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

[NotAFarm]

Totally off topic but it's my thread and I can hijack it if I want to! I'm posting this in as many places as I can to get a prayer chain started for Kendra! Thanks!

The kids just left for Denver this morning. I've got Katie and Evan for the next week. Kendra will be having her 6 month regular Spina Bifida clinic, then she has appointments for Autism screening. That's more a formality - we already know she's on the autisim spectrum so nothing they say will really surprise us.

Then for the first time they'll be meeting with the surgical team about her Ace/Mitrofanoff procedure. They'll do a more in-depth series of exams than just her usual ultrasounds and MRI, and make the final determination about her candidacy and possible surgical date. Jenny and I will end up down in Denver when they do it, and we'll likely be down there for about a month - not looking forward to that but we've done it before, we can do it again. I just hope this works to help give Kendra a more normal life. This is a short thing about the process and the prognosis. From what I understand, when it works it works great, when it doesn't it's a disaster.

So asking for prayers for a safe journey both there and back, and good results for Kendra! Thanks!

http://www.coloradourologists.com/pedia ... fanoff.htm

Prayers being said for a safe trip for everyone and that the team finds a way to help Kendra....and for grandma and the other two kids at home!!

 

[dyorto]

The first of the chicks to figure out how to jump up on the MHP!

 

[NotAFarm]

The first of the chicks to figure out how to jump up on the MHP!

Are they straight run? If so, mark it....it's a rooster! If not, she'll be the one to lead all the others into trouble!

 

[dyorto]

Are they straight run?  If so, mark it....it's a rooster!  If not, she'll be the one to lead all the others into trouble!  

It's funny you say that. They are supposed to be all pullets. However, in my very small sample of chicks I've had before, the one who had tail feathers early were female and the other rooster. In this batch, all the other chicks have some tail feather development except this one!!!

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: You can keep an eye on it since you have obviously singled it out already. Time will tell if you got all pullets or if a rooster slipped in!

 

[emorems0]

I brought home 6 chicks (meaties) last night, it was an unexpected arrival, but good practice before we have 40 coming next week. A local chicken mama works at a hatchery and these guys accidentally missed shipment and were supposed to be culled, instead she brought them to my house

Last night I just threw MHP together hap hazard. I put the hp on the underside of my wire frame with a bungee but it didn't seem very secure because my bungees were a bit too loose. I also didn't like that they could expose the wire frame on top when the towel shifts around.

So tis morning I set it up properly, I wrapped the hp with a one of those silver mylar blankets and attached it to the top of the wire frame. I also attached a towel on top and bottom so they'd have something soft on their backs.

Here's the question... they seem to prefer the top to the underneath and when I stick my hand in there it feels warmer on top too. I assume it's because on top they are right against the HP and underneath they are separated by the wire frame. I'm planning on moving them outside tomorrow (don't worry they aren't getting any artificial light inside) and I want to make sure they can get warm enough.

Do people normally put the hp on the top or the underside of the wire frame?

I suppose if I put the HP on the underside of the frame I can just put a piece of cardboard on top of the frame to keep the chicks legs from falling through the wire frame. I just thought I saw most pictures with the pad on top of the frame. *I also worry about the pad sagging in the middle over time if is underneath since there is just one bungee on each end.

Also, is it correct to wrap the mylar blanket around the MHP, or is that trapping the heat inside the blanket? I didn't quite understand how that was supposed to work.

***I DO have pictures, but I need to get them from my phone.

 

[emorems0]

 

[beautifulpirate]

I brought home 6 chicks (meaties) last night, it was an unexpected arrival, but good practice before we have 40 coming next week. A local chicken mama works at a hatchery and these guys accidentally missed shipment and were supposed to be culled, instead she brought them to my house

Last night I just threw  MHP together hap hazard. I put the hp on the underside of my wire frame with a bungee but it didn't seem very secure because my bungees were a bit too loose. I also didn't like that they could expose the wire frame on top when the towel shifts around.

