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

[bruceha2000]

Ah but when YOU posted, that information was not yet revealed so you read the original post JUST FINE!

 

[Blooie]

I am old, and easily confused.

 

[bruceha2000]

Me too!

 

[MMarieB]

Quick question...I would read 1000+ pages to find the answer but how do I keep the mama heat pad from getting gross? They (the 3 week old chicks) pick at the saran wrap. I have to redo the cover every other day. I tried covering with hay and they just kick it all off. Do you use the towel to keep the hay on? Otherwise it's fantastic and has worked great!

 

[aart]

I have to redo the cover every other day.

That's why I switched to cardboard,
with plastic under it to protect pad from the juicy ones.
Otherwise I was changing out the towel daily, yuk.

 

[Blooie]

I never used Saran Wrap so I’m not sure. I used Press ‘n Seal and since it was stuck tight to the top of a thin towel up there I could just wipe poop off, and when it got too yucky I peeled it off and stuck down a new piece. There were no edges for them to peck at. Others on here just use puppy pee pads and change them out.

 

[MMarieB]

Both good ideas! Thank you very much! I am happy to have things to try. I appreciate the help!

 

[bruceha2000]

My chicks must have been weird. I wrapped the entire cave in an old flannel pillowcase folded up on the top and held in place with Gorilla tape. Never cleaned it, it never got all that messy. The only thing I can think of is the chicks had lots more space than they needed including access to the barn alley from the age of a few days. I guess they didn't spend a lot of time on top of the cave and did most of their pooping elsewhere. As we know, chickens poop wherever they happen to be when the urge to do so happens.

 

[aart]

My chicks must have been weird.

Or maybe the ambient temp was high enough that they didn't seek that top warmth as much?

 

[bruceha2000]

I got the girls at the end of April last year. Accuweather says the temps were:

Week 1, 3-4 days old

• 78/48 (78° is WAY above the average of 59°)
• 77/59
• 71/41
• 43/34
• 60/42 (this is about average for the date)
• 58/47
• 53/33

Week 2

• 62/30
• 52/45
• 72/49
• 59/40
• 43/35
• 49/33
• 53/38

Week 3

• 62/39
• 67/39
• 62/45
• 52/45
• 67/47
• 73/51
• 89!!!/50

Week 4

• 90/64 (Yes, we WERE melting!)
• 67/47
• 63/40
• 68/38
• 55/48
• 70/47
• 75/49