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

[MamaDoolittle]

I raised my last babies with an MHP in Michigan. They did great. Good luck.

 

[2FunKids]

I received a call at 6 am that they were at the post office. All of them seemed good but one small one is a little lethargic. I put the all of them under the pad and......silence! Before putting them under I tapped their beaks on the little water nipples. The larger ones started drinking but the smaller ones weren't interested. I imagine some of my shipment are a day older or so. Should I be worried if they all aren't wanting the water right away?

 

[aart]

I received a call at 6 am that they were at the post office. All of them seemed good but one small one is a little lethargic. I put the all of them under the pad and......silence! Before putting them under I tapped their beaks on the little water nipples. The larger ones started drinking but the smaller ones weren't interested. I imagine some of my shipment are a day older or so. Should I be worried if they all aren't wanting the water right away?

I like to use a heat light the first day or so, only during the day, so I can observe them for any issues.
Only thing about the heating pad I don't like.

I'd let them rest a bit then get them out and moving make sure they drink and show them the food.
Horizontal nipples can be hard to operate for tiny chicks, I use a regular chick waterer the first couple days too.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I received a call at 6 am that they were at the post office. All of them seemed good but one small one is a little lethargic. I put the all of them under the pad and......silence! Before putting them under I tapped their beaks on the little water nipples. The larger ones started drinking but the smaller ones weren't interested. I imagine some of my shipment are a day older or so. Should I be worried if they all aren't wanting the water right away?

Shipping can be a bit hard on them and can leave them disoriented. I'd give them some water (with marbles in it to keep them from falling in) (regular chick waterer) and dip all of their beaks and make sure all of them know how to drink, and I'd leave the lights on for a day or so to make sure they can find everything really well. Just my thoughts...

- Ant Farm

 

[Traceaskew]

I'm getting chicks in the next couple of weeks. I live in MD. Do you think this would work in an in heated garage? It pretty much never gets below 35 or 40 degrees in there no matter how cold it is outside.

 

[Blooie]

I agree that shipping stress might be the culprit for your weak little one. If you have some Nutri-drench on hand, might be a good idea to try that, but if not a little sugar water can sometimes perk them up too. I know aart likes to use the lights the first day but I didn't do that. I'm a baaaad Mama!

@Traceaskew , I raise mine out in the run when temps are lower than that. Here's a link to an article that might help.

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

 

[aart]

I know aart likes to use the lights the first day but I didn't do that. I'm a baaaad Mama!

Sorry you inferred that, I certainly didn't mean to imply it.

 

[Blooie]

Sorry you inferred that, I certainly didn't mean to imply it.

Nope, didn't infer that at all. Just a reflection of some of the PMs I've received from people getting mad at me for "deliberately trying to kill peoples' chicks with this awful idea!"

 

[aart]

Quote: Oh, well, I wasn't one of them.....so.....you did infer that I felt that way.

 

[Blooie]

Now you know that I didn't even think that, my friend. We have way more respect for each other than that, I would hope! The PMs I refer to are from folks who do the lamp at this temp for x numbers of days then reduce by precise numbers every week until the chickens are laying eggs in the brooder! You came up with your heating pad method long before I did.