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

[Dragonflydore]

Are used bungee cords to keep the heating pad against the cardboard and gave it a curve!

 

[Dragonflydore]

Reading 85+ inside on the thermostat

 

[Leigti]

What is considered “fully feathered“? This is my chick with the least amount of feathers. I was thinking maybe one more week with heat and then take it out? It’s getting down into the 40s and 30s at night.

 

[Dragonflydore]

I'm no help but that is a gorgeous chick!!

 

[aart]

What is considered “fully feathered“? This is my chick with the least amount of feathers. I was thinking maybe one more week with heat and then take it out? It’s getting down into the 40s and 30s at night. View attachment 1329360

Fully feathered is when they have feathers fully covering their bodies, with no fuzzy down anywhere. Leave the heater in until they are not longer using it.

 

[Lookin4GoodLife]

Don't forget to 'show' them where the new heat source is.
If they're used to a light they might not realize they need to get under something to get warm now instead of just ambling around under the light.

Yeah, mine wouldn't go under at first. I guess it was dark under there and they were scared. When all 12 of them were jammed into a corner furthest away from the heating pad obviously cold, I used a paper plate to corral them under the MHP. They kept popping out and I kept popping them back in. In a few seconds they stayed in and started that soft peeping like, "Hey, it's nice and warm under here!" and they all went to sleep. They've been going in and out ok ever since.

 

[NNYchick]

It is so sad that people so underestimate how tough chicks are. Now that it is chick season I keep seeing all these post of people literally cooking their chicks with red heat lamp over a small tote or worse fish tank and won’t listen when people are trying to tell them they are too hot, because the thermometer says 95 and that is what the age chart says to keep them at. I’m so appreciative to @aart and @Blooie for all the great information they provide, talking me through all the newbie questions. My latest hatch went out in the coop with MHP in dog crate last week at 2 weeks old, they are integrating awesome with the flock as they squeeze in and out of the crate on thier own (I think my flock gave up the fight as I’ve had chicks running around the coop for a couple months now, they just ignore them). Today it’s 32 degrees and spitting snow but these littles are sitting in the doorway checking out the world.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Current inhabitants of the brooder section.....blrw are 2 1/2 weeks and ccl is probably 3 1/2-4(picked her up yesterday). Turned the heat down to low. Ccl doesn't really "need" it so much, but not want to integrate them as a group soon the brooder she stays. Probably start integration end of the week......next batch arrives the 20th

The teenagers are jealous and try to get in to gobble out of the brooder feeder every chance they get (same exact feed they get from the big feeder, but forbidden fruit is always sweeter, lol)

 

[aart]

The teenagers are jealous and try to get in

This is where you might need a smaller door.

next batch arrives the 20th

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

This is where you might need a smaller door.

Yep.... working on that.
Next batch isn't mine, just some I'll be brooding until they are coop ready.