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

[10AcreChick]

That's great to hear!
That many 2 week old chicks only fill half the cave....or half of them sleep outside the cave?
Do you have it set flat or curved?

Night time is the best time to tend the birds for that kind of stuff.....picturing a mixture of soapy water and vaseline...ewww.
Or maybe you washed the legs, then applied the vaseline.
I did a bunch of mine with bag balm, didn't wash them first, it was gooey mess.
Took lots of paper towels and wore an apron and an old sweatshirt to keep the stuff off my 'good' clothes.

Neither, aart. It's so warm here right now, that they have half their bodies sticking out of the cave! Some are fully in the cave and some fully out, but most just in a big pile about halfway between! I'm just being careful to adjust the temp with the weather outside, I put it back on 6 this morning because it's cooler today, but their cave is also about 3+ inches high now. Either way, they seem very happy when I check on them at night and in the morning!

Yes, I washed with soapy water, then applied the Vaseline. LOL, ewww, I just pictures that too, yuck! What I did was set her down in the warm water and turned off my headlamp, she settled right in. After a while, I dried her and covered her head with the towel and rubbed in the Vaseline (with gloves on, of course, eww!) She looked fine this morning, guess I'll have to do it again in 4 or 5 days when the leg mites' eggs hatch.

 

[MesMama]

@10AcreChick it's great to hear that the one pad for 23 chicks is working! I went back and forth as I was reading this thread as to whether one would be enough, finally I was like okay just going to use an 12x24 and a 12x15 and but them up against each other. I'm also debating whether to have the back open as some have done...what to do, what to do. I hate the thought of someone getting trapped back there, although reading through this thread I don't remember anyone saying that that had happened?? I think I'll just get it made and see how I feel, what feels right and I'll watch the chicks with it and go from there. I don't want to be switching things up too much on them though, avoid being scolded lol!

And someone mentioned the cloth diapers, I have some of the Gerber ones from when I cloth diapered my son so I am going to give those a try for the top.

 

[10AcreChick]

Oh, aart, and I have my heating pad flat on top, but it also bends down the sides with the hardware cloth frame. Man, I really have to take some pictures! And it's open in back, Mes,Mama.

 

[MesMama]

Well I know I have seen Blooie say multiple times throughout this thread to do what we feel comfortable with, so that's my plan.

I have more qualms about not allowing them to be able to escape out the back if they need to than not, so I think I'll go that route. But who knows, I may change my mind after I get everything set up LOL

 

[MesMama]

I've also been convinced to use a nipple waterer for my chicks as I've read through all the posts, I was intrigued and then thought how brilliant an idea that is! But not sure about using it in the winter?? Need to do more research maybe about that first

 

[aart]

Quote: Oooohhhh OK....on the 'half full'.

I thought the vaseline was supposed to suffocate the eggs too?
I know it can take a few weeks for any visible improvement and sometimes longer for new scales to grow in.
I had some with it real bad, others not so much..saw some improvement, some more than others, but it still there.
Wasn't real aggressive with application...was just thinking the other day a few could use another dose now it warm again.

 

[Blooie]

@10AcreChick it's great to hear that the one pad for 23 chicks is working! I went back and forth as I was reading this thread as to whether one would be enough, finally I was like okay just going to use an 12x24 and a 12x15 and but them up against each other. I'm also debating whether to have the back open as some have done...what to do, what to do. I hate the thought of someone getting trapped back there, although reading through this thread I don't remember anyone saying that that had happened?? I think I'll just get it made and see how I feel, what feels right and I'll watch the chicks with it and go from there. I don't want to be switching things up too much on them though, avoid being scolded lol!

And someone mentioned the cloth diapers, I have some of the Gerber ones from when I cloth diapered my son so I am going to give those a try for the top.

Actually yes, it has happened, and very recently too. I'm thinking it was Ralphie,but I can't recall now off the top of my head - or the bottom of it either. I'm sure one of the other Brigade members will correct me.

Now, would we scold you for taking the system and doing what you have to do to make it work for your situation? Well, only if it was something that we already knew someone had done and it hadn't worked at all. As long as you can maintain warmth and keep it simple, it's pretty much all good. Some have it open in the back and some don't. I don't because it's still pretty cold here in Wyoming when my chicks are out there and I want them to be in a cave rather than a flat frame to hold heat in for them. But you do what you think is right for you.

 

[mobius]

I've also been convinced to use a nipple waterer for my chicks as I've read through all the posts, I was intrigued and then thought how brilliant an idea that is! But not sure about using it in the winter?? Need to do more research maybe about that first

Horizontal nipples, my chicks already using them at two weeks, no drippage. I ordered a bucket heater from amazon, due today (for winter and moving outside. Let me see if I can scare up the thread for you...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...r-very-easy-heated-waterer-for-under-20-bucks

 

[aart]

Quote: Did you start them on the nipples right off the bat mobius?
I've had trouble getting some chicks to use them....one batch no problem, others took a week to figure it out.

Here what I did in main coop for winter nipples, it's worked great for 2 winters so far:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples

 

[MesMama]

Actually yes, it has happened, and very recently too. I'm thinking it was Ralphie,but I can't recall now off the top of my head - or the bottom of it either. I'm sure one of the other Brigade members will correct me.

Now, would we scold you for taking the system and doing what you have to do to make it work for your situation? Well, only if it was something that we already knew someone had done and it hadn't worked at all. As long as you can maintain warmth and keep it simple, it's pretty much all good. Some have it open in the back and some don't. I don't because it's still pretty cold here in Wyoming when my chicks are out there and I want them to be in a cave rather than a flat frame to hold heat in for them. But you do what you think is right for you.

Hehe!! I meant scolded by the chicks for messing with their cozy home

They can be vocal little things from what I gather LOL!