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

[aart]

the chick buyer was telling the oh-so-helpful sales dude that he didn't need to buy a heat lamp because already had his heating pad at home and set up.

What a gas!!

 

[bruceha2000]

I didn't have to say a word - those two people did more to educate the clerk than I could have said anyway.

They didn't even know they were in the presence of the Brigade Commander?!? They should have snapped to attention and saluted!

Re the bungies, twine, cover the cave or don't ...
I covered my frame and pad (underneath the wire shelf) in an old flannel pillowcase. Threadbare would be a reasonable description. Used Gorilla Tape to secure it making sure the opening of the pillowcase was well overlapped and no tape "glue side" was exposed. That ensures there is no way for the chicks to get stuck between the pad and the support or in the covering in any way. I don't have a decent picture but here is part of it. The chicks had been here for 2 days and went from the bedroom to the barn later in the day.


#3, right, no consensus. The way I see it unless you have a ton of birds trying to cram underneath necessitating "emergency" egress on all sides (which to me suggests the cave isn't big enough), front and rear access is sufficient. If just a few chicks, rear egress is unnecessary. That means the sides can also be "warm spots" since the pad goes all the way to the floor, just like a mama hen.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Okay... I think I need some broody brigade wisdom (or reassurance) (Or maybe just gutsy Blooie)

Last night was my 4 1/2 week old chicks first night outside, and they huddled comfortably under the MHP. Today they were in and out as expected. Now tonight it is gusty and colder than last night by a few degrees (Low 27) and they decided to huddle in the corner together instead of in the MHP, not even near it.

I guess I could use some reassurance that they are not stupid, they know its there, and if they are cold they will use it instead of freezing to death?

 

[Molpet]

Okay... I think I need some broody brigade wisdom (or reassurance) (Or maybe just gutsy Blooie)

Last night was my 4 1/2 week old chicks first night outside, and they huddled comfortably under the MHP. Today they were in and out as expected. Now tonight it is gusty and colder than last night by a few degrees (Low 27) and they decided to huddle in the corner together instead of in the MHP, not even near it.

I guess I could use some reassurance that they are not stupid, they know its there, and if they are cold they will use it instead of freezing to death?

I would put them in it.. for the first few days at least

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I would put them in it.. for the first few days at least

If I grab them and put them under I think they'll just run out... Since they're not really fond of being grabbed and put anywhere.

 

[Blooie]

Can you sort of “herd” them under and hold your hand over the opening?

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Yeesh okay herding chickens is just as hard as it sounds.
But I did finally get them to settle down under the MHP, hopefully they stay there. So now I feel much better.
I'm so glad this website exists. Being new to chickens, I never know when I am just being worrisome or when I should try to intervene.
I hope this wasn't too off topic, but it is sort of related to MHP. Hehe.

Thanks again <3

 

[Minky]

Two of my chicks got the hang of the MHP on night 5. Before that, I had to herd them, then block them in, then shush them to sleep... they were slow learners. The other two got it on night 2 without herding or shushhing.

 

[Storybook Farm]

No mini bunnies here... not even for Easter! That was funny!

Mine are bedded down for their first night under their MHP in our unheated barn.

It was warm and sunny today (warmer than expected—low 50s!) so by noon I had my second MHP constructed. I ended up with kind of a hybrid between Blooie’s original design and some of y’alls with frames... We cut two 2X8’s diagonally such that they were 2.5” at the back and 4” at the front, and 12” long. We put a 23” 2x4 at the back, and then attached garden wire to the top, with the pad on top of that. The 2x4 back was higher than the low ends of the sides, making a lip of sorts, such that the pad cannot slip backwards. The wire was stapled to the flat tops of the two sides. Then, I put a towel over the pad, and affixed the Press N Sel. The towel was arranged with a generous “awning” and plenty of wood shavings under and on top.
Then, I sorta cheated... . We already had heat lamps installed above the pen, So I warmed up the ambient air with one heat lamp over their food/water, and left it on until 8:30 PM tonight. It’s on a timer: it will go on again at 6:30, about an hour before sunrise here. I was taking them from ambient 70° airs in the house, and this was my way of making MYSELF feel better... Because I incubate hatches every week, I have a series of grow out pens for brooding. And because it’s raised, I also put wooden fence board under the MHP for added floor insulation. So, it’s wire, shelf liner, fence boards, shavings, air space, MHP, more shavings.

I brought the chicks out, starting at noon, and made excuses for sticking around the barn working with adult pens all afternoon. They did great. They went in and out, ate and drank, and took naps just as they had in the house.

I am confident that when I go to see them in the AM they’ll be fine. And, with the heat lamps on, their water may be thawed out as well... It’s supposed to go to 32 tonight and snow. Meanwhile, there are three more chicks hatched in my hatcher!

Anyways: below are some pics. They are just so danged CUTE! Thanks for the hand holding and information, everyone!

 

[aart]

Then, I sorta cheated... . We already had heat lamps installed above the pen, So I warmed up the ambient air with one heat lamp over their food/water,

Eh...I use a heat lamp over the feed/water for the first day or two after hatch....
....inside the 65F house.
It's good way to make sure everyone's eating/drinking/moving OK...and only used during the day in no way decreases the awesomeness of a heating pad.