So tis morning I set it up properly, I wrapped the hp with a one of those silver mylar blankets and attached it to the top of the wire frame.  I also attached a towel on top and bottom so they'd have something soft on their backs.

Here's the question... they seem to prefer the top to the underneath and when I stick my hand in there it feels warmer on top too.  I assume it's because on top they are right against the HP and underneath they are separated by the wire frame. I'm planning on moving them outside tomorrow (don't worry they aren't getting any artificial light inside) and I want to make sure they can get warm enough.

Do people normally put the hp on the top or the underside of the wire frame?

I suppose if I put the HP on the underside of the frame I can just put a piece of cardboard on top of the frame to keep the chicks legs from falling through the wire frame. I just thought I saw most pictures with the pad on top of the frame. *I also worry about the pad sagging in the middle over time if  is underneath since there is just one bungee on each end.

Also, is it correct to wrap the mylar blanket around the MHP, or is that trapping the heat inside the blanket? I didn't quite understand how that was supposed to work.

***I DO have pictures, but I need to get them from my phone.

I think it is all about preference and what works for you and your chicks. My frame is underneath but I forego the towel/blanket and keep the setting a little lower. But my heating pad had a plush cover anyway (washable as a bonus). I did wrap it in press and seal still for ease of cleaning. Lots have done it differently though and t still works. As long as the chicks can go in and out easily and are safe (no sharp barbs or can easily fall through), they will regulate the amount of heat they get to what they need and like. Mine like to sit on top to warm their feet during the day and they sometimes huddle at one corner on MHP outside or inside at night, just depends on the ambient room temp.

 

[Redufresne]

Blooie: Thank you for teachng me about this. I hated the heat lamp I used for this first week. Just implemented your heat cave plan and I'm hoping it will give the chicks a normal day night cycle. I used a hanging plant hanger for the frame and so far so good. Here are pictures:

 

[lazy gardener]

Ok, all. Nervous chick mama here. We brought home 5 chicks today (posted above!) and they looked good when we picked them up. Got them home and they are all really lethargic. I know transport is stressful, but the chicks we got in the mail seemed to be far more active than the ones we brought home in the car today. When I checked before they were all huddled by the wall in a heap, but I moved them under the MHP.

Here are some details:
They are 2-3 weeks old
They seem to be laying fairly flat- I never saw my last round of chicks lay like they are
I haven't seen them drink or eat, but I did dip beaks to show them the water.
I haven't seen them poop in the brooder but on the way home there was lots of normal looking poop.

Any ideas? Just tired/stressed from the move? Did they get too cold on the way home? Are they weak from not eating/drinking for half of a day?

What do you think about leaving them under the MHP? I'm nervous with how lethargic they are that they won't move to a good spot if they are too hot or too cold.

It's taking all of my will power to leave them alone for a bit because I'm sure continuing to poke around is stressing them out, but I am SO scared that they are not ok. Help!

Chicks that are shipped from the hatchery have yolk reserves, and can go hours without feed. However, older chicks are at a dis-advantage, and more apt to suffer if food/water supply is interrupted. I'm glad they are doing better today. In the future, if you're transporting chicks any distance, you might want to have some Poultry Nutri-Drench on hand. Wonderful stuff for getting a compromised bird up and running. Sugar water, as suggested by an other poster is also helpful.

Good Evenings folks. I posted this in another thread, but of course I'm ansey and look for some opinions or guidance NOW and since this thread has heavy traffic and I'm using MHP......

I dont know if I have a problem. These chicks are about 5 days old. Everythings been going great, very contented. Today I noticed they scattered all their food. A large amount. Nearly an entire chick feeder. Theres only 3 chicks. They dont sound so contented either. Chirping a bit. Is there any idea of what, if anything is going on?

They love to have food fights. You can elevate the feeder up to shoulder height, and put it in a box. An other option would be to switch to fermented feed