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

[jreardon1918]

I’d try not to use high, even outdoors, unless it’s really cold out. There’s a chance that they won’t want to use it if it’s too warm and instead huddle away from it, chilling in the process.

Medium it is. Thanks

 

[Cryss]

Split with a friend.

Oh I love your combinations! They will be a gorgeous flock!

 

[Blooie]

Excess heat can sure contribute to pasty butt, but I think the biggest culprit is access to food 24/7. Their little digestive systems are just as immature as the rest of them, and overloading themselves with food instead of having that period of darkness from dusk to dawn is downright stupid….at least to me it is.

Under a broody hen, they’d go to sleep at night when she does. That gives their crops and tummies all night long to empty. It lets those tiny gizzards grind food slowly and release it slowly into the rest of the digestive tract, as it was intended to do. But if their digestive systems are crammed full from crop to….um…..exit, I think a backlog is inevitable. I also don’t think the food material in there is digesting properly because it’s being shoved through each stage by the food behind it, so what comes out isn’t always the consistency of normal poop. It’s sticky, so it sticks, even as more is building up behind it. I have no scientific evidence to back up this claim, just a good dose of common sense. I mean, how often do chicks under a broody get pasty butt?

 

[janiedoe]

Split with a friend.

Like blue much?

 

[junior67]

Excess heat can sure contribute to pasty butt, but I think the biggest culprit is access to food 24/7. Their little digestive systems are just as immature as the rest of them, and overloading themselves with food instead of having that period of darkness from dusk to dawn is downright stupid….at least to me it is.

Under a broody hen, they’d go to sleep at night when she does. That gives their crops and tummies all night long to empty. It lets those tiny gizzards grind food slowly and release it slowly into the rest of the digestive tract, as it was intended to do. But if their digestive systems are crammed full from crop to….um…..exit, I think a backlog is inevitable. I also don’t think the food material in there is digesting properly because it’s being shoved through each stage by the food behind it, so what comes out isn’t always the consistency of normal poop. It’s sticky, so it sticks, even as more is building up behind it. I have no scientific evidence to back up this claim, just a good dose of common sense. I mean, how often do chicks under a broody get pasty butt?

I had used the MHP and no lights on at night so it was dark from around dusk to dawn so don't think it was that. I think it was the heating pad was too high (at least for mine). well dark from dusk to dawn unless someone turned on the hall light and it shined into the room they were in, then they shut it off and boy they let us know they weren't happy since it went dark quick so I had to go in and push them all under the MHP. finally we learned to shut the door enough (they were in my daughters room) that the light didn't shine on them when it was turned on. haahaa.

but I like your theory and it does make sense to me.

 

[jreardon1918]

Our MHP brooder is in the cellar. We will turn out the lights at sundown. Turn them on at sunrise. They go out to the outdoor run tomorrow or Monday. Natural light only.

 

[Blooie]

I had used the MHP and no lights on at night so it was dark from around dusk to dawn so don't think it was that. I think it was the heating pad was too high (at least for mine). well dark from dusk to dawn unless someone turned on the hall light and it shined into the room they were in, then they shut it off and boy they let us know they weren't happy since it went dark quick so I had to go in and push them all under the MHP. finally we learned to shut the door enough (they were in my daughters room) that the light didn't shine on them when it was turned on. haahaa.

but I like your theory and it does make sense to me.

Oh, too much heat definitely plays a role, I certainly don’t mean to imply that it doesn’t. But I firmly believe it’s worse for people who compound it by also allowing chicks to eat constantly.

Our MHP brooder is in the cellar. We will turn out the lights at sundown. Turn them on at sunrise. They go out to the outdoor run tomorrow or Monday. Natural light only.

Well you know we need pictures of them enjoying that first day out!

 

[junior67]

My temp indoor brooder with MHP is almost ready for the chicks.

 

[Tremogg]

Excess heat can sure contribute to pasty butt, but I think the biggest culprit is access to food 24/7. Their little digestive systems are just as immature as the rest of them, and overloading themselves with food instead of having that period of darkness from dusk to dawn is downright stupid….at least to me it is.

Under a broody hen, they’d go to sleep at night when she does. That gives their crops and tummies all night long to empty. It lets those tiny gizzards grind food slowly and release it slowly into the rest of the digestive tract, as it was intended to do. But if their digestive systems are crammed full from crop to….um…..exit, I think a backlog is inevitable. I also don’t think the food material in there is digesting properly because it’s being shoved through each stage by the food behind it, so what comes out isn’t always the consistency of normal poop. It’s sticky, so it sticks, even as more is building up behind it. I have no scientific evidence to back up this claim, just a good dose of common sense. I mean, how often do chicks under a broody get pasty butt?

So should we be taking the food out at night? Even if we are not using this method?

 

[bruceha2000]

With the MHP they will sleep at night in the cave so it doesn't really matter if you leave food out. If you have them under a light 24x7 maybe it would be good to remove the food for a period. But seriously consider a non light brooder.