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

[Blooie]

Definately going to try this!

I think you'll like it, Cottage Chicks. I sure have a passel of happy campers out there...and no dust, dander, heat, smell, or noise in the house at night.

 

[Blooie]

Anybody recognize these little stinkers?



My, my! How they have grown!

 

[aart]

I Know, Right!
Especially after the new day olds arrive....the older batch of 'chicks' look huge!

Reminds me of when I brought my brand new baby girl home and my toddler son looked like a huge-headed alien.

 

[Blooie]

I Know, Right!
Especially after the new day olds arrive....the older batch of 'chicks' look huge!

Reminds me of when I brought my brand new baby girl home and my toddler son looked like a huge-headed alien.

 

[Beekissed]

Anybody recognize these little stinkers?



My, my! How they have grown!

Got big real quick!!! Hey...did you manage to get them out of the nests in the day?

 

[Blooie]

Got big real quick!!! Hey...did you manage to get them out of the nests in the day?

Not completely...worked off and on most of the morning but still have a half dozen or so holdouts. I still need to post those pictures for you. I took them and then totally forgot! I put the dog crate brooder in the coop today and they swarmed it. Um, tossing a little scratch in there helped.

But by mid-afternoon many of them were going in and out.

They are learning that I don't want them in those nests. I opened the door a crack, peeked in, and saw some in the nests. I waited a minute more before I pulled it all the way open. You talk about some surprised chicks! I could hear some of them getting out of the nests when I first touched the door but not all of them made it out....by the time I opened it all the way a few of them were sitting on the getter-inner bar like they'd been there the whole time, innocent as could be. Hmmm, then young ladies, explain to me why the straw and the wooden eggs in the top two nests are still warm....and why you sacrificed a flockmate to get busted instead of all of you!

 

[Beekissed]

They always seem so surprised, don't they? No matter how many nights I'd go up, open the outside access and push them roughly out of the nests and to the floor, they always seemed like they were surprised by it each and every time. You'd think they'd learn.

I'm glad I've changed my nests and roosts in this coop tweak but I'm sure I'll still get juvies hanging out in the nests at night when that time rolls around again....if they don't have a mama to call them up on the roosts, it seems like the nests are the safest alternative. And I have juvie sized roosts...but do you think they'll use them? Nope.

 

[Blooie]

They always seem so surprised, don't they? No matter how many nights I'd go up, open the outside access and push them roughly out of the nests and to the floor, they always seemed like they were surprised by it each and every time. You'd think they'd learn.

I'm glad I've changed my nests and roosts in this coop tweak but I'm sure I'll still get juvies hanging out in the nests at night when that time rolls around again....if they don't have a mama to call them up on the roosts, it seems like the nests are the safest alternative. And I have juvie sized roosts...but do you think they'll use them? Nope.

I'd be happier if these little boogers were using them at night - far easier habit to break when they go from there to the roost and wake up on the roost. Got those pics loaded for you.

These chicks are still heading for their old pen at dusk, settling into a pile and sleeping right by where the opening was. No nighttime nest box sleepers. Yet.

 

[Beekissed]

I think LG was right on the money....when you see young birds up on the roosts in the day time(or in the nest boxes for your group)it's most often for safety's sake. They are trying to avoid the pecking order.

Maybe you could put them some roosts up out in the run? Could be they might enjoy that. And maybe some good hides, like a board or two up on some blocks that they can scramble under when the big girls take out after them.

I hope you find a solution...could be others are experiencing the same issue and haven't found a solution yet.

 

[Blooie]

I think LG was right on the money....when you see young birds up on the roosts in the day time(or in the nest boxes for your group)it's most often for safety's sake. They are trying to avoid the pecking order.

Maybe you could put them some roosts up out in the run? Could be they might enjoy that. And maybe some good hides, like a board or two up on some blocks that they can scramble under when the big girls take out after them.

I hope you find a solution...could be others are experiencing the same issue and haven't found a solution yet.

There are two roosts in the run, and remember last year we put that huge half-log in the run? They don't even have to duck to get in there but the Bigs can't squeeze under.




They use it too, but frankly I haven't seen a lot of pecking or hassling by the Bigs. They might give a "get outta my way, punk" peck once in awhile but no real chasing or harassing. They mostly ignore the Littles. I also have extra food and water stations set up. Maybe it only took one incident to spook them but now that they've discovered how comfy those nests are they can't resist them.

Anyway, we'll get 'er figured out. Today was better.