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

[Mitch Mullenax]

I love this thread and so many of you have become friends. I have worked on my coop all winter. Chicks schduled to arrive April 15th. I have wanted chickens for 40 years. I'm a pastor life changes on a momemts notice. Tomorrow I cancel my chick order. I am broken hearted beyond words. I will be living my dreams through your photos. Keep sharing them. Pray for us we are very discouraged.

 

[Blooie]

I'm sorry I'm not trying to start an argument but I know my birds. They do need/want the heat. I gave them a night without the heat and they almost froze to death. I came out the next morning and they were huddled together and the temp went down to 48 in the cage. Please do not take this the wrong way but I know my chickens. Tonight it is only going to be in the 60s but the rest of the week it is going to be in the 40s at night with rain. I am putting this in the coop for then just incase they want some extra heat.

Remember that chicks huddle for more than warmth. Like adults, they don't like change - any change. Put something new in their brooder and their first reaction would likely be to get away from it, stand in a tight knot, and stare at it. They huddle for security. If we weren't depriving them of a real mother hen with any of our artificial brooding methods, they'd charge for her and jam themselves under her for protection. And in most cases, by 5 weeks the entire brood of chicks wouldn't fit under her to warm up anymore anyway, so the chicks would get as close to her as possible - huddling. But they still prefer to spend most of their time running around exploring their surroundings, even in temps below freezing. They do the same thing when they learn to roost - get as close to her as possible, a few trying to get under her, but they stick together in a tight little group.

I am sure you know your chicks. Nobody is arguing the point with you. Mine live outside from day one with temps in the teens and twenties, and I haven't lost a single one or had a sick chick yet. There are some situations where Mama Heating Pad isn't appropriate, and trying to train chicks who, in their natural world, wouldn't be needing heat anymore anyway is one of them. So when you put MHP out there, don't be surprised if they don't go under it at all. They may spend a time on top of it and snuggled around it, but they will still huddle, and you'll still go out tomorrow morning convinced that they almost froze to death. I just don't want you to be disappointed when MHP doesn't work as we've described with our younger chicks.

I sure hope you'd still like to give this a try with younger chicks who will naturally want to gravitate to a dark, warm place. We'd love to have you here and see your chicks.

 

[Blooie]

I love this thread and so many of you have become friends. I have worked on my coop all winter. Chicks schduled to arrive April 15th. I have wanted chickens for 40 years. I'm a pastor life changes on a momemts notice. Tomorrow I cancel my chick order. I am broken hearted beyond words. I will be living my dreams through your photos. Keep sharing them. Pray for us we are very discouraged.

Praying for you and your family. Might not be any chicks for you this year, but remember that when the Lord decides we need a change in plans, He knows what He's doing! We aren't going anywhere and we'll be right here when you are ready!

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Pastor, a word or two of encouragement....

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." Prov. 16:9

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.…" Psalm 37:23-24

"“I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps”" Jeremiah 10:23

"I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge Him and He directs my paths." Prov. 3: 5-6

I have been where you are at with such things in my life and was disappointed at first of the life long desire to farm, but God had other plans and I came to find they were much, much more wonderful than anything I had desired in my own heart. I now no longer desire that old dream and plan I held for so long, though at times I remember it, it is without that old yearning. God gave me new desires for my heart and they are most wonderful!

 

[lazy gardener]

I love this thread and so many of you have become friends. I have worked on my coop all winter. Chicks schduled to arrive April 15th. I have wanted chickens for 40 years. I'm a pastor life changes on a momemts notice. Tomorrow I cancel my chick order. I am broken hearted beyond words. I will be living my dreams through your photos. Keep sharing them. Pray for us we are very discouraged.

What Bee and Blooie said! It's late, my brain is shutting down. I will lift you up to the heavenly throne room. May God give you and your family the comfort you need at this time. I pray that your church family (I'm making an assumption here, that you have an active church at this time) will surround you and reach out to meet your needs in love. Perhaps there will still be time for you to start your flock later this season.

 

[Mitch Mullenax]

Thank you.

 

[Mitch Mullenax]

Thank you so much.

 

[Mitch Mullenax]

We do have an active church family half of them left today. Things are going to be too tight to take on another responsibility. Thanks for praying.

 

[Coop de Grass]

 

[Phage]

I love this thread and so many of you have become friends. I have worked on my coop all winter. Chicks schduled to arrive April 15th. I have wanted chickens for 40 years. I'm a pastor life changes on a momemts notice. Tomorrow I cancel my chick order. I am broken hearted beyond words. I will be living my dreams through your photos. Keep sharing them. Pray for us we are very discouraged.

Oh no. What happened?