Click to expand...

susan251 said:

Hello all. I see this is in the Chick thread, but I thought someone might know. I have 25 ducklings coming in two weeks, and i don't know if the large (12x24) heating pad will be large enough? It will be my first time using one, so i don't know how to judge it. Should i be planning for a second one

Click to expand...

Blooie said:

Yeah they could be shown your pictures as well. I don't have any pictures of chicks in temps colder than what it is here in June

Blooie, my very good friend, a CREAM LEGBAR ROOSTER!!!!!!! You can make your own Easter Eggers with him. And when Ralphie sends you a few pullets you can make CLs as well.

Really sorry for the poor hatch. I'm still pondering engineering a better method of shipping hatching eggs. Seems no matter how well protected from breakage, I keep reading about them being "scrambled", detached air cells, etc. As you know I've not ever gotten hatching eggs but I sure would like to improve the odds for those that do.

Bowldy45 said:

How long do you all wait to move the chicks from the brooder in the house to the coop outside? Mine are 3 days old, and got the hang of the MHP. I was thinking of moving them outside either today or tomorrow, but the cold front we have coming makes me nervous to do so.
The coop is insulated all the way around, and holds at about 50* 24/7 . There is no other heat in the coop other than the MHP The overnight temps this weekend is supposed to be in the mid 20's. I am running the MHP at the highest setting right now, but I don't want the to freeze to death either!

Click to expand...

Blooie moves hers out after a 24 hour "make sure they are all eating and drinking" period. And "out" means into temps well below freezing.

KDOGG331 said:

So tempted to pick up bantams at TSC and my mom almost agreed lmfao even the clerk said to use the small coop for more chickens

Anyone know what breed the "bantams" are though? If my mom approves it, I may as well get a breed I like. And I would love silkies but I know at TSC that is not likely. But they're only $2.99 and the other breeds are $1.99 but of course the minimum is 6 there. But they also just got a new shipment in since the last time we went earlier this week. And the old bantams are still there, in a separate bin, 8 of em, with little wing feathers already. 8 of my LF girls BARELY fit in our 3x3 (I think) TSC coop kit and are getting a new 4x8 coop we are building now (on a 6x8 base, for nest boxes and storage) but maybe 8 little bantams could fit? Of course it could be better for just a few, maybe 4. But with the minimum being 6 and the older babies still there, I don't wanna leave 2 poor lonely little things there and wanna rescue them all. Or get some younger ones too, I don't know. But anyone know what breed? Probably varies by store but ours ALL appear the same breed, same exact color. Not quite as yellow as the Cornish X's but maybe creamy whitish? Not really white, creamy yellowy whitey type thing? Black beak.

Click to expand...

With all due respect, I think I'd give "chicken math" a rest until next year. You don't even have the larger coop finished yet. There is plenty to learn with the first flock before adding more. And I don't think a 3x3 coop is large enough for 8 bantams any more than it is big enough for "3-5" generic chickens. That 3 of the 3-5 might hold for bantams. They are smaller than large fowl but they aren't parakeet sized.

AlHawk said:

Quote:
How many is too many? You can start 24 ducklings under one large pad but would need a second large pad in a week or two. I guess I would make 2 caves rather than trying to make one big one 12 deep x 48 wide.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

dyorto said:

It's going to be a gorgeous weekend. I moved the chicks from the brooder in the garage to the coop to be able to enjoy the day outside. At first I didn't think is be able to put the mama heating pad inside. But after cleaning it out and evaluating, I think I can fit the MHP in the nesting box area when I took the divider out. The chicks are just over 4 weeks. heres the coop

This is the roosting area.

This the boxes where I am considering setting up the MHP. It'd be a pain to run an extension cord that long but it would beat catching and carrying 6 chicks one by one back and forth

Click to expand...

junebuggena said:

Hate to break it to you, but that coop isn't big enough for 6 adults...

Click to expand...