Oh my Gosh, I always tell about my first kid, clean clean, room had to be perfect and ready....by #4 kid, I was letting them chew on the boxes of frozen veggies and laughing at dirty looks. Room? Do we have a drawer, some diapers and a couple outfits, ok we're good.The "second child" part got my attention since it is true but also because my younger daughter (now 20) and I went to Costco yesterday. There was a guy wiping down the seat of the cart with disinfectant towels (I think) from a container nearby before he put his son (I'm guessing about 2) in it. I mentioned to my daughter that we must have been terrible parents and it is amazing she and her sister are alive since we just plopped their butts into the carts. I wonder if that was the guy's first kid and if he will do the same for the second after he sees that the first doesn't die from eating dirt and doing whatever else he gets into.
@COChix The email exchange was with Megan H. from their generic email address: [email protected]
She did say they are always happy to see how the birds they send out progress (though I suspect it would be overwhelming if they heard from even 1%!!).
This is part of her last email. "this setup" refers to MHPB and I had mentioned it was sort of a "poor mans" EcoGlow but a lot cheaper and more versatile since the pad has uses beyond heating chicks. I don't know where she looked MHP up but if she Googled it, I suspect she ended up here since the first five results are right here on BYC:
"Thanks so much for the follow up and more details for this set up. EcoGlow is something we’ve offered in the past and may carry again, even still I suggest it to those who are concerned with fire hazard. This set up is something I will be sure to mention this option as well because we make sure to let customer’s know all their options to pick what would be best for them and still great for their chicks health."
So it might be of value for you to send some pictures and comments about the MHPB vs red heat lamps on 24x7 for a month. I named no names but did link the video that inspired Blooie to take a chance.
I am, EVERY day, amazed at how much time my now 8 day old chicks spend NOT under there surrogate mama. Just how did the "must be kept in 90-95F temps 24x7 for the first week then 85-90F the second week ... thing get started???? It is SO not how they live with a mother hen! MHPB is SO how they live with a mother hen. Go under in the dark to sleep and get warm, come out into the ambient temps whenever you want.
Zorra cracks up scratch for them to eat, plays the live version of MHP, she scratches around in the pen to see if there is anything for them to eat. It is still no warmer than 65F out in the barn. She let them come out this morning and I was a little concerned they might not be able to get back in since the sill is ~4x their height. NO PROBLEM! Flap those little wings and jump up, right back in the pen.
I took the 2x4 wire top off for the picture, the hole in the wall on the left goes to the enclosed community nest box (you can see it above Zorra in the 1st picture) now used by only one of the Anconas. I haven't see the "kids" use their bleacher seats yet but I know my originals 3 years ago got up on a short perch I put in their bathtub brooder. I made this figuring they would like to get up on it and maybe even get the idea of roosting.
awesome, same experience here. I gave them roosts, they roosted, as they were ready. I had to put a few them in the coop the first night, Aftte that, coop trained. It was too easy!!! So easy I have a new batcheroo.My chicks have reached a very important milestone! They are roosting!
These chicks have been the easiest to raise of all the previous seven batches. I attribute it all the the MHP system! If not for the MHP system, brooding them outside in the run would have been impossible, and being part of the flock from their very first day has made all the difference.
To show how thoroughly they have it nailed, they have been showing off on the swing that I hung in the run yesterday. I made it a year ago, but the chickens just never warmed up to it, so I took it down. I figured the chicks might be interested in it and I was right!
So, I guess my work is done with this batch of chicks. They have been fully integrated into the flock, are eating with the big girls, and they even go out of the run to free-range with the flock. They put themselves into their coop every night all by themselves, and now they're roosting! They're turning five weeks old Monday.
Using Mama heat pad. There are so many chicks, I thought about getting 2 pads, but they throw so much heat when they sleep. All seems to be well... And thank you for the encouragement! I don't like the lamp. It just seems unnatural. MHP from day 1. They are in the house for a little so I can try to watch to see if anyone has any difficulty getting to food or water. I think I will put them out sooner rather than later. They will have outgrown the baby pool and I saw someone get completely run over terribly today. They need more space.@alibabba Since you have done it once, then doing it again should be a breeze.you are an old hand at this.
Are you going to use MHP or conventional heat lamp with your chicks?
I am enjoying my first batch of little peeps so much! With MHP, I do not worry about them getting chilled or anything since they are out in the garden shed.
hey, for some reason we all think, that, "It'll be okay" for a little or just for now or whatever and something happens. But we learn, hard.I lost one of my chicks last night to a raccoon ;( the sweet Buff Orpington, Lucy. The RIR is injured so I have her in a dog crate where she can see everyone else. That's all she needs is to be able to see them, right? She has feather loss but no bleeding but the others are pecking at her pink bald spot.
I might mention that I've moved them all in for the night so nothing can get them. I'm pitiful.
I washed her and slathered her in antibiotic ointment. When I washed her I checked closer and she's just pink where the feathers came out and no cuts or anything!hey, for some reason we all think, that, "It'll be okay" for a little or just for now or whatever and something happens. But we learn, hard.
So sorry for your loss.
Glad you have a survivor.
Being pecked probably isn't fun though, some blu kote or something?
