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

[aart]

I have spent a week reading through all the posts here. What an amaizing idea! I will be getting my fist chicks this spring and I am so excited!
We will be completing our coop first and brooding them in it.
I am going to be buying all the chick paraphernalia gradually so as to not give my husband sticker shock.

Anyway what size heating pad should I get for 10 chicks?
Thanks so much!

Get the biggest one.

 

[perchie.girl]

I have spent a week reading through all the posts here. What an amaizing idea! I will be getting my fist chicks this spring and I am so excited!
We will be completing our coop first and brooding them in it.
I am going to be buying all the chick paraphernalia gradually so as to not give my husband sticker shock.

Anyway what size heating pad should I get for 10 chicks?
Thanks so much!

Welcome to BYC and to the group....

and from ME in San Diego

 

[circlehouse]

Thanks!

 

[Blooie]

Thanks!

I'm sorry I didn't welcome you, too. Thank goodness so many good people have my back for days like today - I was up in Billings, looking in via my phone once in awhile but it's so doggone hard to reply on that thing sometimes.

Anyway, welcome! So glad you got the chance to look over the thread - there are some amazing folks on here, wouldn't you agree? You know that once those chicks come, your membership fee into the Broody Brigade is photos of your chicks, right?

@aart is right, get the biggest one. You won't be sorry! I read with interest that you are planning to brood your chicks outside, and I didn't know if you'd read this article or not, but thought I'd toss in the link just in case.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

I just ordered hatching eggs from MPC, scheduled for delivery in March, so I'll be setting up the pen and getting out the heating pad myself in a couple of months. Ken has promised to cut a hole in the side and one in the back, and I'm going to install @azygous brilliant portal system. So I'll be posting chick pictures again before we know it!

 

[aart]

I just ordered hatching eggs from MPC, scheduled for delivery in March, so I'll be setting up the pen and getting out the heating pad myself in a couple of months. Ken has promised to cut a hole in the side and one in the back, and I'm going to install @azygous brilliant portal system. So I'll be posting chick pictures again before we know it!

I'm lining up hatching eggs too.........

....and want to try @azygous 's doors this year...maybe she could provide the dimensions she used??

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1069595/introducing-chicks-to-adults#post_16276224

 

[circlehouse]

I have read that article and this whole thread! Thanks for welcoming me! This just seems like a way more natural method to raising chicks, and I was way nervous about the heat lamp fire hazard. It's awesome how helpful everyone seems.
Of course I will pay my dues.

Can't wait!

I believe those portals were 5x7.

 

[circlehouse]

Just bought the king size pad with the auto off shut off. Btw for anyone thinking of using this method, the sunbeam website is have a great sale and free shipping! The king size was 27$
On Amazon it was 35.
http://www.sunbeam.com/pain-relief/?prefn1=sbmHeatingPadType&prefv1=heating-pad

 

[azygous]

The inside dimensions of the portals are 5x7inches. That's just the right size to keep the adult chickens from squeezing through, and large enough that the chicks can use them until they're about three months old. I've watched to see at what age the chicks start having a struggle getting their bodies to go through, and it's right around 12 weeks.

I like to incorporate hinged covers for the portals so I can close them off at will, kind of like having a lock down in case of emergency.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm sorry I didn't welcome you, too. Thank goodness so many good people have my back for days like today - I was up in Billings, looking in via my phone once in awhile but it's so doggone hard to reply on that thing sometimes.

Anyway, welcome! So glad you got the chance to look over the thread - there are some amazing folks on here, wouldn't you agree? You know that once those chicks come, your membership fee into the Broody Brigade is photos of your chicks, right?

@aart is right, get the biggest one. You won't be sorry! I read with interest that you are planning to brood your chicks outside, and I didn't know if you'd read this article or not, but thought I'd toss in the link just in case.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

I just ordered hatching eggs from MPC, scheduled for delivery in March, so I'll be setting up the pen and getting out the heating pad myself in a couple of months. Ken has promised to cut a hole in the side and one in the back, and I'm going to install @azygous brilliant portal system. So I'll be posting chick pictures again before we know it!

Ok, friend. You can't just drop a bomb like that without providing details. What kind of eggs, how many? Are you buying a bator, using a HP broody, or hoping for a broody hen?

 

[aart]

The inside dimensions of the portals are 5x7inches. That's just the right size to keep the adult chickens from squeezing through, and large enough that the chicks can use them until they're about three months old. I've watched to see at what age the chicks start having a struggle getting their bodies to go through, and it's right around 12 weeks.

I like to incorporate hinged covers for the portals so I can close them off at will, kind of like having a lock down in case of emergency.

Thanks for the sizing azygous....no doubt a door/portal should be able to be closed off

I made some sliding doors in my temp partition wall last spring,
but they weren't really the right size and shape and other issues didn't get the chicks outside until too late anyway.
Hope to get them out sooner this next go round....and have better 'respite portals'.