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

[trudyg]

Hi there, Azygous, you said from their first mingling with the adults at age three weeks and I just wanted to ask you what, exactly, you mean. Mine are in a tractor right beside the big girls, so they see, hear, etc them all day, but I don't consider this 'mingling'. I'd love to have them in actual contact with the big girls, but I'm afraid that at 15 days old they'd go right thru the outer fence and into the yard. Did you create an enclosure that the older ones can get in and out of but that the babies can't? They flap around pretty good already, I don't know that they couldn't get out and then not back in! They're so fast, I don't know that I could herd them all once they start running free.(I can see it now, I have to run around to the gate and they pop thru the openings at will playing keep-away)

 

[COChix]

Hey guys, been a minute since I have posted any uodates on our Fiesty Fifteen hatch that were raised ala MHP! We hatched 16, one passed the first day, we ended up with 8 young cockerel's and 7 pullets. About two weeks ago we processed the young cockerel's and we filled our freezer for winter. Thanks boys! Today we received our first pullet egg from that same hatch, they are now 22 weeks. Just wanted to share a few pictures and say hi. Fall is in the air, we are in molt city and leaves are changing. Hope all is well!

I tell everyone who asks about the MHP system! Thank you Blooie, Bee, Aart and others for showing us a more natural way to raise chicks!

 

[Blooie]

Aw, now, that just warms the cockles of my heart, CO! Love to see them all growing up and providing for those who provided for them for so long. Nice job!! So many advocates for this system must be finding some gap that it fills somewhere.....

 

[Blooie]

Hi there, Azygous, you said from their first mingling with the adults at age three weeks and I just wanted to ask you what, exactly, you mean. Mine are in a tractor right beside the big girls, so they see, hear, etc them all day, but I don't consider this 'mingling'. I'd love to have them in actual contact with the big girls, but I'm afraid that at 15 days old they'd go right thru the outer fence and into the yard. Did you create an enclosure that the older ones can get in and out of but that the babies can't? They flap around pretty good already, I don't know that they couldn't get out and then not back in! They're so fast, I don't know that I could herd them all once they start running free.(I can see it now, I have to run around to the gate and they pop thru the openings at will playing keep-away)

Trudy, I'm not Bruce, but have you seen this? This is how we did our system out in the coop where the kids and adults were openly mingling before 4 weeks old and totally integrated that same week.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[azygous]

This is how three-week old chicks can mingle with the adult flock. They have their safe pen that the adults don't have access to, and they have 5 x 7 inch portals to go back an forth from their world to the adult world. Every partition in the run as these portals, and the babies zip around the run just inches ahead of the adults. For the first three weeks, when they're very tiny, the portals remain shut. The portals fit the chicks until they're just this side of three months, but by then they are managing quite well with the rest of the flock.

 

[Blooie]

Trudy, I'm not Bruce, but have you seen this? This is how we did our system out in the coop where the kids and adults were openly mingling before 4 weeks old and totally integrated that same week.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

Now why the heck did I say "Bruce"? I'd just finished catching up on the thread and I guess his name was stuck in my head from that. I'm sorry I got mixed up there! Not every day I have an almost granddaughter survive open heart surgery and get a brand new baby great granddaughter! I don't know if that works for an excuse, but it's the best I got!

 

[trudyg]

Oh, wow, that's a fantastic excuse! My prayers will be with you and yours going forward.

 

[trudyg]

I just looked at that link. I have 3/4 acre fenced in with wire that has 3X4" openings. Inside that, I have 2 chicken tractors, each roughly 6X8'. The big girls are in 1, the chicks in the other. In the past, chicks eventually bedded down with the big girls on their own. I'm just afraid of letting the little ones run loose in the entire enclosure--they could get out thru the 3X4 holes and be on their own. I have made panels that are 3X8' frames covered with smaller wire. I can set these up so that the chicks can expand their running space (ending up with 8' by 16' if I link up panels. I sized it so I could configure differently and use panels as a cover. I use t posts and zip ties to secure the panels, so safe enough during the day. I'm just not sure how to get the hens and chicks together without chancing the chicks getting out of the big yard. I may link the 2 tractors together, make a small opening that only the chicks can fit thru, and then not let the hens free range--just confine them to the smaller pen once in awhile (like when I'm out doing yard work.) Funny to stress so much, one day you turn around and they're big enough to no longer worry and it seems like overnight.

 

[lazy gardener]

I just looked at that link. I have 3/4 acre fenced in with wire that has 3X4" openings. Inside that, I have 2 chicken tractors, each roughly 6X8'. The big girls are in 1, the chicks in the other. In the past, chicks eventually bedded down with the big girls on their own. I'm just afraid of letting the little ones run loose in the entire enclosure--they could get out thru the 3X4 holes and be on their own. I have made panels that are 3X8' frames covered with smaller wire. I can set these up so that the chicks can expand their running space (ending up with 8' by 16' if I link up panels. I sized it so I could configure differently and use panels as a cover. I use t posts and zip ties to secure the panels, so safe enough during the day. I'm just not sure how to get the hens and chicks together without chancing the chicks getting out of the big yard. I may link the 2 tractors together, make a small opening that only the chicks can fit thru, and then not let the hens free range--just confine them to the smaller pen once in awhile (like when I'm out doing yard work.) Funny to stress so much, one day you turn around and they're big enough to no longer worry and it seems like overnight.

That would be a good solution, hook the 2 tractors together with a little guillotine (or other type) door. You could even let part of the older flock out to range, and keep your more sedate ones in to mingle with the chicks. Wait till the older ones are done pitching a fit about getting left behind on the free range.


I'd like to add my 2 cents worth about the comparison between heat lamp, heat pad, and broody chicks.
As you have all experienced heat lamp chicks, not a lot of explanation needed there. I found them to be delayed in feathering, high strung, noisy at night.
Heat pad chicks: much more relaxed. No where near as high strung. Settled down every night, making happy little trill noises that I don't recall heat lamp chicks ever making.
Broody raised chicks: The resemblance to HP chicks is uncanny. Socially and physically advanced. But, the interesting thing I've observed is that my broody raised chicks are just as friendly as the HP chicks. They come running when they see me. They climb all over my feet. Much more interactive than the heat lamp chicks.

 

[Cluckies]

Blooie, praying for the grandbaby, congrats on the great grandbaby!

Now why the heck did I say "Bruce"? I'd just finished catching up on the thread and I guess his name was stuck in my head from that. I'm sorry I got mixed up there! Not every day I have an almost granddaughter survive open heart surgery and get a brand new baby great granddaughter! I don't know if that works for an excuse, but it's the best I got!

Blooie, praying for the grandbaby, congrats on the great grandbaby!