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

[Blooie]

Could be anything ranging from stress to personalities. I had one chick out of the Littles who wasn't as energetic as the others. She also seemed to sleep more - either under the pad or as far away from it as she could get. It was like she couldn't decide if she was too warm or too cold. But she eventually came around and now I'm not sure which of the Light Brahmas she even was. Hope your little ones do the same thing after they become familiar with their new surroundings.

 

[monkcat]

Thanks, Blooie. They are moving around more today. I moved their water and FF bowl as far from the MHP as I can now. Had it close at first so they could stay warm and eat and drink as I was concerned about that. But they are moving lots today, scratching around eating the spilled food. But not chirping. My other crew is really verbal! Guess I'm just used to that and it freaks me out. They look very healthy though. Saw one jumping on and off the MHP while ago. Just the silence is weird to me! May take them on an outside field trip today to the garden and see how they do. Need to check on my 'maters and they may enjoy as I found one trying to dust bathe in the food.

 

[COChix]

Hi,

So we finally were able to move our two week old babies to their new brooder, the small coop. They love the added space already. They did pretty good yesterday, it was 60 here and then rainy, but they didnt seem to notice. I forgot to hit the stay on button yesterday and went out to check them and they were huddled together, I felt bad but at least I figured it out! Anyway, left the pad on 3 all day and night. At night they are still adjusting to natural darkness as they were in our living room and use to going to bed when we turned off the light. So at dusk they were still running around and by 9 half made it in the brooder and the other half was sleeping in a pile right outside the cave. I moved them all into the cave and they stayed. Our overnight low was 42. This am they were active and waiting with an empty feed tray.

The parents were freaked out by the baby chicks and ran away from the tub we had them in. It was rather funny to watch, the roo made a warning sound and everyone ran the other way.

The brooder set up.

Thanks again to @Blooie, @aart and @Beekissed for paving the way for us newbies.

I am pretty excited we have two week old babies with no heat lamp in the coop! e

I did have a question, how do you keep the straw on top of the brooder? Ours seem active and their is never straw on the top as they knock it down. Maybe I need to flatten the frame more?

 

[perilloux5]

Well, chicken math has started. Found a lone little silkie (btw, looking for more silkies) and two Dominiques that I had wanted but couldn't find when we got our original batch. So, I've got the setup going in the big water trough inside for these kiddos until I'm sure they're not going to cause disease on my established crew. And they need a little size for hanging with the big girls, I imagine (and looks like one roo). The big girls are sleeping in a pile in the coop. They are starting to get on roost periodically during the day but aren't sleeping up there yet. They are an estimated 5 & 6 weeks old, so I think it's close.

This trio is so different. They are so quiet and really freak me out! They are much more subdued and quiet and I frequently think I'm about to find dead chicks. So far, so good though. Got them Tuesday. They were exhausted I imagine from living with bright lights and the long ride home. After putting them under the MHP, they slept for hours with minimal water sips upon arrival and almost no food. Couldn't get them to eat more than a bite or two. They were falling asleep standing up. They slept all night through and I really didn't know if they would make it. Went in yesterday morning expecting the worst and they were up and eating. Without chirping though. So weird. They don't hang out with the HP as much, but it is much warmer now in that room. Will find them nestled in the litter together away from it. Not as active, though they are eating, drinking and pooping fine. Just quiet. Don't know what to make of them. They are estimated to be 1.5 to 2 weeks old.

Some improvement in activity today, but I still think they are awfully quiet for chicks. They do appear bright eyed, eating and drinking well and great healthy looking poops. I lowered the temp on the heating pad down to 2 as it is very warm here. They alternate between going to and from it and crashing in the leaves.



Any input into weird chick behavior welcome!

It really varies, mine took 6 days before they took to the cave. I put them in there for the first two nights by hand and then just left it up to them. They are 3 weeks old now and i have it down on 1 because I am in Louisiana and it is in the 80's during the day and 70's at night.

 

[monkcat]

It really varies, mine took 6 days before they took to the cave. I put them in there for the first two nights by hand and then just left it up to them. They are 3 weeks old now and i have it down on 1 because I am in Louisiana and it is in the 80's during the day and 70's at night.

They do sleep in it at night. The first batch loved it and took right to it. It was cooler at night here though. Were having weird cool snaps. These are taking to it well, I think. It's on 1 today as it is so warm! I was just worried about these as they weren't moving much and still are so quiet!

We are in the same neighborhood - sorta. I actually purchased these three from Pontchatoula Feed and Seed on Tuesday. I am right on the line of Louisiana/Mississippi and am from Louisiana originally. Work in Louisiana (Covington).

Am anxiously awaiting getting them outside. Once I know they will do well with the older chicks and that they are not carrying any diseases (as sure as I can be that is), will move them out. Thanks so much!

edited to add - BTW, am looking for a couple more Silkies. If you know of any locally, please feel free to share the info!

 

[Grimm]

Even though I do not have my heating pad yet I think I have a solution to the chicks getting stuck in the mesh in the underside of the cave. Pillowcase. Put your frame inside a pillowcase before you put the heating pad and towel on it. If you have to use a needle and thread to stitch the pillowcase to the frame. This will also help prevent the pillowcase from hanging down inside the cave. If you don't have a pillowcase you can donate to the cause use scrap fabric.

 

[lazy gardener]

I put the whole works in a pillow case, and then use painter's tape. works like a charm.

 

[lazy gardener]

I just got the tinies settled into the old coop. Put up a piece of plastic 1" chicken wire to divide the loft in half. They are huddled in a corner, only going near the cave when the rooster crows, then they run for cover in a total panic. I tell them it's just their Daddy blowing off steam, but they still freak out! Tonight, I can just put the littles and their cat carrier in the other side. Tonight, the littles will need to put on their big girl panties, because they're gonna sleep without their cave! Gonna be a whole lot of yelling in there tonight.

 

[perilloux5]

I used a hog-ring stapler to fasten fabric to the frame of my cave. It was perfect to hold the fabric to the bars.

 

[azygous]

Here are the pics of the three-day olds all moved into their grow-out pen. They're having a blast exploring "the world" and then ducking into their cave to warm back up. All the winter panels are still up around the covered run, so there are no drafts, and the sand will slowly absorb heat from the sun shining down through the translucent roof now that the cold weather seems to have passed.

I only had them in the house for one day and that was too long.

I tallied up all my chicks over the years and this is my seventh batch. It's going to be the most effortless, I can already tell.
The chicks will move into the coop at the rear in about four weeks when I think they might be ready to learn to navigate the ramp.

As you can see, the run is partitioned so the adults have their section, and the chicks theirs. The hen in the rear compartment is special needs. She's lame and the others beat her up unless she's in protective custody. She has a nest in there she lays in. She sleeps in the garage at night.

And here are the recent six. Two Copper Marans, two Cuckoo Marans, and two Cream Legbars. They are the most UN-skittish and most tame and most fearless of any chicks I've had.

Thanks, Blooie, for describing how to post photos. I've been doing it the hard way all this time. You are a treasure! I'm sure all will agree we're lucky to have you! And my chicks thank you for bringing this heating pad system to BYC!