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

[monkcat]

So we finally moved the chicks out to the coop. I had the mama heating pad set up and put the chicks in. Well, after a short time of running around, they got cold - we are having unseasonably cool temps today with lots of rain and wind.
Here's a pic:
So, here's what happened next:

Now, inside, I had the temp down to 3. But this is a different set up. It is a 5 gallon bucket and is bigger than when we had them inside. Also, it is much cooler outside that it has been for the past week since we have had them inside. It is supposed to get down to 40 on Wednesday night. Unheard of here for this time of year. They are used to temps of 80 degrees and are staying in the bucket alot. So, I have bumped it up to 4 and they seem happier.

 

[Blooie]

Might I suggest that you put something over that large opening? A lot of warmth is lost with it wide open like that. The heat is so far from the chicks's bodies that they aren't getting too much of it....which is fine when they're in the house or in a warm space, but not so good when your temps are as low as they are right now. I might have also added something around the sides and on top of the bucket, kinda packed in the space.. Straw, pine shavings, leaves...anything that will keep the warmth from radiating out away from the chicks, especially since what you're using is larger that what they had inside.

By draping the towel down a bit over the front of the cave, you create just that, a cave. With it draped over the opening, they have to scrunch down a little to scoot under it, and it's darker - more like being with a broody hen. It doesn't have to go all the way to the ground....just a little bit.

Sort of like this:

I wish I had your set up! That is such a great space for your chicks! Alas, Ken and I weren't blessed with carpentry genes - in fact we barely fit into any of our jeans, but that's a story for another day. <insert evil grin here>

 

[monkcat]

The towel over the top is actually down over the opening now. Wante a good picture of the inside. The heading pad is inside the bucket. It's held in place with wire. And there is leaf and pine straw all over and around it. At least until the chick's jump on top and scratch it off! It's not cold here now. But will be. It's 76 right now! But was 60 earlier. And windy. Weird it's actually warmer at this time. I'll try to snap another pic. But hubby is working on it now and adamantly refuses to let me get a pic with him near it!

 

[Blooie]

Oh, I've got one like that! Silly fellas, ain't they? Have no trouble taking pictures of us when we first get up in the morning or are shoving a big bite of food in our mouths, but demand that we not take their pictures!

I have trouble getting my chicks to leave the stuffin' on top of the cave too. So now when I go out in the evening to lock up, I toss another handful of straw on top. They're in bed for the night, so at least it stays up there when the temperature drops. If it's gone by mid-morning, that's okay. It's warmer then anyway. Of course, now the Tinys are 3 weeks old today, so they aren't requiring as much heat as they did the first week. It was hard to see that the towel was down over the opening in the pictures, so if I jumped to the wrong conclusion I do apologize.

 

[monkcat]

I'm not entirely sure of our chicks ages. I think they are about 3 weeks old, but I wouldn't bet on it!

The towel wasn't down when I took the pic - was trying to get a shot of the inside. I put leaves and pine straw in the bottom since it does have the wire in there. Thought it would be more comfortable.. Here's a pic of it with the towel in place.





Then I decided to get an old towel and throw over the top to both come down lower over the opening and to keep them from knocking all the straw off. LOL



Hopefully they are tucked in good for the night. I'm a bit nervous about their first night. It is raining again. We've had really bad weather today. DH slapped this coop together in a day or so. He's pretty handy to have around. LOL I'm hoping it is secure. Has hardware cloth all around. He finished putting the apron on today. It is galvanized metal 1 x 2 inch squares.
Fingers crossed.

 

[monkcat]

And OMG, your littles are cute! I am afraid I may have two roos. And, of course, they are my favorites! I'm seeing spur nubs and more comb than the others. They aren't red, but ... We'll see!

 

[Blooie]

That looks more like a cave. How much you wanna bet that most of that straw is gone by 9 am? That's what mine do, anyway. I keep putting it up at night, they keep knocking it off the next morning. It's sort of like our interactive non-video game. Teehee But as long as the extra insulation is there while they sleep, I'm good with the game.

Is there a coop there? I was thinking you had a coop and run built.

 

[monkcat]

That looks more like a cave. How much you wanna bet that most of that straw is gone by 9 am? That's what mine do, anyway. I keep putting it up at night, they keep knocking it off the next morning. It's sort of like our interactive non-video game. Teehee But as long as the extra insulation is there while they sleep, I'm good with the game.

Is there a coop there? I was thinking you had a coop and run built.

Oh, yeah, they are in the coop. It's ginormous. For them at least. The run is still under construction. But I'm okay with that as they still aren't going to all areas of the coop yet! It's 8 x 10 and 6 feet high. Hope to have the run finished before my DH heads out again. This is the coop mostly done. No chicks in it yet. It is underneath this drop shed. But is made so it can be pulled out and moved later.


Nesting boxex made by my 13 year old son with some help from DH

 

[Blooie]

Hey, those boxes look pretty good! Tell your 13 year old he's hired! I'll pay his bus fare out here! I didn't realize that you had a coop open on three sides. No wonder you're a little concerned about the weather.

 

[monkcat]

Yeah, heat is usually the bigger concern here. During winter I planned to put plastic up to block the wind. Even with serious winds today, they had water running through the coop in parts but it wasn't blowing in on them. They are far enough back to keep it out. But, yeah, I'm a bit concerned about them. That being said, when I stuck my hand in there, it was really toasty. I mean really toasty. Having the heating pad inside is helping I think. It is 64 degrees outside right now and that's our low for the night. I'm going to peek in on them again to make sure they are okay.It was easily 80's inside when I checked it hough.


edit - update - just went out to check on them as it's been raining for hours now. They are high and dry and all tucked in to the mama heating pad cave. Look very comfy and not a peep to be heard. Saw a fuzzy butt and a head. LOL I can rest easier now.