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

[ShrekDawg]

Why do they cut off editing posts? Seems kinda weird hah

 

[Redufresne]

This is what
I have set up inside the coop. It is raised, but the ramp to the ground is small due to slope of land. See the double (and taller) MHP?

Here is the home made feeding box I made for feeding station outside and they pecked out of it already. I will raise it as they get bigger. Also, the outside water into which I can put a warmer to keep it from freezing in winter. Actually, I am working on a waterer that stays hooked to the hose with a shut off float so they never run out.

And here are a couple of pictures of the chicks. They were already dust bathing in dirt! The black one right up front with no tail feathers is the one I suspect of being a (cockeral).

They did great outside for an hour and didnt want to go back in even for mealworms! It was fun to watch them. Auto door works great.

 

[emorems0]

Pictures! I have two brooder set up since I have 40+ chicks.

 

[Redufresne]

Oh, and I learned the hard way that if you don't want a chick to get under a feeding station thru a gap underneath and potentially stuck or unwilling to come out - block the gap! I did so with bricks after I got them back in the coop.

 

[bruceha2000]

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blooie

Actually I must confess that you didn't misunderstand a key detail - I misstated a key detail. In the beginning I did say that "chicks don't come in direct contact with the heat". What I was meaning was that it isn't like they are wrapped in it or something.......and I didn't state that very well. Later on in the thread, and many many times since, I have recommended that people lower their frames so that the heat is right at the chicks' backs. But the thread goes back too far to allow me to edit the bad wording of the post you were referencing. So it wasn't your mistake, it was mine, and I apologize for the confusion.

Maybe Miss @Blooie could use the little pencil at the bottom of her first post to clarify this detail

There is cut-off for editing older posts.....it must have passed since Blooie mentions she can't correct it.

Hmmm, maybe someone should read more carefully before he posts. And since you quoted it I can't replace it with something else to protect my "good name" and feign ignorance

This is what I have set up inside the coop. It is raised, but the ramp to the ground is small due to slope of land. See the double (and taller) MHP?



Here is the home made feeding box I made for feeding station outside and they pecked out of it already. I will raise it as they get bigger. Also, the outside water into which I can put a warmer to keep it from freezing in winter. Actually, I am working on a waterer that stays hooked to the hose with a shut off float so they never run out.



And here are a couple of pictures of the chicks. They were already dust bathing in dirt! The black one right up front with no tail feathers is the one I suspect of being a (cockeral).

They did great outside for an hour and didnt want to go back in even for mealworms! It was fun to watch them. Auto door works great.

Just more proof that chicks thrive when they are NOT in an overheated environment!

I'm not surprised they billed out the food. They are hunting the "candy" and tossing out the "vegetables".
If there is any possibility of raccoons in your area, I suggest putting up 18" to 24" high 1/2" hardware cloth along the chain link.

I agree on the black and white chick. Seems like a lot of comb for a pullet that age.

Pictures! I have two brooder set up since I have 40+ chicks.

What are the chicks standing in/on? Not their water, right?

 

[duluthralphie]

There are 26 babies in here, can you count them all?

 

[bruceha2000]

Nope, I lost my X-ray glasses!

 

[Redufresne]

I'm not surprised they billed out the food. They are hunting the "candy" and tossing out the "vegetables".
If there is any possibility of raccoons in your area, I suggest putting up 18" to 24" high 1/2" hardware cloth along the chain link.


They dont bill food out of the homemade feeder. It is designed to prevent that. I DO have wire fencing two feet up the sides of the chain link and two feet out on the ground, partly buried, to prevent digging under. Not sure the wite fencing is strong enough, but will see how it goes. 100 feet of hardware cloth seemed expensive! I worry about predators climbing the six foot fence and I have some wire along some of the top edges with sharp bits sticking out. I covered the whole fenced area with bird netting. It seems like it is tights and safe, but one can never underestimate predators! Time will tell.

 

[bruceha2000]

Yes 1/2" hardware cloth is expensive. The problem with the chicken wire over the chainlink is that a coon can reach through and rip the head off a chicken leaning against the fence. But the buried part will likely deter digging predators. It isn't that strong when hung vertically but the animal's claws will catch in it when digging and I think make them look for another way in.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes 1/2" hardware cloth is expensive. The problem with the chicken wire over the chainlink is that a coon can reach through and rip the head off a chicken leaning against the fence. But the buried part will likely deter digging predators. It isn't that strong when hung vertically but the animal's claws will catch in it when digging and I think make them look for another way in.

I actually think I found a pretty good price on hardware cloth online!

36 inch high, 100 foot long 1/2" for $92 and free shipping! It was like $110 when I added it to my list but it's gone down

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000...olid=2PTMX313RM103&coliid=I2I6JO5XUS420Z&vs=1

This one's pretty good too I think but only 50 feet. But it's also 48 inch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001...olid=2PTMX313RM103&coliid=I27ZDWKXRUVYYT&vs=1

Not really sure why this one is so expensive

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000..._1_4?colid=2PTMX313RM103&coliid=IDG06OBFMZI0S