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

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Increments pay attention you your chicks they will tell you

 

[MesMama]

Okie dokie! Thank you all SO much!

 

[dyorto]

I agree 4 should be good for now.

 

[COChix]

Thanks...nothing yet.  Been waiting all day for some phone calls.  Testing for everything started yesterday.  Right now I'm more concerned with the blizzard they are going to head into from Denver to well north of Casper when they start back.  Doggone it!

Don't get me started on the blizzard headed our way! I am over winter, ready for spring. Hope your family has a safe journey home.

 

[Jensownzoo]

I didn't know electric stuff could be machine washed.

My model you can disconnect from the cord and wash the pad. I own three of them. One was on pretty much continuously for a year when it wasn't in the wash--I was hospicing an old cat with arthritis.

 

[Redufresne]

I am so sorry that Blooie (who has been so wonderful on this thread) is coping with some serious family concerns right now. Didnt fully nderstand how this forum worked and kept replying directly to her instead of the whole group. With Blooie focused on her family, she asked others to field questions. So I'll post my latest chick concern (although it seems so small by comparison) to the group:

How long before my two week old chicks (6 of tem) understand about sleeping in the warming cave? I tried putting them in the cave rght at sunset, before it was completely dark, but they wouldn't stay (prolly still hoping for more treats). Three nights in a row now, I go down AFTER sunset and they are huddled together anywhere but inside the cave and they look cold (it is 60 degrees or less in that hard to heat room). So, I pick each one up and put them in the cave and they all stay inside after that (72 degrees inside). Why won't they go in on their own? I worry (yeah, I guess I'm a nervous newby) they won't understand about going into the coop at sunset when they go out to the coop yard in a few weeks (I have an automatic door out there). I get that I have to check that they make it inside for the first few outdoor nights, but about how long does it take for them o catch on? Thoughts? Do I just keep doing what I'm doing and hope for the best? They seem fine in the mornings.

 

[mobius]

First night out in coop and run four days ago, at 3.5 weeks old, first night they put themselves to bed by the time I went out at twilight to close the pop door. Yep, up that big ladder all by themselves. I was shocked, but the food and water and MHP are n the coop so they went in without any direction from me. i was worried too but I am learning that they figure it out and move as a flock...all six of them follow in and out. No one stays by themselves in coop or run. If they did, at this point I would do a health check on that one. They are definitely a flock now, never very far from each other.

If they aren't going/staying under MHP by themselves, I suggest it is either too hot under there, OR the MHP is too low or too high on their little backs. Mine will be done with MHP pretty soon I think, they are already practicing on the roost bars!

 

[beautifulpirate]

I am so sorry that Blooie (who has been so wonderful on this thread) is coping with some serious family concerns right now. Didnt fully nderstand how this forum worked and kept replying directly to her instead of the whole group. With Blooie focused on her family, she asked others to field questions. So I'll post my latest chick concern (although it seems so small by comparison) to the group:

How long before my two week old chicks (6 of tem) understand about sleeping in the warming cave? I tried putting them in the cave rght at sunset, before it was completely dark, but they wouldn't stay (prolly still hoping for more treats). Three nights in a row now, I go down AFTER sunset and they are huddled together anywhere but inside the cave and they look cold (it is 60 degrees or less in that hard to heat room). So, I pick each one up and put them in the cave and they all stay inside after that (72 degrees inside). Why won't they go in on their own? I worry (yeah, I guess I'm a nervous newby) they won't understand about going into the coop at sunset when they go out to the coop yard in a few weeks (I have an automatic door out there). I get that I have to check that they make it inside for the first few outdoor nights, but about how long does it take for them o catch on? Thoughts? Do I just keep doing what I'm doing and hope for the best? They seem fine in the mornings.

Our chick brooder is inside. But every night I would turn off a light and give them about ten minutes before I would turn off the final light for the night. For the first 4-5 nights, none of them knew what to do so they huddled together off to the side after dark. I would keep the lights off and individually place each one rightin front of the cave. They would each wander in. After that they would stay in all night, no a peep out of them. Being born in a hatchery and instantly being exposed to heat lamps, I am positive they were just unsure of what to do. And pair that with being in new surroundings, they tend to be a little scared and it may take a while to get used to their new surroundings. After that fifth night, all of them but one has consistently found their way in shortly after the lights dim (knowing that darkness is shortly to follow). IIwas still placing that solo chick near the entrance for a few days after.

I moved them to a much larger brooder setup yesterday and had to go in and show them MHP again last night as they were all in new surroundings again. Once they were in though, they were quiet all night. Woke up to six happy chicks. So it can take some time but if they aren'tcchirping madly all night while in the MHP , they like it. If they get in there, and are still chirping like crazy after a few minutes, something needs to be adjusted.

As a side note, On a 60 degree ambient room temp, I am only keeping MHP on setting 2 and they are perfectly content little birds, not a pasty butt or sign of stress amongst them.

 

[MesMama]

Well everyone survived night one, I didn't sleep very well, kept hearing chicks chirping and it was waking me up LOL! Went to check on them and they were, OF COURSE, quiet and sleeping...yep just like when I brought my babies home LOL

Anwho, they're doing well. We were only able to get two silver laced and they're for my mom and SO CUTE! So we're both protective of them <3 And of course! One of the silver laced had some poop above and below her vent, assumed that was pasty butt so soaker her lil tush in some warm water and cleaned it off, dabbed it with coconut oil. And then the other one's belly button has a big scab on it, I went to the bathroom to get the Neosporin (non pain relief one) and my daughter was holding her and thought it was poop so started cleaning it off, the belly button

I should've told her to leave it be UGH. I hope it will be okay???

 

[beautifulpirate]

That is to say redufresne, that like any other animal taken out of their natural habitat, it takes a bit of work to train them a bit. But paired with their natural instincts, they typically learn quickly.

If they were hatched and left with a broody, she would be teaching them all and leading by example. They need to be taught a little sometimes and we gotta play the part of mama hen

in these cases. Be consistent and patient. It will turn out fine.