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

[Donna R Raybon]

mine integrate pretty good, too. Letting everybody see each other, but no contact. Then letting everyone free range so no one crowds or bullies works well for me too.

 

[Jensownzoo]

No more raccoon attacks since thankfully. But we have gotten and killed 3 in the live traps we have set up. My chicks are now 14 weeks. I have had the nesting boxes closed off because when the were little they tried to roost in there. Do I wait until they start laying to open them back up? Thanks!

I would wait until you start seeing their combs turning red...then they're getting ready to lay and may want to "practice"

 

[lazy gardener]

No more raccoon attacks since thankfully. But we have gotten and killed 3 in the live traps we have set up. My chicks are now 14 weeks. I have had the nesting boxes closed off because when the were little they tried to roost in there. Do I wait until they start laying to open them back up? Thanks!

Some other signs that they are getting close to laying: They may squat when you hover your hand over their back. If you have a rooster, he'll start breeding them. They may sing the egg song before they start laying. Good to open the boxes before that first egg. You want to give them every opportunity to learn to use the nests. I predict that they will start investigating those nest boxes and playing "house" in them as soon as you open them up. You may need to have to go out in the evening and evict them if that is still an issue. Put a couple of golf balls or fake eggs in the boxes. If you use plastic Easter eggs, (they can't tell color) be sure to weight them so they are about as heavy as a real egg. I place a stone in the egg, wrapped in tissue, and then super glue it shut.

 

[Beekissed]

.....and the surest sign is when you see an egg in the nest.

14 wks is a tad early to expect eggs....I wouldn't be looking for eggs until 20-24 wks, but you never know. I'd leave them blocked off until all birds are roosting on the roosts each night, every night.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Mine started laying at 15 1/2 weeks, but I have some Golden Buffs, and sex-links tend to mature early. But, it was one of the Dominiques that reddened and squatted first, so who knows? I haven't actually seen any of them laying yet...they're very sneaky about it. The few times I thought I heard an egg song, it was a false alarm. Don't want to chase them down to look at vents, so they can keep their secrets for now. Not planning on breeding any of this first group, so as long as someone keeps me in eating eggs, I guess it doesn't matter since they also won't be soup.

 

[dyorto]

.....and the surest sign is when you see an egg in the nest. 

14 wks is a tad early to expect eggs....I wouldn't be looking for eggs until 20-24 wks, but you never know.  I'd leave them blocked off until all birds are roosting on the roosts each night, every night. 

Thanks. They are all up in the roosts at night now and have been that way for at least a month. I figured I have a bit of time yet. I'll let them have access in a couple weeks I guess

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks. They are all up in the roosts at night now and have been that way for at least a month. I figured I have a bit of time yet. I'll let them have access in a couple weeks I guess

If you don't have to worry about them sleeping in the nest boxes, it wouldn't hurt to open them up now. As LG says, they like to go in there and check out the territory a lot before they commence to mothering. That really fools you because your heart springs glad each time you see one on the nest or climbing into the box....then you realize they are just trying it on for size.

 

[aart]

Quote: IKR?!......and then their combs get real red with exertion, then they pale back out when they calm down.....haha!

@dyorto You could open the nests now, put some fake eggs in there, it can be good to 'test' their roosting habits and do some retraining if necessary.

 

[bruceha2000]

Just a thought... that car battery may not be setup to take a trickle charge from photocels.... I dont know enough about the hybrid batteries to know that for sure. Its my understanding they recharge while driving on fuel and during breaking...?

deb

The hybrid battery is 201.6V in the 2004-2009 Prius and you are right, you can't just slap a charger on it. About the only time they need to be externally charged with the special charger (only at Toyota as far as I know) is when they are new. And you are correct, it is charged when necessary by the gas engine either when it is making excess electricity or it is getting low and during non emergency braking above 7 or 8 MPH (below that it is friction like any other car). That regenerative braking uses the transmission to turn the generator to charge the traction battery. The charge on the traction battery is constantly rising and falling.

The 12V is more of a deep cycle because its only job when starting the car is to open the circuits to the 201.6V traction battery and turn on the computers. It doesn't need any Cold Cranking Amps. The gas engine is started by the electric motor turning it through the transmission. Kind of like push starting a car in a way since a Prius ALWAYS starts moving on the electric motor even if the gas engine is running. That is why there is 0 delay to start moving if the gas engine has shut off. Starts as fast at -20F as it does at +80F, electric motors are all torque at low RPMs. The 12Vs other job is all the same stuff the 12V does in non hybrids like lights, radio, etc.

So yes, the Prius 12V can be charged with a standard charger and could be used to open an auto chicken door to the brooder containing the MHP. But I don't think I would want to figure out how to trickle charge it while it is connected to the door. Easy enough to charge it for a few hours when the pullet-shut door is open if you are using the photocell to control the open/close times based on sunlight since you won't have to reprogram it.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

Just a thought... that car battery may not be setup to take a trickle charge from photocels.... I dont know enough about the hybrid batteries to know that for sure. Its my understanding they recharge while driving on fuel and during breaking...?

deb

The hybrid battery is 201.6V in the 2004-2009 Prius and you are right, you can't just slap a charger on it. About the only time they need to be externally charged with the special charger (only at Toyota as far as I know) is when they are new. And you are correct, it is charged when necessary by the gas engine either when it is making excess electricity or it is getting low and during non emergency braking above 7 or 8 MPH (below that it is friction like any other car). That regenerative braking uses the transmission to turn the generator to charge the traction battery. The charge on the traction battery is constantly rising and falling.

The 12V is more of a deep cycle because its only job when starting the car is to open the circuits to the 201.6V traction battery and turn on the computers. It doesn't need any Cold Cranking Amps. The gas engine is started by the electric motor turning it through the transmission. Kind of like push starting a car in a way since a Prius ALWAYS starts moving on the electric motor even if the gas engine is running. That is why there is 0 delay to start moving if the gas engine has shut off. Starts as fast at -20F as it does at +80F, electric motors are all torque at low RPMs. The 12Vs other job is all the same stuff the 12V does in non hybrids like lights, radio, etc.

So yes, the Prius 12V can be charged with a standard charger and could be used to open an auto chicken door to the brooder containing the MHP. But I don't think I would want to figure out how to trickle charge it while it is connected to the door. Easy enough to charge it for a few hours when the pullet-shut door is open if you are using the photocell to control the open/close times based on sunlight since you won't have to reprogram it.

I figured you were an expert but not alot of us here are.... I just knew enough to ask questions.