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

Pics
Date sort Score sort
I think if you just want to watch them and don't grab (even if they are fluffy and cute), you could just sit quietly on the floor inside the brooder. You can watch them do their little interesting chickies things and get them used to you. Feed them out of your hand. They will climb on you and check you out. Always move slowly and be quiet around them. When they get bigger, they won't be afraid because they have seen you and you are the food source.

This will all take time. As in a couple weeks. Be patient. :)
 
napdognewfie said:
I think if you just want to watch them and don't grab (even if they are fluffy and cute), you could just sit quietly on the floor inside the brooder. You can watch them do their little interesting chickies things and get them used to you. Feed them out of your hand. They will climb on you and check you out. Always move slowly and be quiet around them. When they get bigger, they won't be afraid because they have seen you and you are the food source.

This will all take time. As in a couple weeks. Be patient. :)
Click to expand...


Thank you for the tips, I'll have to try all this. :) unfortunately the brooders too small to sit in (small kiddie pool) but maybe I will move them. Planning to anyway. Will put them in big pool maybe or will make a bigger hardware cloth area for them. Although my other issue is they need the high sides to prevent escapees and possibly a roof if they're going in the garage to prevent mice so I don't really know how I'd get in? Seems like common sense but I don't know. Just a people door? Even if I didn't want to visit I still need a way to clean and change food and water. Completely enclosing them just seems so awkward. But I'll try sitting with them. And they actually already eat from my hand and climb all over when I have food. It's just when I don't have food or try to snatch them they panic but that's understandable. Maybe I will have to put food in my.hand all the time. I definitely need to move slower though and be patient. Thanks
 
napdognewfie said:
I think if you just want to watch them and don't grab (even if they are fluffy and cute), you could just sit quietly on the floor inside the brooder. You can watch them do their little interesting chickies things and get them used to you. Feed them out of your hand. They will climb on you and check you out. Always move slowly and be quiet around them. When they get bigger, they won't be afraid because they have seen you and you are the food source.

This will all take time. As in a couple weeks. Be patient.
smile.png
Click to expand...

Only kinda sorta. Chickens' "flight or flight"
wink.png
instinct is really strong. Any sudden movement on your part will get them going no matter their age. I don't chase my chickens (*) but even the 3 Y/O hens get a bit nervous when I go down and it isn't morning BOSS/kitchen scraps or pre roost scratch time. They are VERY tuned in to those to treat times.

The younger ones were broody raised and other than trying to get them out of a predicament (like if they are on the wrong side of the gate in the barn alley, though it is 95% open, and couldn't figure out how to get to the other side) never picked them up at all (**). Pictures can be taken from a few feet away
big_smile.png
But even now at 21 weeks old they still think I'm going to chase and eat them or something whenever I approach. They will run in front of me to escape and since that is the direction I am going, they are SURE I am chasing them. Nope, just walking up the hill girls. But if I stop, stoop and talk to them, they are fine. Just need a second to figure out I am NOT chasing them.


* Well, OK. I have chased down the Anconas a time or three when they were being too aggressive with the other girls.
** Another "well, OK". I did move Athena two nights in a row from a ladder outside the coop where she decided to roost into the coop. And I once had to move the White Rocks off a nest divider to the roost for the same reason. I put a slanted cover over the nests to stop that happening again. I can tell you they were none too happy to be handled.
 
Heard a lot.of noise, didn't come up right away cause i was gonna make the frame but decided i better check. Little.one is.missing. trying to remain calm, change as fast as possible and.go find her. Quickly tipped up MHP and didn't see her so I'm worried
 
I moved MHP and I found her.... Thought she was dead but noticed her breathing.

400


400


About to stop posting and pick her up but I'm scared... Will she be okay or should I euthanize her? Trying to contain and calm myself but I'm now sobbing
 
More pics and a video in a link (scroll down for new) cause it's a little graphic. Do I wash her again? Did i do too much last night? Looks like she got squished. I wanna help but don't know if i should wash again? Remove her now? You can see in the vid she can't stand. So scared
 

Similar threads

B
pet heating pad vs heat lamp
Replies
6
Views
264
NatJ
NatJ
P
    • Like
Thermo-peep heating pad questions!
Replies
2
Views
873
Pgw
P
L
    • Love
If anyone has had good success with any specific brand of heating pad for use with a homemade heating "plate" I would greatly appreciate your input.
Replies
2
Views
385
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
C
    • Like
Brooder surface temperature vs ambient temperature
Replies
5
Views
2K
aart
aart
A
Mama hen heat pad method
Replies
2
Views
1K
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom