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

[Blooie]

Look how snuggly they look!! Have you heard them “purr” under there yet?

 

[blackdog043]

The overhead light is just for actual light itself because the room is dark even during the day.

Are you going to turn the light off at night? This way they will get used to day and night, just like being outside.

 

[Leigti]

I haven’t heard them per yet. And yes I will turn the overhead light off at night.

 

[bruceha2000]

If I'm going to never had more than 6 chicks at a time, can I use a 12x15 heating pad? And do I use regular 1/2" square hardware cloth>

Someone did recently post that 6 chicks on top of their 1/2" hardware cloth cave squashed it down and killed 6 chicks underneath. Make sure it can support the weight of the chicks as they grow. I think that a 15" span, with arch wouldn't be too wide to support some chicks. My first cave was made with a scrap piece of 1x3 welded wire fencing. I only needed it for 2 days and 1 night before I put the 7 girls under a broody hen. The second one was made with a scrap piece of wire closet shelving bent into an arch.

 

[tigger19687]

I have to figure out how to stop the older hens from scratching all the shavings onto the side where I want to put the chicks.
Le Sigh, thought it was going to be easier to figure it out.

I got the MHP figured and the rack which will be bent/C shape wire shelf suspended from above.

 

[bruceha2000]

Put up some sort of barrier against the brooder area to stop the shavings traveling too far?

 

[tigger19687]

Put up some sort of barrier against the brooder area to stop the shavings traveling too far?

Yeah, but then it would be blocking the view of the chicks.

I think I need to sit in there for an hour to watch how High the shavings get tossed
Oh the things we do for our animals !

 

[aart]

Put up some sort of barrier against the brooder area to stop the shavings traveling too far?

Yes, HC will stop most of them and not impede your view too much.

 

[tigger19687]

Ah, yes HC, totally was not thinking this morning !!! TY

Now to get through the next storm .......... and stay away from the chick store !

 

[Blooie]

I used hardware cloth around the sides of mine....kept the litter out of the brooder pretty well, although that’s not why I used it in the first place....originally it was to keep the Littles and the Tinys from squirting out between the wires in the brooder pen. Doesn’t have to be the top-of-the-line expensive HC....save that stuff for predator proofing.