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

[chicken curious]

How do they get under the MHP?

I think you may be seeing it wrong.  We're looking at the side.  The front is to the left, with the chick's head poking out (in the first picture).

Yes! Thanks, Nathan, for helping answer that for me
I turned the cave to the left because the back wall of the dog crate can be opened and I can reach it better this way for helping them in the first few nights.

Tonight I did have to put them in again (night #2), but they spilled out in a pile half in and half out so it must be a little too warm. It's currently 74 degrees here in Dallas and the lows this week will be in the 60s. For now they're in a cool garage (it won't get hot in there until hottest summer days and they're out of the wind for now...our coop is very open air for the summer heat and the deep litter hasn't been going long enough this time to get warm...soon!). I'll watch them tomorrow and probably turn it down if they mostly hang out on top.

 

[junebuggena]

We picked up our four little chickies today and they are in their dog crate-turned brooder and snuggled up under their MHP as we speak! Any advice on how to know if they are doing well? They are quiet and staying underneath so I'm assuming they're content.

Did everyone's chicks figure out how to make their way back under the MHP on their own fairly quickly? I've had to show them both times they've been out so far.

Also, the person who sold them to us said that occasionally a baby chick will die because it just happens after they've been through shipment etc., I know this is true but when would say you're in the clear? A week, a few days?

Thanks for everyone's kind help! We're loving our little fluffy chicks!

Within three days, you are past the critical stage. Don't be so quick to pop them back under the heat. Wait till they are making their loud distress calls.

 

[Nathan J]

Fingers running ahead of brain this afternoon...haha!

LOL, no problem. Been there, done that!

 

[10AcreChick]

Paying my dues!

6 hatched, 40 more to go! Tons of pips!

 

[aart]

Paying my dues!

6 hatched, 40 more to go! Tons of pips!

I think dues here have to include chicks in/on/under and MHP

Would love to see more of your incubator and it's dividers...do you have a thread on that?

 

[10AcreChick]

Paying my dues! 6 hatched, 40 more to go! Tons of pips!

I think dues here have to include chicks in/on/under and MHP Would love to see more of your incubator and it's dividers...do you have a thread on that?

I know, aart, but my MHP currently has ducks under it! Project for the day, moving duckies out to be with 4 week old chicks out in coop brooder! I have a member page with my incubator explained. But it's been giving us problems lately, so DH is going to make me a new one out of a reach in cooler he's got laying around at work. The dividers are just some hardware cloth thrown in there so I can keep track of which chicks came from which eggs before I get them banded. And my friend has six of her eggs in there, so I want to keep track of those, too.

 

[aart]

Quote:

I think dues here have to include chicks in/on/under and MHP

Would love to see more of your incubator and it's dividers...do you have a thread on that?

I know, aart, but my MHP currently has ducks under it! Project for the day, moving duckies out to be with 4 week old chicks out in coop brooder!
I have a member page with my incubator explained. But it's been giving us problems lately, so DH is going to make me a new one out of a reach in cooler he's got laying around at work. The dividers are just some hardware cloth thrown in there so I can keep track of which chicks came from which eggs before I get them banded. And my friend has six of her eggs in there, so I want to keep track of those, too.

Ducks under an MHP would be GREAT!!
Wants to see that!

Found your page, thanks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-incubator-with-heating-element-wafer-thermostat

 

[Blooie]

Yah, that's also about when they're not cute little fuzzballs anymore....which happens regardless of heat and brooder chores....haha!

That's probably true for some, @aart but for me it had nothing to do with it. I kinda like that "gangly uglies" stage where they are starting to show what might be some indication of the color they might end up being - and that's vague deliberately because part of the fun is saying, "ooh, she'll be a golden color" only to end up maturing to dark red!

It's that stage when they stand up as tall as they can and try to look so big and grownup with their necks stretched out just to see what's beyond the brooder box. But my favorite part of that age is knowing that they are safely past (for the most part) that more fragile stage and are growing up strong.

Nope, for me it was definitely the heat lamp, the cheeping all night long, the dust and dander, the smell, and the constant eating that got to me. If they aren't eating all night long they're puling food out of the feeders and playing in it. Or messing in the water, sometimes even knocking it off the raiser we had it sitting on. And it was the exhaustion I saw in them. I know folks think that's so adorable when the chicks are running all over the place then just drop in place like they are dead to catch a nap. I don't find that one bit adorable. I find it worrying. And those babies no sooner literally drop off to sleep when the others, still awake, tromp all over them, pecking at their eyes, their beaks, their toes......the sleeping beauties get a couple minutes of rest and then they're up and running again....they simply can't sleep with all that! This goes on all day and night and it's not natural for them, or for any other critter.

I have a little time so I'm going to run over to the article you finished. Thanks for the link!!

 

[10AcreChick]

 

 
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I think dues here have to include chicks in/on/under and MHP


Would love to see more of your incubator and it's dividers...do you have a thread on that?

I know, aart, but my MHP currently has ducks under it! Project for the day, moving duckies out to be with 4 week old chicks out in coop brooder!

I have a member page with my incubator explained. But it's been giving us problems lately, so DH is going to make me a new one out of a reach in cooler he's got laying around at work. The dividers are just some hardware cloth thrown in there so I can keep track of which chicks came from which eggs before I get them banded. And my friend has six of her eggs in there, so I want to keep track of those, too.

Ducks under an MHP would be GREAT!!
Wants to see that!

Found  your page, thanks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-incubator-with-heating-element-wafer-thermostat

That WOULD be great, but they pretty much refuse to use it! Seem to be content with our home temperature just fine, they r n living room. But I will supply you with this:

Pie pan swimming pool!!!

 

[Nathan J]

I know folks think that's so adorable when the chicks are running all over the place then just drop in place like they are dead to catch a nap. I don't find that one bit adorable. I find it worrying. ... This goes on all day and night and it's not natural for them, or for any other critter.

Yes, yes, yes. I've read of that here on BYC and something just didn't sit right about that, even though I had zero experience with chickens/chicks. I reserved judgement because, well, I had zero experience. But what you said is spot on, now that I have some (very limited) experience and have thought this all through and read people like you relate their experience with both methods.

And I'll reiterate and reemphasize what you've said: "This goes on all day and night and it's not natural for them, or for any other critter."

Hear, hear!