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

[The Golden Egg5]

I am using hardware cloth for the frames and it is very sharp where it was cut, so I put duct tape on it. I'm afraid it will stick to the chicks and possibly hurt them. Any suggestions?

 

[aart]

I am using hardware cloth for the frames and it is very sharp where it was cut, so I put duct tape on it. I'm afraid it will stick to the chicks and possibly hurt them. Any suggestions?

I bend over a 1/2" of HC on all edges and crimp it tight with a bendy crimpy tool...and still sometimes dremel grind any sharp points.
Most tape is not a great idea anywhere in a chicken anything.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I bend over a 1/2" of HC on all edges and crimp it tight with a bendy crimpy tool...and still sometimes dremel grind any sharp points.
Most tape is not a great idea anywhere in a chicken anything.

Okay thank you!

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I bend over a 1/2" of HC on all edges and crimp it tight with a bendy crimpy tool...and still sometimes dremel grind any sharp points.
Most tape is not a great idea anywhere in a chicken anything.

Sorry about all the questions, but the highest point in mine is about 6 inches high, and the lowest is about 1.5. Is this tall enough for the babies?

 

[aart]

Quote: For day olds, I would say 3-4" in front and about 2-3" in back would be better.
You'll have to play it by eye.
This is why convenient leg/height adjustability makes things so much easier during use,
tho maybe harder when building.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

For day olds, I would say 3-4" in front and about 2-3" in back would be better.
You'll have to play it by eye.
This is why convenient leg/height adjustability makes things so much easier during use,
tho maybe harder when building. 

Okay thank you! I will definitely change the heights. I have somehow not heard of the leg adjustable one? How do you make that?

 

[casportpony]

I found two posts with MHP pictures:

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...osts-bantychooks-and-more/37870#post_18098374
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...osts-bantychooks-and-more/36370#post_18078996

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I found two posts with MHP pictures:

• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...osts-bantychooks-and-more/37870#post_18098374
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...osts-bantychooks-and-more/36370#post_18078996

That's me! I was just headed over here to post - to "pay more dues", so to speak.

I have one "smaller" one with the king sized heating pad, and a MEGA one with two standard sized heating pads. I used welded wire as the frame (HW cloth not strong enough), and on one, used duct tape on the sharp parts, and on the other, split poly tubing. (DO NOT USE GARDEN HOSE - it outgassed nasty fumes when heated.) I've made a number of these now.

Smaller one:


















BIG one:





































The one above in action with my new batch of chicks (pre and post paper towel removal). There are 27 chicks under there, lots of room to spare. By having sloping sides, they can press up against the side if they need more heat, or sleep in the center if they need less. You can reshape it taller if you need to (e.g., if you're raising goslings).


- Ant Farm

Edoit to add: One benefit of using the welded wire is that you can sort of flex it to "adjust" the height without having to take it apart - that is, pull the legs out a bit to make it lower for smaller chicks, etc. - though I have found that it's best to have it a bit taller to let them come and go easily - they will press against or nap along the sides if they need more heat, and others like to run in and out of the center.

 

[lpyrbby]

Where would be best to ask about introducing chicks that have been adjacent to the big birds but not necessarily *in* with the big birds? Short story - they're 8 weeks old now, off the heat, separated by fencing and their pen, and one of the big birds has already tried to drag the a-hole chick into the run with them to teach his rude arse a lesson when I let the chicks out of their pen.

I'd like input from people that do introductions when the chicks are younger than "near full size". I'm okay with taking this to another thread. Ideas?

 

[cjpeeps]

I'm using pine pellets in my brooder now on my second hatch. No complaints. Keep on keeping on!


Yes, I'm using the heat plate instead of the MHP right now. I'm getting things configured in the new, big coop for the MHP to go out there for future broods.

Thanks for the photo - lovely little ones!

Subbed?

Well, at least you learned not to ask that person anything anymore!
Maybe you knew that.....doesn't 'bless her heart' basically mean 'she is an idiot' in southernese?

Subbed - subscribed and believe it or not, I've read every single post! As for me saying "bless her" - I didn't mean it to be nasty - I'm not southern maybe I used it wrong. It was just that I was especially trying (very hard) to avoid telling her what I wanted it for, because I knew it might start something, and she got so worked up so quickly. I was just there for the the prices and a pack of poultry nipples, I swear!

I'm wondering why more folks don't just natural bedding for chicks? Things like dried grasses, leaves, yard rakings, etc. It's free, it's what they've be living on if their mama was hatching them and brooding them on the land and it doesn't hold any dangers for chicks. I figure folks in the desert climes may have trouble coming up with such things or maybe they too have dried grasses of some kind they can access?

I never did get the whole controversy in bedding materials for chicks...it's as easy as looking to see what they would be raised on if their mama was doing it and if they had access to the big ol' outdoors...then going out there and getting some of it. If it's too wet, dry it out prior to the chick delivery, but unless you've got a pristinely manicured lawn or land out there, there's bound to be dead plant matter to access for a brooder. It's sort of along the lines of giving them a clump of sod in their brooder...it gives them access to the environmental molds and pathogens in their future environment, right when they need the exposure.

Time of year, location, allergies (though not necessarily in that order)

I am oh-so-thankful for having a family-owned, local, NPIP hatchery with a competent chicken sexer and a surprisingly good variety!



I cannot remember who it was but there was SOMEONE years ago on BYC who had POL pullets living in her bathroom. I'm glad it wasn't you but sometimes life gets in the way so it's really best to be prepared.

Promise they won't be in the bathroom by then. Spring break is the designated coop building time!