Please educate me since we've never used heat for any baby chicks before. The last decade prior to this year's colder season we've had such bad heatwaves (some years from April thru November) we never needed chick heat. Also we kept chicks indoors anyway. The heat source in the pics is placed on cardboard. How safe are the manufacturer's recommendations for installing on cardboard? I mean I'm by no means a brooder expert and it's strange to see something electrical on something potentially flammable. Educate me all you brooder experts :jumpy.
Heat plates work very similar to moms in that the heat is above the chick. The chick can choose when it needs to warm up and come and go as they please, similar to a real mom.

They do not heat the entire area or produce a much heat as a heat lamp. Therefore they are not generally considered a fire risk like a heat lamp which is hot enough to combust, straw, woodchips, etc. There have been many tragic fires caused by heat lamps. Conversely I have not heard of one caused by a heat plate.

I highly recommend heat plates if you are not going to broody raise.

A far as chicks and heat in the summer, we have had temps in the high 90s and the chicks have still been going under mum to warm up and nap.
 
Yay! gosh these chickens give us fits don't they?




Theo is a beauty, such a lovely little roo.

Well Mr P's ladies detest Bert and all hang around Mr P. There is very rarely any interaction with the older ladies and Bert. The younger hens go where they want, but Bert does have his harem that he sticks with (the Azurs, Tippy, Betty, and Eli-too), the other hens go back and forth and I don't see Bert wanting to hang out with anyone in particular.

Yesterday they were attacking one another through the fence - the feathers were flying! This morning Mr P snuck out through the door way of the Summer House and he and Bert got into it again, I watched to see if they would stop but after a couple minutes when neither would back down I went and caught Mr P who was getting quite breathless, he is not a young roo.



Wow HRH sure did put Sydney in her place and separated the mamas from her. Well done Aurora :)

Well I will check in later on - I want to mow the grass in the run its getting long again! all this rain....
Leave it long. Great for creep crawlies and fun for chickens to run around in.
 
FBA chicken Synopsis
14 to 20 July.​

Link to last week's synopsis.

Again, a lot of cute chick action for this week's synopsis ! They are all growing so fast.
We said goodbye to the young and beautiful Cinnamon and sent good thoughts for her human family, knoturavggrl.

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@BY Bob :

Versace and Aster mugs !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27884779
Happy 6th hatch day to this beautiful lady 💜.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886877
Her party is delayed so that Eve can be there and due to the heat, can't wait to see that !
Chick flick video in the heat :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27889227
Co-mothering allows very interesting dynamics, and seems to work well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27891595
Looking like a leghorn...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892806
Happy Friday !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27894476
Chick camouflage, how chic !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27895045
Oh no, Sydney ! Aurora shows again what a good queen she is.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27895442
A good explanation of how heat plate work for chicks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27895768

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@bgmathteach :

A very informative post about sexing with feather shape.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27881652
How to create a grazing frame :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892807

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@Desertvalleychickens :

Storm and tax : https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27884155
After the storm.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885073
Beautiful Tuefer seniors :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27888099
Get a taste of free range in the desert with this long but beautiful video.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27890496

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@featherhead007

Just some cute tax 🥰 https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27882239
And again tax for being a nice guy...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885630
Remembering the best rooster there ever was.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886101
Wyandottey roo, special time :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886361
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886363
Alex finally found the heart to share Knight Jaffar's peaceful resting place.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27887263
The littles went exploring and gave him a scare :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27890341

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@fuentemoon :

Babies grow up so fast !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893879

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@Grandma The Chicken :

Did you know chickens like classical music best ?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27880435
Grandma watches music videos but not if they contain dark or horrible sequences !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27882010
Tax :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27882025
Good evening/morning!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27888686

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@knoturavggrl :

Fly high, beautiful Cinnamon.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27889765
Finally some cooler weather and beautiful flock pictures :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27891709
Beautiful Fluffy butts ! Check out Lore's - if I was a hen I would follow that fluff to the end of the world !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27894105

