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

[Jensownzoo]

Gonna brood in an extra large wire dog kennel. I don't want to brood in the coop as there is no easy way to set one up without moving roosts around. Since the babies won't even be trying to roost right away, I have decided to go the Blooie method and use a dog kennel in the covered run. Anyone using one? Wondering if baby chicks can squeeze through the wire gaps?

I've had kittens squeeze through those gaps before, so it should be bo problem for chicks. If you want them to stay put, line the insides with cardboard.

 

[emorems0]

Just make sure they can't get in between the layers. Can you raise it as they grow?

It's about 4" off the ground in the center of the pad right now and my 6 day old meat chicks fit under it with room to spare. I suspect I will need to push it down into the ground a little when my day-old layers come next week. When it eventually does need to go a little higher, I plan on cutting a few sections of PVC to make leg extensions. I've done that before with a similar shelf I used in my old turtle tank to make an elevated platform. The narrow PVC slips right over the legs and you can make the new PVC leg extensions any length you want.

I'm not worried about them getting in between the layers, the top is just a towel draped over like everyone else does, right? The cardboard is wrapped tightly to the shelf. The only potential spot is where the HP sags down a little bit in the middle, but I don't see any way for them to get tangled there. I DO wish my towel was a bit wider so it had more overhang... I may just cut a piece of fleece fabric to the size I want which so that I have more overhang in the front and back and it will also hide that gap better when they are jumping up and down from the top.

 

[emorems0]

I've had kittens squeeze through those gaps before, so it should be bo problem for chicks. If you want them to stay put, line the insides with cardboard.

You would probably want to line with cardboard to protect against cold winds anyway. But yes, they will definitely be able to fit through the gaps on a wire dog crate.

 

[Pattycat]

So, my chicks are not here this morning. I need to call the guy about my tracking number. I am hoping that the chicks are not sitting down at the post office waiting. I went around to build my MHP last night and I had run out of wire! I am building with a shelf from walmart also, but in a different way.
We bought these shelves when we lived at Fort Polk, because my storage was minimal at best. I have been carting them from duty station to duty station. They stand about 7 inches from the floor, I am hoping this works!!!!


I will post when I finish the project.

 

[COChix]

I've had kittens squeeze through those gaps before, so it should be bo problem for chicks. If you want them to stay put, line the insides with cardboard.

thanks, that is kinda what I figured. My BF and I debated whether the chicks could squeeze through, I said they could, he said no way. Will plan on adding something to the bottom half of the kennel to keep them in.

 

[COChix]

They probably can!! I was going to use 2x4 welded wire to give them more room but they could squeeze through even at a couple weeks old. So a wire kennnel is probably the same. Unless the gaps are smaller? They could fit through anything though. Maybe line it with hardware cloth or chicken wire?

thanks, didn't see you response at first.

 

[COChix]

So, my chicks are not here this morning. I need to call the guy about my tracking number. I am hoping that the chicks are not sitting down at the post office waiting. I went around to build my MHP last night and I had run out of wire! I am building with a shelf from walmart also, but in a different way. We bought these shelves when we lived at Fort Polk, because my storage was minimal at best. I have been carting them from duty station to duty station. They stand about 7 inches from the floor, I am hoping this works!!!! I will post when I finish the project.

Had one of those shelves last year that I almost used.....will be curious to see how yours is set up, good luck.

 

[Blooie]

thanks, that is kinda what I figured. My BF and I debated whether the chicks could squeeze through, I said they could, he said no way. Will plan on adding something to the bottom half of the kennel to keep them in.

Show him this:


This is Turtles. He had to FLY up there, then squeak out through the bars in the dog pen. Yeah. And it was high! I kept going out and finding him running frantically outside the pen trying to get back in.



The hardware cloth at the bottom of this dog crate was for Scout. This is the same way we did the larger xpen for the subsequent chicks too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

thanks, didn't see you response at first.

No problem!!

 

[lazy gardener]

I can see a chick untying the bungee cord and throwing it over a rafter and hanging itself, Suicide method #103

Touche!!!