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

[SewCluck]

One larger than ten one in the pic??  Because it is small for that many chicks.

Glad you will have the shed done soon.....hopefully the MHP can be away from a wall so the can get out the back too.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[SewCluck]

What did you put on the top of the shelf?

If you're asking me.....it is a towel.

 

[henny penny 1]

This was an incredible idea! I loved all your ideas to keep chicks warm and used to day and night!!!

 

[rutonski]

I love this idea!! I am a teacher and we're hatching chicks in my 4th grade classroom. Tuesday will be day 21 and we're so excited!! I was worried about leaving a lamp on all night so this is perfect. Anyway, I've made my brooder using a small wire dish rack and I've attached the heating pad you recommended to the inside of it, and then wrapped a towel in Press and Seal and placed it on top. I also put an old crib pad between the top of the dish drainer and towel to close off the sides.

Now that it's done, I'm worried that there won't be enough room for them to run around. I can cut back the dish rack so it isn't so deep. I'm also wondering if I put too much bedding in there. What to you think?

 

[ChickNanny13]

I love this idea!! I am a teacher and we're hatching chicks in my 4th grade classroom. Tuesday will be day 21 and we're so excited!! I was worried about leaving a lamp on all night so this is perfect. Anyway, I've made my brooder using a small wire dish rack and I've attached the heating pad you recommended to the inside of it, and then wrapped a towel in Press and Seal and placed it on top. I also put an old crib pad between the top of the dish drainer and towel to close off the sides.

Now that it's done, I'm worried that there won't be enough room for them to run around. I can cut back the dish rack so it isn't so deep. I'm also wondering if I put too much bedding in there. What to you think?

How many chicks?
This container will NOT be big enough very long, maybe a week depending on how many you have. You may want to get a big cardboard box; appliance are sturdy & I've used two big boxes combined in a tight pinch. It was recommended to me to keep the MHP away from the back of the container, so no one gets "trapped" in the back. The height may need to be adjusted, it should touch their backs, like being under the hen. Shaving is good however chicks will get it in their food & water ALOT, what some do it put paper towel over the shavings making for easy cleaning. It's been recommended the skid proof shelf liner, I've used disposable potty pads but whatever you do no newspaper, it gives the chicks no traction.
I'm sure others will be peeping in their recommendations...Enjoy!

 

[dyorto]

My husband brought home 6 fuzzy butts yesterday. They all crawled right in the cave and crashed out. Barely even heard a peep. This morning they are all up and acting like happy lively chicks

This is my second year raising this way. I love it and find it much more relaxing now that I have some experience!

 

[junebuggena]

I love this idea!! I am a teacher and we're hatching chicks in my 4th grade classroom. Tuesday will be day 21 and we're so excited!! I was worried about leaving a lamp on all night so this is perfect. Anyway, I've made my brooder using a small wire dish rack and I've attached the heating pad you recommended to the inside of it, and then wrapped a towel in Press and Seal and placed it on top. I also put an old crib pad between the top of the dish drainer and towel to close off the sides.

Now that it's done, I'm worried that there won't be enough room for them to run around. I can cut back the dish rack so it isn't so deep. I'm also wondering if I put too much bedding in there. What to you think?

Brooder is too small, your frame isn't really adjustable, and you should have more than the one entrance/exit. The first day or two, I like to make sure they are eating their feed before adding shavings.

 

[cjpeeps]

"Now that it's done, I'm worried that there won't be enough room for them to run around.  I can cut back the dish rack so it isn't so deep.  I'm also wondering if I put too much bedding in there.  What to you think?"

My set up is similar to yours - I'm working off a 50% hatch rate (but hope to be more successful) and it's a truly massive tote, and I will wall mount the waterer to also help with floor space. However, that being said, I know from lurking about here for a while that it is not a long term solution for brooding. I'm thinking it will last me 1-2 weeks, max.

Yes, I am simultaneously building a coop, but if the your chicks don't go home right away, a good short term, inexpensive solution is in the pictures, relatively recently - it's a larger size heavy gauge cardboard garment box from a moving store, that comes with two metal braces. I've used them in the past (upright) for garments and they really are sturdy. The design this poster used has it on its side with the braces horizontally, which makes for a long, narrow brooding area, perfect for a small MHP, with space at the front and back, for slightly older chicks to run about in.

 

[rutonski]

Thanks for your replies. I have 12 eggs. My problem is that I needed something that I can easily move out of my classroom. When planning this, I took into consideration spring break so they would hatch when we returned. What I didn't think about were the state exams that start the day the chicks are to hatch! I have to be able to move the chirping little distractions to another room during test time. Several chicks will go home with a student who already has a coop and I'll bring the rest home to add to my older flock. I'll work on some modifications and I'll have a larger container ready. Thanks again for your help.

 

[LuvnEnglishOrps]

Thanks for your replies.  I have 12 eggs.  My problem is that I needed something that I can easily move out of my classroom.  When planning this, I took into consideration spring break so they would hatch when we returned.  What I didn't think about were the state exams that start the day the chicks are to hatch!  I have to be able to move the chirping little distractions to another room during test time.  Several chicks will go home with a student who already has a coop and I'll bring the rest home to add to my older flock. I'll work on some modifications and I'll have a larger container ready.   Thanks again for your help.

I thnk that's plenty big enough for the first couple days to a week (remember, you mosy likely wont get 12 babies) and for the first 3 days or so they are going to come out from "mom" to get a drink and a bite then right back to sleeping. Youll be surprised at how quiet they will be with the heating pad versus a lamp. Most likely they wont screeching like feed store bins. I found an old "box turtle habitat" that is my "fresh out of thr hatcher" brooder. If you plan to do this yearly, i highly recommend it (Amazon has it, think its around 100$ new, mine was free on a free cycle group) but watermelon/pumpkin boxes from grocery stores work just as good. Ill find a link to the turtle box i use