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

[PetesChicks]

108°F is fine for pad surface temp, a hens body temp is ~106°F.
Key is being able to adjust height of pad to where chicks can touch their backs to pad.
1.5-2" in back and 3" in front is a good place to start.

Thanks Aart. I’ll keep it on high then. And it’s totally adjustable, I have carriage bolts for legs, and wing nuts to adjust the height.

 

[Blooie]

I don't know how I missed this post! Sorry, and thanks @aart! @PetesChicks, rather than a thermometer, let your chicks be your guide. If they huddle in a corner and don't want to come out at all, it's too cool. If they avoid it altogether or stay right at the front, it's too warm. Welcome to the Broody Brigade!

 

[PetesChicks]

I don't know how I missed this post! Sorry, and thanks @aart! @PetesChicks, rather than a thermometer, let your chicks be your guide. If they huddle in a corner and don't want to come out at all, it's too cool. If they avoid it altogether or stay right at the front, it's too warm. Welcome to the Broody Brigade!

Thanks, Blooie.

It’s funny, I’ve been following this thread for about a year, and read just about all the posts in it. And I’m still nervous, it’s my first batch of littles. The girls I have now were all close to laying when we got them.

 

[Blooie]

I've been DOING this longer than that, and I still get nervous! All you have to remember is to be flexible. If you need to turn it down, do it...don't worry about checking first. Same with adjusting the height. You are there, we aren't, and you know what your chicks need better than we do.

 

[bruceha2000]

Thanks, Blooie.

It’s funny, I’ve been following this thread for about a year, and read just about all the posts in it. And I’m still nervous, it’s my first batch of littles. The girls I have now were all close to laying when we got them.

Join the crowd! I'm on set #4. 5 of the 6, little miss daredevil is reenergizing in the MHP cave.


They are in a box near the foot of my bed. I wake up in the middle of the night and hear nothing and have to remind myself they are fine. Sometimes I'll hear a little trill or chip. I think one must have rolled over in bed and elbowed another. This is the 3rd time I've had chicks in the bedroom and every time they have slept quietly all night. Imagine that.

 

[Blooie]

Bruce...ewwww

 

[bruceha2000]

ewwww??

 

[Cayuga momma]

I live off grid, so I couldn't use the heating pad consistently, so I'm using a woolly hen and a hot water bottle, but I've learned a lot from your post @Blooie. Thank you so much for everything you do!

 

[bruceha2000]

How often do you have to change the water in that bottle? Seems like it would be an impossible task.

 

[Cayuga momma]

How often do you have to change the water in that bottle? Seems like it would be an impossible task.

Well with the Woolly hen on top of it, I change the water every 7 hours. Without the woolly hen it would be 5 hours.