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

[COChix]

Great repurpose!!!    Love it when folks see the possibilities in scrapping things together.  You might need to squash your tunnel a bit to get the HP in contact with the babies while they are still small but can pop it back up as they grow. 

Actually I think those were for GldnRose, who was concerned about putting chicks out because of her older birds.  Since me, and many other people, have our chicks in separate pens but out in the coop or  run, we don't usually have many integration issues....I was just letting GldnRose know that this system works as well indoors as out.

And what a great use for a tomato cage!  After all, they don't work that well for holding up heavy tomato plants so they may as well be re-purposed!  Just kinda smoosh (technical term) the top down flatter so the heating pad is at the level of chicks.  You can arch it back up as they grow!

Oh, I see Bee beat me to the  last part!  I've been BLOOIED!!  

Thank you both for the suggestions on the tomatoe cage and flattening it some. I do not have building skills to speak, that usually falls into my dear BF hands. Anyway, I like this system because it is something that I can do by myself with no help. Having been through two neck fusions and a wrist surgery most recently, I am limited in what I can and should be doing. This is something anyone from all ages and skills can make themselves! I am hoping to have the babies into the coop by Sunday, if the weather cooperates. We are currently a wet muddy mess in Boulder, we are suppose to have a freeze and snow this weekend. I haven't been to work on the small coop as it has been raining, pretty soon someone will have to send us an ark!

 

[Blooie]

Yep, we have the same weather system going though here....fruit trees are blooming and it's supposed to snow on Mother's Day. <sigh> It won't amount to much, and I should be used to spring cold snaps and snowy weather, but hope springs eternal!

 

[Beekissed]

I Blooied the Blooie....AGAIN!!!! Bucket list is becoming complete......

(that's my victory dance, BTW....I feel some level of accomplishment here....)

 

[Blooie]

I Blooied the Blooie....AGAIN!!!! Bucket list is becoming complete......

(that's my victory dance, BTW....I feel some level of accomplishment here....)

I think you've been practicing in secret!!!

 

[COChix]

Nothing says spring more than babies and flower, sending spring vibes your way!

 

[Cearbhael]

So I have changed what I am doing at least ten times now, lol. I had an epiphany when I was out feeding the big flock and I saw a tomatoe cage. So instead I will be using a tomatoe cage as the hard part of the shell. I have it cut and everything, just have to wrap some chicken wire around it so it is more solid.

Not sure if the last few comments were directed at me or not. We have a second coop in our enclosed run and we will be using that coop for the babies until they are integrated with the flock.

I have a couple of mangled tomato cages... Great idea!

 

[dpenning]

When you are integrating the little girls in with the big girls at 3 weeks, how do you handle the feed? I've got the littles on grower crumbles and the big girls on layer pellets. They were 3 weeks yesterday and I've had them in the coop in a wire crate since they came home. I'm thinking about cutting a little hole that only the little girls can fit through and butting the crate up against the edge of the coop so they can come and go, just not sure about the feed.

thanks,
dawn

 

[perchie.girl]

When you are integrating the little girls in with the big girls at 3 weeks, how do you handle the feed? I've got the littles on grower crumbles and the big girls on layer pellets. They were 3 weeks yesterday and I've had them in the coop in a wire crate since they came home. I'm thinking about cutting a little hole that only the little girls can fit through and butting the crate up against the edge of the coop so they can come and go, just not sure about the feed.

thanks,
dawn

Keep their feed in the brooder where only they can come and go.

deb

 

[Beekissed]

When you are integrating the little girls in with the big girls at 3 weeks, how do you handle the feed? I've got the littles on grower crumbles and the big girls on layer pellets. They were 3 weeks yesterday and I've had them in the coop in a wire crate since they came home. I'm thinking about cutting a little hole that only the little girls can fit through and butting the crate up against the edge of the coop so they can come and go, just not sure about the feed.

thanks,
dawn

At 3 wks all my chicks are eating with the big flock, usually fermented layer and chick starter mixed(just to get rid of the chick starter) and then just the layer ration.

 

[dpenning]

Thanks ladies! I'll keep their feed in the dog crate and when it is gone they can go to the pellets if they aren't already.