I built a warming cave

[SmallCityChicken]

I use hardware cloth to build a cavern works great bend half dome lay heating pad over

I remember reading that the pad needed to be under the arc for maximum effectiveness. Since it's been cold here & our heating doesn't transfer into the kitchen extremely well I decided to do the under rather than over method.

 

[SmallCityChicken]

I used hardware cloth & bent it into a fitted cover, only got one good gash from it

 

[pennyJo1960]

whole thing with over they get a cave more like mom's wings

 

[SmallCityChicken]

whole thing with over they get a cave more like mom's wings

I have it over the chicks attached to the bottom of the arc, they cuddle up to the sides. I tried to make it shorter, it just did not work but they don't seem to mind.

The blue in this picture is the heating pad

 

[Shezadandy]

I’m sold on the Mama Heating Pad. Seems like a heat lamp would be much more trouble.

My brooder was made with an old dog fence. The openings were about 1 1/2 inches wide, and my little troublemaker disappeared one day. Fortunately, I could follow the poop trail up the stairs and found her on the windowsill in an upstairs room! We didn’t realize she could jump/fly that high!

She is a black Australorp, and is the biggest of my pullets now, and likely the first to lay en egg.

Yep! Here's one of our Black Australorps at 45 days.

 

[Shezadandy]

I have it over the chicks attached to the bottom of the arc, they cuddle up to the sides. I tried to make it shorter, it just did not work but they don't seem to mind.

The blue in this picture is the heating pad
View attachment 1924071

You could temporarily add more bedding under the arc, but as long as there are no peeps of despair, they're probably just fine.

 

[SmallCityChicken]

You could temporarily add more bedding under the arc, but as long as there are no peeps of despair, they're probably just fine.

I had on medium last night with extra bedding in it to build it up more & still heard a few protests. Tonight I have the bedding covered with a pillow case (for other reasons) & have it on high to warm it more. So far all I'm heard is a little chattering here or there but no complaints.

 

[EggWalrus]

Why bother wasting electricity with a heating pad? If you can't find a real wool blanket to cut up for a Wool Momma/Cave, get one of those new fangled micro fibre blankets and use it. It'll keep them just as warm. Look up my article on how to make a Wool Hen. It'll save you money from electricity, and it's fireproof, unless you're feeding them Ghost Peppers! [:assonfire:]

 

[SmallCityChicken]

Why bother wasting electricity with a heating pad? If you can't find a real wool blanket to cut up for a Wool Momma/Cave, get one of those new fangled micro fibre blankets and use it. It'll keep them just as warm. Look up my article on how to make a Wool Hen. It'll save you money from electricity, and it's fireproof, unless you're feeding them Ghost Peppers! [:assonfire:]

I considered the Wool Hen when deciding to make the heat cave, I am not confident enough at this point to try it. This is my first set of chicks & it is semi cold here already. I like knowing that if they need some artificial heat they can get it.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Once they have feathers they will not need heat same as keeping a brooder inside most often a home is warm enough