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

[RonoKT]

Realsis, I use a reptile heating pad, I expect the same thing you use for your seedlings and tortoises.
Blooie, I initially made the cave from welded wire (hardware cloth) wrapped wth jute, but then I thought when there was a breeze in my greenhouse it got cold fast. The cardboard box is really well insulated and unexposed.

 

[Blooie]

Do they get up on top of it, ronoKT? I wondered about losing the "snuggle factor" and how that would affect them....

 

[realsis]

Thanks guys. leave it to me to try to complicate something simple..Lol..
when hubby gets his next day off were going to do a "test run".checking temp, ect.I'll take pics and post them then. not sure why I insist on over complicating things. . I do need to explain to hubby this is Less like a heat cave and more like a mommy hens bottom.

 

[Blooie]

Thanks guys. leave it to me to try to complicate something simple..Lol..
when hubby gets his next day off were going to do a "test run".checking temp, ect.I'll take pics and post them then. not sure why I insist on over complicating things. . I do need to explain to hubby this is Less like a heat cave and more like a mommy hens bottom.

Best explanation I've heard since this started!

 

[bruceha2000]

Thank you so much. so how hot should I adjust the thermostat? should I make it 95? so as far as the cave goes I want them to huddle under it? I'm so nervous here but hubby read your thread and has complete confidence. I wish I could be as sure. !! I do feel confident that the thermostat can be adjusted but I'm so worried it won't be warm enough. I'm just afraid I will mess it up somehow and kill them. but huby is all for it so I'm hoping it works. when we get it together for a test run I will show you all pics and you all can tell me what you think

Don't worry .. be happy! I see in later posts you are getting a grip on your nervousness. I don't think anyone has reported a chick fatality with a MHPB. Certainly not one related to temperature.

And regarding temperatures. An update to my post of last night:

It was -18F at 7 AM today. After feeding my wife and me and doing other stuff, I made Valentines Day breakfast for the girls in the barn. Don't think I'm spoiling them too much

. We have some old oatmeal that we got before we found out that oats grown where wheat has been grown can pick up wheat gluten. DD1 is intolerant. So when it is really cold I sometimes make the working girls breakfast (only time this year). Today it was oatmeal, old wheat based pasta a bit of meat scraps and fat and about a half cup of BOSS.

Took that down at 11 AM when it was merely -7F and laid out the fare for the girls. As you can see it was about 0F in the barn (click the pictures to get the full size ones):



Here they are chowing down. NOTICE they aren't even all fluffed up. They can do WAY better than that when they want to:


Here are Peep and Fae the Cubalayas. As the name suggests they originated in Cuba and are as much game bird based as chicken based. Fluffed and just hanging out in the area just left of the barn door in the second photo. As you can see, this is a very old and not even slightly airtight barn.



ETA: it is supposed to be -16F tonight. I'm not worried about them at all. BTW, this is the coop, it is about 12' to the left of the green door in the second picture. You will note that only the door (which is open) and the panel to the left of it are covered in plastic. The left side of that wall is mirrored on the right behind the door and the side wall of the coop matches: 2x4 welded wire (because it was there) and 1/2" hardware cloth covering the open areas. There is NOTHING tight about this coop, the temp inside is about the same as the rest of the unheated barn. The floor of the barn is dirt so there is some retained heat in the fall, long gone now.

 

[RonoKT]

The chicks do climb all over the top, in my brooder at the moment the box is a route into some pot plants and some roosting/ climbing bars. If I where doing many more chicks, I think I'd go for a more flat design, like yours. I have wrapped the inside of the box and the heat pad in wool wadding and cotton stretch.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I had one loss at 6 days old but that was only because I was really stupid at the beginning and had them in the house for 3 weeks and for the first couple days had it on 6, which was obviously way way too hot, so one got pasty butt. After that I turned it down and at 3 weeks I finally got something built in the garage. 7 weeks they moved outside. They are now 16 weeks. I am positive though that had I done it right from the beginning I would have had ZERO losses. So you are definitely right, PROPER MHP done right I don't think anyone has had losses because they can self regulate so well but mine was a fluke. Although it's weird cause they weren't cheeping and trying to get away so I didn't realize it was too high so that's another thing, you have to watch but sometimes they don't always tell you or at least it's more subtle. But part of that is common sense too like not having it all the way up when they're inside. If I ever get more chicks, they will be raised either in the garage or outside from the beginning. I'm building a new, much bigger, coop and run in the spring so the old coop kit and dog kennel will be available for any future chicks or maybe rabbits.

 

[ShrekDawg]

But don't let my fluke of a story deter you, done properly it is a fantastic method and much safer and healthier. Almost guaranteed you will have far more casualties with a heat lamp so I'm glad I didn't go with it.

 

[realsis]

Don't worry .. be happy! I see in later posts you are getting a grip on your nervousness. I don't think anyone has reported a chick fatality with a MHPB. Certainly not one related to temperature. And regarding temperatures. An update to my post of last night: It was -18F at 7 AM today. After feeding my wife and me and doing other stuff, I made Valentines Day breakfast for the girls in the barn. Don't think I'm spoiling them too much . We have some old oatmeal that we got before we found out that oats grown where wheat has been grown can pick up wheat gluten. DD1 is intolerant. So when it is really cold I sometimes make the working girls breakfast (only time this year). Today it was oatmeal, old wheat based pasta a bit of meat scraps and fat and about a half cup of BOSS. Took that down at 11 AM when it was merely -7F and laid out the fare for the girls. As you can see it was about 0F in the barn (click the pictures to get the full size ones): Here they are chowing down. NOTICE they aren't even all fluffed up. They can do WAY better than that when they want to: [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR] Here are Peep and Fae the Cubalayas. As the name suggests they originated in Cuba and are as much game bird based as chicken based. Fluffed and just hanging out in the area just left of the barn door in the second photo. As you can see, this is a very old and not even slightly airtight barn. ETA: it is supposed to be -16F tonight. I'm not worried about them at all. BTW, this is the coop, it is about 12' to the left of the green door in the second picture. You will note that only the door (which is open) and the panel to the left of it are covered in plastic. The left side of that wall is mirrored on the right behind the door and the side wall of the coop matches: 2x4 welded wire (because it was there) and 1/2" hardware cloth covering the open areas. There is NOTHING tight about this coop, the temp inside is about the same as the rest of the unheated barn. The floor of the barn is dirt so there is some retained heat in the fall, long gone now.

you have such a nice set up!!!♡♡♡

 

[perchie.girl]

they are adorable!! if I could afford it I would have a farm.! Sadly it's far too expensive in California for a farm or too much acreage. The best we can do is a 10,000 sq. feet back yard outside of town. which is pretty good considering the average lot size in most community's in California for the average income people like me and mine.but if I had more land I've have ducks, chickens, and all kinds of animals! Those baby ducks sure are cute!! ♡♡♡♡

I am in San diego... the only thing I couldnt have in town are the Guineas Muscovys dont quack but they fly reaallly well. I suspect the Runners are quieter.

My first chickens were in town.... 60 x 60 lot with the house in the middle.... I didnt ask permission but made logical choices... No roos that was obvious. My neighbors had a girl about my sons age and we had great fun with the four Easter eggers..... Till I found her one morning sittng flat in the coop with a chicken firmly clutched in that child like grip. LOL. Hen was fine I shooed her home and put a lock on the coop.

I moved from there to my 18 acres the kid was starting high shcool so he staye with My grandma. Win Win I guess.

deb