I did it, got 6 chicks this afternoon

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Got a brooder setup this morning. Decided to have them inside instead of out in the outside brooder.

Started out with the back of the MHP(covered with a pillow case) at 2 inches, front at 4 inches. Chicks were chirping loud, took the back down to a half inch, left front alone. Slants from half inch upto the 4 inches. No more loud chirping, happy little chirps. Picture is before back was lowered. MHP on high.

Got 3 Black Sexlinks, and 3 Golden Sexlinks. Here they are eating and drinking. Put 2 drops of Poultry Nutri Drench in the pint waterer(each got a drop on their beaks, when I got home with them). Ran in and out of MHP for several hours. Had one black and one golden get on top of the MHP. Told hubby I better put a towel on top of the pillowcase, he said they are not going to get burnt, they will get off if too hot. Okay I'm a nervous new mommy.

They ate and drank well. Could see the full little crops. After eating they went in the MHP, heard a few chirps then quiet. Been asleep for over an hour.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Congrats on your babies!

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Thank You. Nervous as all get out. Youngest I had was 4 weeks, they didn't need heat. Have the MHP on high. Kind of figuring if they get too warm they will move to where it is comfy for them.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Just remember 95* for the first week then -5* every week after.

 

[imnukensc]

Just remember 95* for the first week then -5* every week after.

Those guidelines don't apply with a MHP or a brooder plate. The chicks self regulate how much heat they need. Seems like the chicks and the OP have it figured out quite nicely.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Those guidelines don't apply with a MHP or a brooder plate. The chicks self regulate how much heat they need. Seems like the chicks and the OP have it figured out quite nicely.

Learned something new then!

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Thank You @imnukensc that gives me some peace of mind. They definitely had loud chirps telling me more heat. Once I took it down to half inch in back, nice soft chirps. As chicks do, they are huddled together. I just said don't any of you smother your sisters. Hubby is laughing at me, said they are going to be fine.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Hello to a fellow Washingtonian! You will love your MHP, we read a ton of info before we got our girls and were sold on the MHP over a heat lamp. We raised 11 day old chicks and the 3 more a year later, no 2nd thoughts on the MHP. You are correct in that the chicks can find a temp that suits them. When we moved the chicks out into the run with the big girls, we built a cage within the run(a "panic" room) and put water, food, and their MHP in there. They stayed in the run while the big girls could go into their coop at night. The new chicks did just fine and eventually would sleep on top of the MHP. During the day I would open up a small "chick" door in their cage and would let them run around with the big girls while we watched over things. Eventually we could leave their door open and they could go in and out as they pleased. At night we would shut their door and the coop has a self closing/opening door on a timer. As the chicks got bigger we started putting them into the coop at night with their MHP now inside full time. This has worked out well in getting the newbies getting along with the older gals.

You can see our "cage within a cage", note the top flips up for easy access to the food and water. The door is small to keep the full size girls out.

Good luck!!

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

View attachment 1687216 Hello to a fellow Washingtonian! You will love your MHP, we read a ton of info before we got our girls and were sold on the MHP over a heat lamp. We raised 11 day old chicks and the 3 more a year later, no 2nd thoughts on the MHP. You are correct in that the chicks can find a temp that suits them. When we moved the chicks out into the run with the big girls, we built a cage within the run(a "panic" room) and put water, food, and their MHP in there. They stayed in the run while the big girls could go into their coop at night. The new chicks did just fine and eventually would sleep on top of the MHP. During the day I would open up a small "chick" door in their cage and would let them run around with the big girls while we watched over things. Eventually we could leave their door open and they could go in and out as they pleased. At night we would shut their door and the coop has a self closing/opening door on a timer. As the chicks got bigger we started putting them into the coop at night with their MHP now inside full time. This has worked out well in getting the newbies getting along with the older gals.

You can see our "cage within a cage", note the top flips up for easy access to the food and water. The door is small to keep the full size girls out.

Good luck!!

Hello neighbor! Did 2 Goldens (4 weeks) last year. Did a run in the main run (see but no touch) with the 3 (3 year olds). Integration went smooth. Going to do the same with these little ones. Only difference is there will only be the 1 Golden to integrate with. Other Golden, Penny passed away about a month ago. The other 3 it is freezer camp time. Wanted to wait and see how the Brahma laid over the winter, 2 eggs is all she has laid, Barred Rock laid 2 elongated eggs a month ago, nothing since. EE has laid 2 small elongated eggs.
First time with chicks this young, so I am nervous. Told hubby the one black sexlink is a female Evil Kenevil. She was the first to figure out how to get on top of the MHP and was jumping off. Run back around get on top and jump off, over & over. A Golden figured it out too, but she sat up there for a couple minutes and then jumped down.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Wold peak in before I went to be. Did see they would move to where they were comfy under the MHP. So I relaxed after seeing that.
Woke up at 4:30 this morning, not cause of worry. Slept too long on side, hip pain woke me up. Then the dogs decided it was potty time. Kept lights off until I heard chicks lightly chirping. Then I turned on the lights.
All 6 came out ate & drank. Made it through the night.Been running in and out. Gave them fresh water (pint) with 3 drops of Nuti-drench. Checked their bottoms, naturally they didn't like that. Clean bottoms. 2 of the Goldens did some chest bumping this morning. Get a chuckle at the way they will come running out to the feeder & waterer. All soft chirps except for bottom check of course.
At first hubby said no chicks inside. But I pointed out, we have a parrot and cockatiel, so 4-5 weeks is not a biggie. Besides I do the cleaning (I'm OCD), so you know I'll be cleaning several times a day. Knew I would get my way, would have done it any way He knows happy wife, happy life .