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

[Blooie]

Thelma, Louise, Lucy, and Ethyl - portrait at eight days taken on their "auxiliary heating pad". It's been in the low 40s during the day, too cold for me, but not for these tough little squirts.

Awwww. so doggone cute, @azygous

 

[Blooie]

Blooie. I have the towels on top b/c it was suggested to me by folks on this site. I was initially concerned that the towels would absorb heat that could go to the chicks, but I saw and heard that many layer the top of the cave and cover with straw. I cut my towels to fit now so there are no places to get stuck (that I am aware of) Two nights with the new set up and everyone is well. My main concern was that someone would stick their head through the wire shelf and directly onto the heating pad, but so far so good. I will switch out the 4x4 blocks for 6x6 blocks when they get a little taller so I don't have anyone hang themselves on the shelf.
After breeding equines for years (VERY stressful and expensive) I have been looking forward to chickens, but I guess I am true to form b/c I am stressing plenty about these chicks. The silver lining is no matter what happens I won't end up with a 5K vet bill. I am loving them, I just dont' want to lose anymore of them. Thank you for your wisdom and advice

Relax...even if they do touch the heating pad they'll be fine. Mama Hen's body temp is over 100 - most people report the temp of the pad directly is about 100. So they won't get burned like they would if they came into direct contact with a heat lamp bulb.

I use towels...just the towel if I'm brooding indoors for a few days before moving them outside. Outside I add the straw because our temps out there fluctuate so doggone much. So this is pretty foolproof for the most part. Not like raising horses, from what I understand.

 

[lazy gardener]

Our yard has a ton of tree cover in summer and our dog is out with them, which I think helps. I still do check on them constantly since they are small, and never leave the house while they're out (I worry the dog would come in without me knowing and a predator would make their move). Hoping I can let them roam without worries come Winter but I'm not sure if that will work once the trees are bare and hawks are hungry.

Many hawks migrate to warmer climates during the winter months. Evil creatures they are. I have a friend who has excellent free range space: pond, raspberry thicket, plenty of shrubs and tall grass, plenty of tree cover. Hawks have taken a liking to his chicken buffet. The only way he can let his birds out is if he sits in his lawn chair with shot gun in hand. He has 2 dogs also. If he leaves them alone for even an hour, he can plan on one being killed.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I agree dogs will not protect from a hawk. I do freerange, and have only had one loss to Hawks, but it is definitely always concern (and one that is very difficult to deal with once it begins happening.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree dogs will not protect from a hawk. I do freerange, and have only had one loss to Hawks, but it is definitely always concern (and one that is very difficult to deal with once it begins happening.

The right dog can and will protect from hawks. I've had one and nary a loss to hawks while she was on guard...she would try to leap up into the air to get them and chase them right out of the area. My current older dog isn't like she was and so doesn't get as excited when hawks fly over or low....I'm hoping the younger dog coming up will not take his cue and will see the hawks as a threat and chase them away.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I agree dogs will not protect from a hawk. I do freerange, and have only had one loss to Hawks, but it is definitely always concern (and one that is very difficult to deal with once it begins happening.

The right dog can and will protect from hawks.  I've had one and nary a loss to hawks while she was on guard...she would try to leap up into the air to get them and chase them right out of the area.  My current older dog isn't like she was and so doesn't get as excited when hawks fly over or low....I'm hoping the younger dog coming up will not take his cue and will see the hawks as a threat and chase them away. 

I stand corrected. My dogs are great at keeping foxes and weasles away. But they are uninterested in birds and I assumed the hawk strikes were too quick.

 

[COChix]

I'm back with another non-MHP question for all of you "let chickens be chickens" people. Would you let 6 and 4 week old chicks out of the coop if it's raining (not hard)? I don't even know if they'll want to go out...but should I keep them locked up? MHP no longer in use so there's no heat source in the coop but it's pretty warm out (70). I've never had a mama hen to watch so I'm not sure if she would keep them inside in inclement weather at this age. ETA: I mean to free-range. There is always access to the covered run.

