Hi fellow chicken keepers! I have eighteen 2 week old chicks and am using the Mama Heating Pad for the first time. I've been so nervous the whole time. It took 1 whole week to get the chicks to use it at night time. I would go out every night and they would be sleeping in a pile away from the MHP so i would put them under it. Finally they started using it on their own at night.
Now, even though they are popping in and out of it (temps are down in 20's and 30's this week) I keep finding them just standing around with feathers fluffed out like grown chickens do to keep themselves warm. They are not huddled together and some are in the MHP and some are on top while others are just in other parts of the brooder. I'm so worried they are not staying warm enough. If they are cold enough to fluff out their feathers why aren't they going under the heat pad to warm up instead?
Now, even though they are popping in and out of it (temps are down in 20's and 30's this week) I keep finding them just standing around with feathers fluffed out like grown chickens do to keep themselves warm. They are not huddled together and some are in the MHP and some are on top while others are just in other parts of the brooder. I'm so worried they are not staying warm enough. If they are cold enough to fluff out their feathers why aren't they going under the heat pad to warm up instead?