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

[aart]

Quote: Wasn't me....no one is always right. ;-)

 

[dyorto]

I finally got the time and nice weekend weather to get working on the coop. I painted the floors and whitewashed the interior. So once that all dries by tonight, I think the chicks can finally sleep in their upgraded coop

Now I'm working on painting the outside

 

[Victoria-nola]

I finally got the time and nice weekend weather to get working on the coop. I painted the floors and whitewashed the interior. So once that all dries by tonight, I think the chicks can finally sleep in their upgraded coop

Now I'm working on painting the outside

I don't mean to butt in as I'm new to this thread, but I want to say that birds in general, and chickens too, are very sensitive to fumes. So if the paint is outgassing (still smells like paint), I would wait to put them in there until it is done releasing fumes.

P.S. It looks lovely!

 

[Victoria-nola]

I hatch my own chicks. I like to get them all moved out of the bator and into a temporary brooder in the house with MHP for at least 2 days. This gives me time to keep a close eye on them, be sure they are using MHP, and eating and drinking well. This season, I hatched some shipped eggs, and had difficulties with my newest home made bator, so had some issues with chicks, resulting in the need to watch, splint, and cull some of them. So they stayed in for almost 2 weeks (in my basement, set up in a large box with HWC lid.) I moved them outside last Saturday. Wednesday night was the last night they used MHP. Temp Thurs night was 43*. They still have MHP, and some of the smaller ones duck under it during the day for a bit. I plan to give them a huddle box for tonight.

I also want to say that wow, that's so fast that they stopped needing MHP so quickly. I'm so jazzed about this method!

 

[Victoria-nola]

Quote: Thank you for this info. It's very helpful. I have an infrared/black bulb heat lamp (expected to use it for brooding before I found MHP) so I can keep the littles warm in batches if I do take them out of incubator in batches. I certainly can see that keeping them for a day or two inside would alleviate any concerns about finding any chicks that need help and making sure they are eating/drinking.

I've tried to figure out how to PM someone but can't find a HELP file on it. If anyone can point me to a how-to, that would be great.

I'm feeling ever more confident, thank you, everyone, very very much.

 

[Coop de Grass]

Wasn't me....no one is always right. ;-)

I didn't say she was always right, just that she has information and is willing to share... or something like that!

 

[lalaland]

Thank you for this info. It's very helpful. I have an infrared/black bulb heat lamp (expected to use it for brooding before I found MHP) so I can keep the littles warm in batches if I do take them out of incubator in batches. I certainly can see that keeping them for a day or two inside would alleviate any concerns about finding any chicks that need help and making sure they are eating/drinking.

I've tried to figure out how to PM someone but can't find a HELP file on it. If anyone can point me to a how-to, that would be great.

I'm feeling ever more confident, thank you, everyone, very very much.

There are a couple of ways, an easy one is if you see a post from someone you want to pm. Their name is on the post, if you hover over it, a drop down menu shows up and send a pm is one of the choices.

Also, if you scroll all the way up to the top of the screen, on the right side you will see "private messages" - click that.

hope that helps!

 

[hpierce88]

Ok, so I put the girls out in the coop today. I just had to wrestle them in from the run. I have their cave in their, but no heating pad. They are for the most part fully feathered. I shut the coop door and they are NOT happy right now, cheeping up a storm. Should I give them a few minutes to figure it out before I start freaking that they aren't ready?? Our low temps are supposed to be about 48-50 tonight. Right now it's 60 out there. There's 8 of them, so if they're smart enough to huddle in the cave, I think they'll be fine. Please reassure me. I already put away their brooder!!

Heather

 

[Blooie]

They'll be fine. My first heat lamp chicks were evicted from the house at 5.5 weeks. They ranted and raved but they forgave me, and they were going from inside to out in the coop when it was in the 20s! They did great, after the temper tantrum subsided. Chickens don't like change, and this, in their little minds, is a doozy! So they'll huddle up for security. Have a glass of wine and relax.

 

[hpierce88]

They'll be fine. My first heat lamp chicks were evicted from the house at 5.5 weeks. They ranted and raved but they forgave me, and they were going from inside to out in the coop when it was in the 20s! They did great, after the temper tantrum subsided. Chickens don't like change, and this, in their little minds, is a doozy! So they'll huddle up for security. Have a glass of wine and relax.

Thanks! I'm gonna go check to see if they've quieted down. Hopefully, I dont jumpstart another commotion.