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

[ChickNanny13]

How do you get your new chics to go under the heating pad? I put them in there stayed for a bit then left. They seem to like the top right now. I just brought them home about a week old

I find at about 2wks they like being on top of the MHP during the day IF anything. No idea what setting you have it set at but as aart suggests, turn the heat down. I start off on Med (day olds) and depending on the time of the year/weather I turn it down to Low during the days when they're about 2 - 3wks....I'm in Hawaii and we don't have the severe winters. And as Blooie reminds us they do end up spending more time outside than under.

 

[Nathan J]

Today's a very warm day here (about 80 F) and it's interesting that my chicks are clearly acting differently. I've been with them as I've been doing work on their coop in the barn. They've been much more quiet and less active, spending most of the time over the last couple hours, all laying down in their dust bath box, which is at the opposite end of the brooder from MHP.

They're clearly more adapted to the 50s-60s than this warm weather! I still can't fathom keeping them at 85-90 deg at this point.

 

[Merrymouse]

@aart is right. And remember that chicks don't "live" under a broody hen either, even when it's cold outside. They duck under for a little bit to warm up and then they're back out exploring. At night you can tuck them under and hold your hand in front for a few minutes until they settle down, but that's only going to work if it's dark. If there's light they'll be right back out. Chicks seem to be pre-programmed to snuggle down as the sun goes down and sleep all night through until the sun comes up. Artificial light fools them. We want them sleeping all night through, so they need that darkness.

Absolutely. I was so surprised the first night my chicks were home they went under MHP at dusk and not a peep out of them until dawn. This has to help them grow and develop and be more stable all around. I can't imagine that glaring red light on them 24/7. Loving MHP so far!

 

[AllynTal]

Absolutely. I was so surprised the first night my chicks were home they went under MHP at dusk and not a peep out of them until dawn. This has to help them grow and develop and be more stable all around. I can't imagine that glaring red light on them 24/7. Loving MHP so far!

Exactly right. What I think a lot of new folks don't understand is that they don't have to think for the chicks. Chicks, even day-old chicks that have never seen an adult chicken, already know how to be a chicken. They don't need us to think for them and do for them. All they need from us is to provide the conditions they need (food, water, a safe environment, a place to get warm and/or a place to get cool) and they'll handle the rest themselves.

 

[BacktoBasics13]

Probably a rookie question but here it goes....

Constructing the mama heating pad:

Suggestions for frame work? Seems like just hardware cloth would be a bit flimsy. Would a cabinet helper shelf work like this?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Grey-Helper-Shelf/45653326

Does the attached heating pad go on The outside of the framework or wrapped around so it can be both inside and outside?

 

[debid]

Probably a rookie question but here it goes....

Constructing the mama heating pad:

Suggestions for frame work? Seems like just hardware cloth would be a bit flimsy. Would a cabinet helper shelf work like this?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Grey-Helper-Shelf/45653326

Does the attached heating pad go on The outside of the framework or wrapped around so it can be both inside and outside?

I almost used one of those. You'll need to bend it so it isn't that tall but it should work. I built with only a couple wires holding the pad firmly to the underside. That was to give the chicks the most direct contact. They can still get heat on top but it will be slightly less. That's OK since they go on top when partially feathered and needing less.

ETA: some of the Dollar Tree stores have them. For $1... The wire is probably a bit thinner but it would still be plenty for the purpose.

 

[Nathan J]

You'll need to bend it so it isn't that tall but it should work.

If it were me I'd just shorten the legs by snipping them with a heavy duty wire cutter or bolt cutter or similar; I'm not sure exactly what it would take, not knowing the gauge (i.e. thickness) and hardness of that wire. Of course that assumes you've got access to the proper tool.

Then the question is how long to make the legs. They're 5.3" according to the specs. I think I'd make the front 3" and the back 2.5" (I like the sleight slope to give them the opportunity to find the height they want; but it's not necessary) and then adjust the height with something like wood blocks (or any number of other things) as necessary as they get bigger.

You could also keep it unaltered and bury the legs in a deep litter to adjust the floor up. And then raise it as necessary. Depends on your brooder design and litter choice, etc. Just something that occurred to me. That would be a whole lot easier (which is something I tend to dismiss and find the harder way to go, over-engineering things. LOL)

Any reason not to do it this way, resident experts? I have VERY little experience here, so please correct me if I'm off base.

 

[Nathan J]

It was so warm here yesterday, getting up to mid 80s in the barn, that I turned the heating pad off at about mid-day. They spent most of the day away from MHP until a while after sunset when it got cooler.

They spent the hottest part of the day being very quiet and laying in their dust bath box. So I got them a bunch of fresh, cool soil and put it in their dust bath box. They wiggled down into the 2 inch deep soil and really seemed to enjoy it. As it cooled down they got active again and I gave them some red wiggler worms and the games ensued! That's some great entertainment right there, folks.

At about 9 pm I went out there and they were under MHP all quiet (it was about 68 deg) and I turned the heating pad on for the night. I can really see them being off the heat by 3-4 weeks. They're really testing their wings right now and flitting about the brooder. I'm not sure what the normal developmental progression is for that. They were a week old yesterday.

 

[Nathan J]

Does the attached heating pad go on The outside of the framework or wrapped around so it can be both inside and outside?

I think the consensus is to put the heating pad underneath the wire frame, to avoid them working their way up in between them and getting trapped. I did this with bungee cords, as have others. Use several, like two in each direction (with the hooks on top, preferably) to make sure the heating pad doesn't droop down, at least not too much.

I'm assuming you'd use the large size shelf, which is about 10"x15" and a heating pad about 12"x15", which would work out well, assuming that size would work with the number of chicks you're getting. You could then fold the 2 extra inches up over the back (or front).

 

[debid]

I noticed that most of mine were positioned with their heads out and only bodies underneath at dusk. This morning, they were on their roost. Not sure when they went up but it was about 50F. Almost 4 weeks old, I have one a week younger and one is a slow-feathering breed so it probably will be a couple weeks yet.