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

[loli]

@ yoopergirl1211, I sure hope your babies are ok & make it to you soon!!




I started taking pics of our MHP & told dh I had to pay my dues & post them here.. he said if he would have known I was posting pics he would have drilled the holes strait.. lol !! So here it is.. we put the heating pad in an old pillowcase & secured it under the wire frame with duct tape (we tried electrical tape but it wouldn't stick right & we were afraid the chicks would get caught in it). We also secured a piece of cardboard on top. In hind sight I would say go for the bungees instead of duct tape to hold everything together as it does droop some. The chicks seem to love it & snuggle right into it but I'm a worried chick momma & had to keep checking on them & lifting it up to make sure nobody was stuck under there.

We've had the chicks a week now & I have to say that the MHP works so much better all the way around than those dang lights! Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone here for sharing this!!












We made the brooder out of a pallet..





& the cute little buggers are getting feathers already!..

 

[Blooie]

Nice job! Tell hubby if the off-kilter holes hadn't been mentioned, we'd have never known it! Do watch the duct tape.....I think it was @lazy gardener who had a chick that got caught up in it and she had a dickens of a time getting it off the chick!

Oh, and your dues are paid!!

Further paying on mine, Droopy Drawers Kendra and Silky Fan of the Year Katie met the chicks today. I think they were a hit!!

 

[boatagor]

Okay, new to chickens and new to the board. I really liked this idea and set it up today, then picked up my 2 week old chicks. When we first put them in there, they we

nt right in the cave and wouldn't come out. Now they're huddled right outside. Too hot? It's probably at least 75 in the room they're in already. I turned the heating pad down to 5. Any advice?

 

[perchie.girl]

Okay, new to chickens and new to the board. I really liked this idea and set it up today, then picked up my 2 week old chicks. When we first put them in there, they went right in the cave and wouldn't come out. Now they're huddled right outside. Too hot? It's probably at least 75 in the room they're in already. I turned the heating pad down to 5. Any advice?

doing good they will self regulate.... no worries

 

[Blooie]

I'm wondering what you have used as a frame - it looks a little high. So if that's the case, they may not go under because they don't recognize that that's where the "warm" is. MHP works best when the heat is right at their back level. If that's the case, and they are huddling outside the "cave" but not going in at all, they just aren't getting the concept and with the pad up too high they won't learn it. By 2 weeks old, most of us notice our chicks staying on top of and around the edges of the pad most of the time, but yours have never had the experience so they just don't know. Having the pad down lower will show them.

 

[boatagor]

I'm wondering what you have used as a frame - it looks a little high.  So if that's the case, they may not go under because they don't recognize that that's where the "warm" is. MHP works best when the heat is right at their back level.  If that's the case, and they are huddling outside the "cave" but not going in at all, they just aren't getting the concept and with the pad up too high they won't learn it.  By 2 weeks old, most of us notice our chicks staying on top of and around the edges of the pad most of the time, but yours have never had the experience so they just don't know.  Having the pad down lower will show them.

I bought a wire rack in the kitchen supplies at Walmart. When they're inside it, it does seem to be the right level. I buried the sides a bit and piled up the pine shavings so that they were as close to the pad as possible, but the Easter egger (which is the biggest chick) dug some out making herself a bed.

 

[Blooie]

I bought a wire rack in the kitchen supplies at Walmart. When they're inside it, it does seem to be the right level. I buried the sides a bit and piled up the pine shavings so that they were as close to the pad as possible, but the Easter egger (which is the biggest chick) dug some out making herself a bed.

<sigh> Silly chicks! You need to make them sit down and read the thread so they know what THEIR part in the process is!! I think you could turn the heat down in the room a bit to encourage them to seek a little more warmth under there. But if they've been under a heat lamp until you got them, remember that they have no clue what they can do to make themselves comfortable. So tonight you'll have to turn off the lights, (and they will protest this process - LOUDLY!) then kinda tuck them under it and hold your hand in front. Most of us start our chicks right away using MHP, so it's all they've ever known. Yours are a little older and may need a little coaching. After they're all done screaming about what a mean person you are and calling you names, you should start to hear a little "trilling" sound. That's the sound of comfortable chicks telling each other a few bedtime stories. If they go like most chicks do, they'll sleep until morning - and we know there are always exceptions!

 

[loli]

Nice job! Tell hubby if the off-kilter holes hadn't been mentioned, we'd have never known it! Do watch the duct tape.....I think it was @lazy gardener who had a chick that got caught up in it and she had a dickens of a time getting it off the chick!

Oh, and your dues are paid!!

Further paying on mine, Droopy Drawers Kendra and Silky Fan of the Year Katie met the chicks today. I think they were a hit!!

Oh me heavens, that would be a mess, I will definitely keep a close eye on the tape & swap it out asap. Thanks for the tip!


Such cute pics, kids & chicks are so adorable!

 

[boatagor]

Silly chicks! You need to make them sit down and read the thread so they know what THEIR part in the process is!! I think you could turn the heat down in the room a bit to encourage them to seek a little more warmth under there. But if they've been under a heat lamp until you got them, remember that they have no clue what they can do to make themselves comfortable. So tonight you'll have to turn off the lights, (and they will protest this process - LOUDLY!) then kinda tuck them under it and hold your hand in front. Most of us start our chicks right away using MHP, so it's all they've ever known. Yours are a little older and may need a little coaching. After they're all done screaming about what a mean person you are and calling you names, you should start to hear a little "trilling" sound. That's the sound of comfortable chicks telling each other a few bedtime stories. If they go like most chicks do, they'll sleep until morning - and we know there are always exceptions!

I went to check one last time before bed. Ms. Omelette (EE) was already inside. I stuffed the other two in and they settled right down. I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight worrying about them and will check first thing in the morning!

 

[Blooie]

I went to check one last time before bed. Ms. Omelette (EE) was already inside. I stuffed the other two in and they settled right down. I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight worrying about them and will check first thing in the morning!

@perchie.girl is right. They're most likely fine!

Oh me heavens, that would be a mess, I will definitely keep a close eye on the tape & swap it out asap. Thanks for the tip!


Such cute pics, kids & chicks are so adorable!

Thanks....I'm kinda fond of the girls, as anyone who has known me for the last 3+ years can attest!