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

[Blooie]

Yep, I'd turn the pad off but leave the cave (or whatever you are using to support the pad) up for a few more days. Temps aren't going to get any warmer unless you live in Australia and the sooner they can start acclimating the easier it will be on them and on you!

 

[saraem]

Progress!

Mouse was out with the littles today and although we watched very closely, we never had to seriously intervene. I think they finally get that they need to give her a WIDE berth.

Some dues, because I never paid them. Had a photo shoot with the chicks a few weeks ago because my son's teacher wants to hang a photo of them over the table where they hatched <3 (they were a classroom hatch):


And today. I was trying to break up a garden bed for planting. Mouse is always right with me, scratching around, thinking I'm digging up bugs just for her...and then all of a sudden I felt four little feet land on my back. The chicks didn't want to be left out I suppose. They sat up there for a good 5 minutes while I pickaxed away and my husband chuckled and took photos:

 

[aart]

Some dues, because I never paid them. Had a photo shoot with the chicks a few weeks ago because my son's teacher wants to hang a photo of them over the table where they hatched <3 (they were a classroom hatch):

THAT is a beautiful photograph!!

 

[GardenNut]

X2!

 

[Blooie]

Wow.....you aren't going to owe any dues for the rest of your chicken-raising life with those!!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Yep, I'd turn the pad off but leave the cave (or whatever you are using to support the pad) up for a few more days. Temps aren't going to get any warmer unless you live in Australia and the sooner they can start acclimating the easier it will be on them and on you!

Ok just caught up where I left off on this thread, responding to post by Blooie, junebuggena & saraem....

This is the second set of chicks I've raised under MHP, think I can "turn" mine off earlier than I have been. It gets chilly (60s) at nights & early mornings so MHP is on at nights, turn it off during the day but now maybe I don't need to have it on at nights? Current batch are 5wks old & feathered so guess I can turn MHP off at nights too, leaving the MHP for a huddle box? BLOOIE/junebuggena what say you?

This is my brooder, it was/is a work table, had DH enclose it & I love it! When chicks are about 5wks spend nights in there, go out in a mobile run during the day. When they're about 3 - 4 mo & learn to come when I shake the container of MW the have run of the yard but hang out in the patio. In January, I had DH build my Run/Coop which now houses 5 Blue Wynadottes (7 months) waiting for the first egg.

 

[junebuggena]

Ok just caught up where I left off on this thread, responding to post by Blooie, junebuggena & saraem....

This is the second set of chicks I've raised under MHP, think I can "turn" mine off earlier than I have been. It gets chilly (60s) at nights & early mornings so MHP is on at nights, turn it off during the day but now maybe I don't need to have it on at nights? Current batch are 5wks old & feathered so guess I can turn MHP off at nights too, leaving the MHP for a huddle box? BLOOIE/junebuggena what say you?

This is my brooder, it was/is a work table, had DH enclose it & I love it! When chicks are about 5wks spend nights in there, go out in a mobile run during the day. When they're about 3 - 4 mo & learn to come when I shake the container of MW the have run of the yard but hang out in the patio. In January, I had DH build my Run/Coop which now houses 5 Blue Wynadottes (7 months) waiting for the first egg.

You don't need the pad on at all at that age, with those temps.

 

[Blooie]

x2

 

[ChickNanny13]

You don't need the pad on at all at that age, with those temps.

x2

After "catching up" on this thread I was wondering/thinking I was being "overly" concerned about their warmth. Kept the MHP off last night but left it in, checking several times during the night, they were fine. Next time around will probably use "heat" less, maybe just for the first week or two since temps very rarely drop to the 50s? Thank you junebuggena & Blooie, your experience is very much appreciated, I'm still learning.

 

[junebuggena]

Mine are only a week old and already on the medium setting, ambient room temp is about 55*. All are very happily running about their brooder.