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

[FlyWheel]

I think when they say a certain breed has a certain characteristic what the really mean is the larger percentage will have this trait; but when it comes to brass tacks, it's really up to the chicken. Black Australorps are suppose to be really sweet and people friendly. Well, my pullet is like that, but my BA rooster attacks me every other time I turn my back on him!

 

[aart]

I think when they say a certain breed has a certain characteristic what the really mean is the larger percentage will have this trait; but when it comes to brass tacks, it's really up to the chicken.

Absolutely!
..and with cock/erels it can have a lot to do with the keeper.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think when they say a certain breed has a certain characteristic what the really mean is the larger percentage will have this trait; but when it comes to brass tacks, it's really up to the chicken. Black Australorps are suppose to be really sweet and people friendly. Well, my pullet is like that, but my BA rooster attacks me every other time I turn my back on him! 

Absolutely!
..and with cock/erels it can have a lot to do with the keeper.

Very true. My BAs used to be a little mean so I was worried but they've calmed down and actually the BOs while not mean are usually not afraid to stand up for themselves. Have one little runty one though that is lower.

 

[ShrekDawg]

In fact I'm never sure who's where on the pecking order because first of all I just don't watch them enough, I admit, but with treats ones I used to think were higher on the order tend to linger/hang back waiting for an opportunity to snag some food. They also take turns, some will push in and push someone out then the other will push back in so never sure. I know who one of the lowest or at least most scaredy cat is, one EE always hangs back and is nervous to approach. I try to make it fair for everybody and move the treats around so for instance if everyone is crowding and one isn't getting any I'll hold it near them until they get a bite or few which may take a while if the others mob it again

 

[bruceha2000]

Quote:
Fortunately these people come over as soon as they are called! The bigger problem is the people who can't pick up until late afternoon (fortunately rare!!!!). Those chicks are loud all day long.

I will. I was hoping against hope she would turn out all white, but it looks as if her first feathers are a mixture of cream and a light tan. The second (black) one is not an EE but a Cuckoo Marans (I hope y'all don't kick me off the thread for including her

)

There are threads for EEs but this is for ANY bird (or other animal I guess) that is raised in a MHP brooder. We are happy to have CMs here!

I think when they say a certain breed has a certain characteristic what the really mean is the larger percentage will have this trait; but when it comes to brass tacks, it's really up to the chicken. Black Australorps are suppose to be really sweet and people friendly. Well, my pullet is like that, but my BA rooster attacks me every other time I turn my back on him!

YEP! I have 2 BAs. Echo has always been much more likely to come running in case I have food. Both she and Zorra were pretty much middle of the pecking order. Zorra is huge so she didn't get messed with much by the Anconas and she never bothered the other chickens ..... until she raised those 7 Meyer Hatchery chicks last summer. TERRORIZED most of the hens that got even close. And now she chases the "little ones" (currently 14 months old!) away from food at treat time. When she was done raising those girls she was done NOW. "Do I know you???"

 

[FlyWheel]

Funny thing is, Blackstock (my BA 'Roo) is nice to his ladies, in fact that's why I culled the other rooster, because that one was mean to me and the hens and especially Blackstock. Now Blackstock is still good with the girls, but has become mean to me. There's gratitude for you!

Only thing I can think of is he thinks he's protecting them from the mean old man that provides food, water and goodies. He will take treats nicely enough when I offer them, but will still lunge at me when I turn my back.

The fact that he is protective is the only reason he's still around. What I'm going to do when Chaz (my EE cockerel) grows up is anyone's guess. So far he isn't standing up to any challenges, not even those from my Production Red hen. And is fine with me, rather skittish actually. But that may soon change; he's already making his first clumsy attempts at mounting his still reluctant 'sisters'.

 

[MistyMountain]

Hi All. I'm back. I must admit, I could not keep up, so I unsubscribed. I expected my Sandhill order to be a bust since it is past all my possible ship dates.

Then all this happened:
-I got an incubator for my Bday.
-I got eggs to hatch in new incubator to replace the chicks I had ordered from Sandhill. Day 11, with 10 developing, YAY!!
-I just now got a call that part of my order has shipped from Sandhill with extras.

Oh. Chick. I am going to be up to my ears in chicks!

Not sure if I will have the time to put MHP together before they get here! Yikes!!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Hi All. I'm back. I must admit, I could not keep up, so I unsubscribed. I expected my Sandhill order to be a bust since it is past all my possible ship dates.

Then all this happened:
-I got an incubator for my Bday.
-I got eggs to hatch in new incubator to replace the chicks I had ordered from Sandhill. Day 11, with 10 developing, YAY!!
-I just now got a call that part of my order has shipped from Sandhill with extras.

Oh. Chick. I am going to be up to my ears in chicks!

Not sure if I will have the time to put MHP together before they get here! Yikes!!

it's very quick and easy and you won't regret it. What breeds are you getting?

 

[MistyMountain]

it's very quick and easy and you won't regret it. What breeds are you getting?

If only I could find where I put the carriage bolts….

This shipment will be 10 welsummers, 1 mottled java, 1 delaware, 2 BO, 2 Jersey Giants and some others.

If possible, a future second shipment may contain the remaining mottled javas and blue orps that I had originally ordered plus extras.

I had originally only ordered the mottled javas, welsummers and delaware, which they were going to sub blue orps for.

 

[Brigabart]

Well we've made it through our first week with a "mama hen" heating pad. Today I moved them out of the brooder and down onto the ground. A bit worried that the ground will be too cold, even with the pine chips on it, but that's probably a silly worry. I also made a double mama so that there's enough room. I have 17 bantam chicks. They ran right under the "mama" on day one after they got here in the mail (they spent the night in an air conditioned mail room). They stay on top in the daytime and underneath at night. I turn it off in the daytime since it's been in the 90s. Mid 70s at night, so it's been on 2 at night. I have a t shirt wrapped around a shelf to keep little heads safe, then the pad, then a towel. No problems with anyone getting stuck, yay!
Here's the first "mama" in the brooder (chips are piled around to keep anyone from getting wedged:


And here is "super mama" on the ground in the coop: