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

[coopintheburbs]

I don't think it would hold up structurally. After putting one together for the first time the heat pad is heavier than I thought it would be, plus the chickies are already hopping up and running around on top. Something as flexible as chicken wire would equal smooshed chicks I would think.

I agree, I tested both structures and the chickenwire was waaaay too bendy. Thanks for your advice everyone! Going with the fencing wire and scrapping the chicken wire for my next sculpture

 

[luckyplucky]

So far so good, we kept the chicks indoors for the first 4 days, then moved the brooder with the MHP outside 2 days ago, so the chicks just got through their 2nd night outside with NO HEAT LAMP! What? They seem pretty happy in their new space (It's about 70 degrees outside during the day, maybe 50 at night) and are running around enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and interacting with the big girls through the hardware cloth. We can sit inside their run and be with them too, no more kids demanding to sit IN the brooder, lol. MHP controls and cord tucked safely under roof in case of rain, and conneted via all-weather extension cord to an outdoor outlet. At their tuck-in time we check to make sure they're all snuggled under the MHP and close up their mini-coop. I still can't believe what a difference this had made from our previous chick brooding experience. Although the first night I pretty much had insomnia worrying about them and hoping the pad was warm enough, ha! Thanks again all! For reference they are now 1 week, 1 day old.

 

[NNYchick]

@luckyplucky What an awesome set up. I am still trying to figure out how to set up a brooder area in my pen. My temps are drastically different than yours as I am in the 20's during the day and single digits at night, so I am holding off till 4 weeks. I would not worry about your night temps. My chicks are in a wire dog crate in my unheated spare room that is 50's during the day and 40's at night since they cam out of incubator with only MHP for heat and they are doing great will be 3 weeks old on Thursday.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I get to dig out my pieces and will be putting it together today for this year's brood and making sure all is in working order. ....babies ship 2/14

 

[NNYchick]

I am preparing to move the chicks out to the coop next week, they will be 4 weeks old with their MHP. It is high 20’s during day and single digits at night. I have 2 questions
1. Should I start opening the window in the brooder room to get them use to colder temperatures? It’s high 40,low 50’s in that room now.
2. I’m using a metal dog yard that is 1.5” spaces, I think the chicks can get through this is it ok that they can get out right away as long as they can go back in if need to get away from bigs. All I have to put around the bottom to keep in is clear plastic.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I get to dig out my pieces and will be putting it together today for this year's brood and making sure all is in working order. ....babies ship 2/14

Mine ship the same day. Valentine's chicks

 

[aart]

1. Should I start opening the window in the brooder room to get them use to colder temperatures? It’s high 40,low 50’s in that room now.
2. I’m using a metal dog yard that is 1.5” spaces, I think the chicks can get through this is it ok that they can get out right away as long as they can go back in if need to get away from bigs. All I have to put around the bottom to keep in is clear plastic.

1. Yes!
2. Should be OK...you might want to block their access to the bigs' space until they've been out there for at least a few days. Not sure 1 1/2" is big enough for chicks to get thru for long...might need to make a bigger gap/tiny-door/portal.

 

[aart]

Tweaked my adjustable legs, not enough glue before so they ended up working loose, just barely lasted until they didn't need heat anymore.

Added a washer on top to hold more glue and stiffen attachment.
Wing nut was a temporary hold.

Bottom is still just the T-nut..oops a bit out of focus.

I should be more excited about hatching season, but am not so much....
....mobility took a downturn a few weeks ago-hard to get around just for everyday stuff, got some pure breeds last year but one of two pullets for OE died and others are not great birds, got new incy but am intimidated by it's electronics...whinewhinewhine......hopefully the bug hits soon.

 

[DonnaFreak]

Howdy y'all

So last year's 8 chicks were raised successfully using the MHP. I set them up in their coop right from the start, since they were my first chicks ever. This year will be the same since I am having a new, bigger coop built! The 8 hens I have now will be in the new coop long before the 8 new chicks arrive .

So here comes my question. I'm assuming it's because of the variety of chicks I have chosen, but my chicks won't be shipped until the week of May 21. Here in Central KY it's usually fairly hot and humid by that time of the year. Will the chicks even need much of a heat source by then? Will the heat from MHP potentially heat it up even more in the coop to where it might be TOO hot for them? I'm sure they'll probably need the MHP at night when it's cooler, but I'm more worried about the day. Thanks in advance y'all!

Donna

 

[bruceha2000]

It shouldn't, the heat is very localized. Depending on the ambient temp you might want to start with the pad at a lower setting than high. If the daytime temps are warm enough the chicks just won't bother going in the cave much. You'll have to do the "let the chicks tell you" calculation. If they aren't going in and aren't peeping in an annoyed sort of way they don't need the heat. I would GUESS that they will need some the first few days while their feathers start to grow unless it is uncomfortably hot, like the 95°F "first week requirement". Can't go wrong having the cave in there and turned on.

Post back the week before the chicks arrive with expected temps and we can guess at the setting