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

[eagrbeavr]

Aart I love your chicks playpen.

 

[COChix]

It's all so quiet here. Not a peep. The heating pad is amazing. I'm going to try sending pics once my iPhone cooperates.
Sorry I don't join the conversation. There are so many posts it's hard to follow. But I hope all is well w everyone.

Glad to hear things in your tomato cage MHP are going well, it is such a drastic change from "The Lamp", but darn near as good as a broody.

Sorry my multi-quote button is gone

 

[Keeterwaul]

I love this heating pad approach. This is my first year with chicks using this method over heating lamps. My chicks are 2 weeks old and I have their pad set to #4/6 and at night they choose to sleep on top of the pad instead of below it. They show no signs of distress. Should I be concerned or wait it out? They are in a brooder box inside the house and the temp under the MHP is 88 but they insist on grouping up on top. Thanks all.

 

[COChix]

Just pop in when you can....shoot, most of the time I can't even keep up! Just the two, but I don't know if the Cream Legbar will make it. Naval looks really rough, can't get one eye open despite warm bath with a cotton ball. And of course, it's a little pullet too! She looked terrible when she hatched...all covered in yuck and nasty stuff. So we'll see. That stubborn Green Magnolia is still rocking in the incubator but no pips or anything yet. Yayyyy! So did you have the obligatory "my chicks are going outside and I need a glass of wine" wine? I've got Yokel under MHP but the little Creamette (as Ralphie calls the girls) is in the incubator fluffing from her wash.

So glad to hear that you have two so far. Wondering what the heck a Green Magnolia looks like. I know I am behind. Oh and glad to report, I now have our 10 day old chicks down to 3 on their MHP. Checked it this am and they haven't skipped a beat. They are feathering a lot now, will have to take some pics tomorrow. I am amazed at this crew as they have adjusted rather quickly, I attribute it to the fact that they come from a free ranging farm flock. They have the farm smarts for sure and while they have escaped their set up numerous times we haven't had any issues. I am getting ready to open up their little world a little more soon. Gonna do some make shift openings that are chick size so they can run around more. I have to add some addition wire to one part of the run so they don't escape into the yard. Are you all expecting a storm? Forecast here is calling for 6-8 inches of snow over the weekend, we will see.....

 

[COChix]

Bucket O Chicks!!.....rounded them all up for re-banding, rigged a tote with small door in cardboard 'lid'.....
....then pulled 'em out one at a time to re-band before releasing.  It got warm inside that tote.

Love the pics and their luxury digs. They have a lot of space, funny them dust bathing in the poop board area. I found some of our one-year-old's doing the same thing in the coop. Gonna rip out the poop boards tomorrow.

I love this heating pad approach. This is my first year with chicks using this method over heating lamps. My chicks are 2 weeks old and I have their pad set to #4/6 and at night they choose to sleep on top of the pad instead of below it. They show no signs of distress. Should I be concerned or wait it out? They are in a brooder box inside the house and the temp under the MHP is 88 but they insist on grouping up on top. Thanks all.

I would turn it down, I have 10 day olds outside in Colorado and their brooder is on 3. Them sleeping on top indicates to me they are too warm.

 

[Jensownzoo]

I love this heating pad approach. This is my first year with chicks using this method over heating lamps. My chicks are 2 weeks old and I have their pad set to #4/6 and at night they choose to sleep on top of the pad instead of below it. They show no signs of distress. Should I be concerned or wait it out? They are in a brooder box inside the house and the temp under the MHP is 88 but they insist on grouping up on top. Thanks all.

Sounds like the cave is too warm for them to be comfortable staying in it. Trying turning down the heat and see what happens.

 

[circlehouse]

Made our MHP. Hardwear cloth, 2 layers, heat pad underneath, flat cloth diaper, and a ton of tape covering openings. And wooden supports available should we need them. Borrowed from my kids blocks! One end is 2 1 /2 inches and the other is 3 1/2 inches. Which should I face for the cave opening? Brooding outside in vt, should I drape a towel over the front, or pull straw down in the front? We will be down to freezing at night still, start at 6? Excited to pick up our peeps tomorrow! Thanks everyone for all the help.

 

[COChix]

Made our MHP. Hardwear cloth, 2 layers, heat pad underneath, flat cloth diaper, and a ton of tape covering openings. And wooden supports available should we need them. Borrowed from my kids blocks! One end is 2 1 /2 inches and the other is 3 1/2 inches. Which should I face for the cave opening? Brooding outside in vt, should I drape a towel over the front, or pull straw down in the front? We will be down to freezing at night still, start at 6? Excited to pick up our peeps tomorrow! Thanks everyone for all the help.

Moved our chicks outside on day 4 here in Colorado. I like using a towel to drop down a bit over the opening, helps keep the heat in a bit. I also then pile straw all on the sides and top and for ours I stuffed the sides with straw on the inside. We only have 3. I know Blooie raises hers outside as well in Wyoming and has a similar approach with a towel and straw. I would start them on 6 and then adjust from there.

 

[WyoJax]

I'm not sure what expected measurements are at but we're expecting the fluffy white stuff ourselves here in Cheyenne. I have family in from out of the county and I have a bad feeling DIA might be crazy on Sunday...

Sounds like you might have been over thinking it Terry. I have learned myself that rule number one is to not think too much!

 

[Blooie]

Made our MHP. Hardwear cloth, 2 layers, heat pad underneath, flat cloth diaper, and a ton of tape covering openings. And wooden supports available should we need them. Borrowed from my kids blocks! One end is 2 1 /2 inches and the other is 3 1/2 inches. Which should I face for the cave opening? Brooding outside in vt, should I drape a towel over the front, or pull straw down in the front? We will be down to freezing at night still, start at 6? Excited to pick up our peeps tomorrow! Thanks everyone for all the help.

Hi! Welcome to the Broody Brigade! I generally like to keep shipped chicks in the house for the first 24 hours...that way I can spot any that might be suffering shipping stress, make sure they know how to get food and water, and how to get under the cave. I agree with the towel on top, and then I pile straw on top of, around, and under MHP. Be careful not to put too much in front of the entrance - you want to know they can get in there. The towel makes a very nice awning...holds in the heat and gives them that feeling of scooting under something. Outdoors I would start the pad on 6, or High if that's the settings on your pad.

Looks like you used a lot of tape...do I wish I had stock in the 3M company?

Be sure that any loose edges are snipped and flattened....chicks will peck at anything!

Here is an article I wrote on brooding chicks outdoors. It goes into more detail and has lots of pictures. Good luck - and remember that your dues are photos of your chicks!

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