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@LaFemmeKatia :

Hens stopped laying after 4th July fireworks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27880432

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@Marie2020 :

The picture may be blurry but what a sweet pair.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27881076
Good morning Princess!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27882239
Princess tries to lay an egg.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27883445
Princess shows her muscle. Better not mess with her !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27891497
Princess had a spa :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893829

**************************************

@notabitail :

Two for Tuesday..but it's Wednesday!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27890101
How about mugs for Monday ?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27890111

**************************************

@Ponypoor :

The six weeks old school chicks : Georgie and Clydette.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27881641
Rain ! And postponing working on the roof.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27883016
Bert needs to go ; he got into a brawl with M. P 🙁.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27883605
And Mr LC is getting feisty 🙁
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27884491
Monday mugs :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27884774
Bert picture. He is good with the hens but how sad that he won't get along with Mr P.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886091
The two broodies have quit at last.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27891161
Thirsty Thursday :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892635
Kelly handles all her chickens, so they get used to it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27894158
The situation with the two roosters almost caused a puppy drama 🙁.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27894868

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@RebeccaBoyd

Siri doesn't like Randy : video
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885181
Randy and Booba
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885199
Randy mugs
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885199
Game bantams are more cold hardy than one would believe:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885310
A Tuefer, grieving for Branch, on a nice summer morning.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886955
Poppet is broody :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27887138
What it was like growing up with meat chickens and pigs.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27889793
All silkies are smart...but Branch was truly special.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892256
I have a polkie !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892075

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@RoyalChick :

What an interesting mug !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27884621
A big scare from across the world...for nothing!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27888897
An interesting fluffy butt, and rather pretty too !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893660
Good news for the weekend :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27895203

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@rural mouse :

New pullet eggs ! But from whom ?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27888668
Sherlock and the river...a wonderful story.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27890024
Criminal idiots tax :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27891146
Egg stash 🙄
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893057
Quite a scare for Violet ? or Hyacinth ?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893394

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@SimpleJenn :

Happy chicken maths- two pom-pom chicks and a lot of hatching eggs!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27880753
All set for the eggs and the chicks !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27881326
A better look at the two polish babies
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27881579
Update on the broodies and the incubator
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27882733
Building an outdoor chick brooder
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27883059
Broodies and chick's settings
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27884917
Scrambled eggs
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27885685
How sad ! Kiddo turned the incubator way too hot 😟
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886220
A good deal of the incubator eggs turned bad. So...chicken maths- happened ...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892380
Babies pic 🥰 !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27892690
Babies again, a pile of babies !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893676
Moving in their outdoor brooder
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27894390
First night went well. Shep is very interested by the chicks !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27895588


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@Sylvester017 :

Story continued : 2016-2017, sad years.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886241
Think twice about eating fast food chicken 🙁
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27887350
Once a hen reaches six, she may have long years ahead, like this pretty lady !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27886910
Just like people, some chickens are more social than others.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893501
Silkie play in a really cool water set-up
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893585
Explaining the set-up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27893730
Fluffy Dominique butts !
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-27895177
 
Wildfire broke out near town.

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbdf-blacktail-canyon

This is the sort of wood we're hauling out for the wood pile.

Tax
20240716_210351.jpg
 
Here, we need ways to keep water from freezing, lights when it's really dark (half the year hahaha), and ways to keep warm. I am extremely fortunate that I have a barn so it's easy for me, I have power out there.
Yes, I was impressed with your barn setup -- especially with the manufactured humidifiers you set up. Here we have too much humidity to need one. Actually we've never needed anything electrical in or around our coop even though access was built into the barn coop when we purchased it.

This is OUR barn :lau
DSCN7591.JPG
DSCN7593.JPG

As a backyard that's ordinanced for only 5 hens/no roos makes it easier for us to care for birds compared to owners that have larger complex flocks to deal with.
 

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