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

[eagrbeavr]

And that, Broody Brigade, is what it's all about! Folks on some other threads have the worst time when we tell them that some of us have full integration with the flock by the time the chicks are 4 weeks old. But it can be done, and it's surprisingly not difficult. I'm excited to put @azygous 's portals to work when the time comes. Congratulations. Well done!

Thank you! Yes I'll be finding a way before roost time tomorrow to make sure they have the ability to go in and out and still have their own privacy when needed. It's sure been a busy two weeks here. I just succeeded in breaking my first broody this week too. Finally, I looks like I'll be back to regular egg count very soon. Between the chick invasion in the run and the broody hogging the nest for two that everyone wanted, it's been poor. I'm backed up on egg requests from the neighbors haha.

To think of using a heat lamp now seems almost abusive. I'm so happy things will soon be back to normal. After getting the netting up around the garden today, I hope to finally get some plants in tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Til next Spring.....

Peace

 

[Blooie]

I may have just lost my first chick under MHP. Went out to check on them and one was running around all over the run! Good grief, how did she get out??? Ken was helping me catch her and there was another one behind the dust bath bin....cold, stiffening, no life signs at all. So we caught the first one, put her back, and then dealt with the minuscule little gap we missed but they found. I was ready to wrap the "dead" one when she gasped in my hand. So I started rubbing her little chest - none too gently and she took another breath. She's right in the incubator with the unhatched eggs until Ken finishes rigging the new heating pad set up for her.

 

[TerryH]

Um, you do realize that when the chicks are 4 weeks old you will need to move them to your house and REPLACE them with new ones at your Mom's!!!! You can't just tease her with chicks for a week or two.

And why is she feeding them M&Ms??

Mom's still got it! Nice way to find that out.

Lol...well, we've achieved our initial limit on chickens so she will have to come and visit hers at our house/coop/run.

Those are actually marbles but thanks anyway, now I'm craving M&M's.

Mom definitely does still have it. She may not get around very fast or see all that well but she is sharp as a tack and nothing gets past her.

 

[TerryH]

@Blooie So sorry to hear about your chick!!! Hoping for the best!!

 

[FlyWheel]

Might except for one little detail...the heating pads almost all of us use can be used for moist heat. Electric throws? Not so much!

I guess. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

OK then, if you're that adamant you won't mind my answering my question; what does "moist heat" have to do with it? I mean, out of all the posts I've seen can't remember reading anything about anyone pouring water on their MHP.

Please, this inquiring mind wants to know...

P.S. Good luck with your resuscitated chick, I hope she recovers aright.

 

[TerryH]

Terry, I think your mom should become the official "Lodge Mom" here, what say you? We could all adopt her! (In truth I think several of us already have)! She reminds me a lot of my friend @Beekissed 's mom.....Bee has a special name for her, given and always spoken with nothing but love - and she also has a heck of a fan club, me strongly included! But you know, a gang of rebels can't have too many moms, right?

Adopt away. She's having so much fun with the chicks. She has no clue that the entire chicken innerweb is following her escapades.

She is/was a very independent lady. She literally worked cattle, built fence, whatever had to be done. She still makes a garden, tends to all of her flowers and such and apparently raises chickens. We got her a golf cart so she can get around her place and come down to our house. She's borderline nutso on the thing but whatever she wants we try to oblige. She is quite a lady even though there are some days that I have to go outside and scream at some of the things she does and/or comes up with.

 

[Blooie]

This is Baby, stuffed into the incubator after we brought her in.

Her heating pad was warmed up and I put her in this basket, then covered it up. She gasps every once in a while so maybe....now I wait.

 

[eagrbeavr]

Jeez Blooie. What a shame. Hope you're able to save her.Positive thoughts out to your little chick.

 

[Blooie]

We may have half a chance here.....

 

[eagrbeavr]

Keep workin that magic. Sounds like she wants to live