I would let chickens be chickens as you said, open the coop and let them decide. I can tell you we have had days of rain now and our 6 weeks old are running around the run with the adults in the rain with no issues, they don't seem to notice. We have also had them out free ranging during inclement weather. As long as they have cover if they need it they should be fine. Often I see our girls just being out in the rain, like it's no big deal.

Thelma, Louise, Lucy, and Ethyl - portrait at eight days taken on their "auxiliary heating pad". It's been in the low 40s during the day, too cold for me, but not for these tough little squirts.

Cute babies! I hear ya on this weather. Cold where we are, I think your higher than us, must be I the 30's overnight still for you? We hit 36 the other night....sick of the boggy mess ready to get the garden in.... Also Just wanted to weight in on the towels/cloth folded over the top of the MHP. I have never done multiple folds, I have always done one layer of cloth over the heat pad and have never had any issues with the littles wanting to climb In-between the layers. This is our second year using this system and haven't had any issues and we have been extra lucky no chick losses.

 

[MistyMountain]

The right dog can and will protect from hawks. I've had one and nary a loss to hawks while she was on guard...she would try to leap up into the air to get them and chase them right out of the area. My current older dog isn't like she was and so doesn't get as excited when hawks fly over or low....I'm hoping the younger dog coming up will not take his cue and will see the hawks as a threat and chase them away.

I agree, and so will the right rooster. Our mean old Willie Roo was threatened with the soup pot often, but he was too valuable as a protector. He earned his keep. We used to watch him from our deck as he would send the girls to cover and stand in the open, chest puffed out and eye to the sky as the hawks would swoop down at him. They would meet a few feet off the ground for a moment, then do it all over again. Soon the hawk would move on, realizing this meal would be too risky. The only hawk losses we had were those who were known to stray from the flock and walk around loud and foolish, the weakest links.

Now, Willie was destined to fail at some point, but that was his job. Protect the flock or go down trying.

Sadly, Willie Roo was lost to a dog attack last summer. The first one to go down, and he went down fighting, over 200 feet. We recently gave some of our white pine logs to a gentleman who creates sculptures with a chainsaw. Our payment is a sculpture of none other than Willie the Legend.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I'm back with another non-MHP question for all of you "let chickens be chickens" people. 

Would you let 6 and 4 week old chicks out of the coop if it's raining (not hard)? I don't even know if they'll want to go out...but should I keep them locked up? MHP no longer in use so there's no heat source in the coop but it's pretty warm out (70). I've never had a mama hen to watch so I'm not sure if she would keep them inside in inclement weather at this age.

ETA: I mean to free-range. There is always access to the covered run.

My 4week olds go out in the rain. I give them covered areas to hide if they want, but they all do just fine. Now this is assuming it isnt super cold...but if it is 50s and rain I let mine out.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm back with another non-MHP question for all of you "let chickens be chickens" people.

Would you let 6 and 4 week old chicks out of the coop if it's raining (not hard)? I don't even know if they'll want to go out...but should I keep them locked up? MHP no longer in use so there's no heat source in the coop but it's pretty warm out (70). I've never had a mama hen to watch so I'm not sure if she would keep them inside in inclement weather at this age.

ETA: I mean to free-range. There is always access to the covered run.

I've let 2 wk old chicks out in the rain, even in cool weather, on their own and without a mama. Right now I have two bunches of chicks with mamas and they are ALL out in the rain, as they were all out in 32* weather after rain just the other day.

One group is 2 wks old and the other are only 1 wk. It's currently 53* and raining and those little chicks are running after mama over the grass like it ain't no thang. Every once in awhile I'll see one of the mothers crouched down and sitting still, then I know they are warming up their brood but it doesn't last for long.

The earlier and more frequently you expose them to the weather, the tougher they become. The ones that aren't tough enough will need pampering all their lives and who wants to have to go that route?