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

[bruceha2000]

1/4 hardware cloth won't be sturdy enough. People have had problems with 1/2" HC collapsing under the weight of chicks on top.

You can use MHP for ducks as well as chicks, your plan sounds fine. You just need to adjust the height of the "cave" as appropriate for the residents.


You don't have your location in your profile so this next comment is a bit "open". Generally speaking chicks are fully feathered around 4 weeks of age and don't need any supplemental heat. I don't know about ducks.

 

[Blooie]

Additional point - older chicks don't always take to MHP since they haven't been raised under it. They don't always get the concept of warm spot under there - they just see a large object in their surroundings and try to avoid it. You may have to coax them under until they get the hang of it if you want them to use it.

 

[Chickie7]

Thanks! I'm just outside Cincinnati. Normally our temps this time of the year are in the 60s/high and low in the 40/s but this spring has been 70 one day and then 30 and snowing the next. My poor flowering trees don't know what to do. I read somewhere online that as long as the temp is above 60 they should be okay, but our nights are definitely not above 60. Inside the house they're okay but the garage is cooler so that's why I figure we need some type of heat for the next week or so maybe? Then hopefully my husband will have our outside run and coop somewhat close to being done after that. I really need to post some pics and update my profile! Thanks for the welcome! I really like this site!!!

 

[bruceha2000]

Assuming they will make use of the MHP (as Blooie warned they may need special training) it certainly can't hurt to have it out in the garage for them. If they don't use it, no big deal. They don't use that much electricity.

 

[Farmer Doc]

Here is phase one! They are going to the coop tomorrow evening.

They love the MHP! I lowered the front to 4 inches. Back is 3. Thanks for this thread!

 

[aart]

Aww.... duckies!
Can they get out from under heating pad on that long side?
You're gonna need a bigger box real soon!

 

[Farmer Doc]

Aww.... duckies!
Can they get out from under heating pad on that long side?
You're gonna need a bigger box real soon!

They could if they tried but the towel does go to the floor. Should the long side be accessible too?

Yes, out in the protected coop (from my earlier post over the weekend) they go tomorrow. They just started really eating well this evening.

Just the black one is a duck. It does have a friend that hatched today joining them tonight. The rest are Chinese Geese - 6 in all. The ducks are "Swedish Ancona." So sweet!!

 

[aart]

They could if they tried but the towel does go to the floor. Should the long side be accessible too?

Might not matter with so few birds, but yes, at least 2 sides should provide egress IMO...but they could probably push thru the towel 'curtain'.

 

[bruceha2000]

They could if they tried but the towel does go to the floor. Should the long side be accessible too?

Typically if two sides are open they are the long sides. If only 1 side is open, it really should be the long side.

 

[bobbi-j]

The chicks are in! The chicks are in!

Pics as soon as I get home!