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

[jaslyman]

Can anyone suggest some dimensions for me in terms of the MHP? Particularly in terms of height, I guess. Are we talking like 3-4" at the highest point to start, then adjust as necessary? Never having had baby chicks (and with them not arriving for another week or so) I'm not exactly sure what to shoot for. Since McMurray is sending me a mixed set, no doubt some will be bigger than others, but hopefully the dome shape will take care of that.....

 

[duluthralphie]

Can anyone suggest some dimensions for me in terms of the MHP? Particularly in terms of height, I guess. Are we talking like 3-4" at the highest point to start, then adjust as necessary? Never having had baby chicks (and with them not arriving for another week or so) I'm not exactly sure what to shoot for. Since McMurray is sending me a mixed set, no doubt some will be bigger than others, but hopefully the dome shape will take care of that.....

I have no idea what others do, but I start with mine at around 2 inches, then as the chicks grow I raise it up, by putting more arch in it.

At the 2 inch or little over mark the day old chicks crawl right under it. they spend most of the first 2 days under it. A few come out for water or feed, but they treat it like it was a mother hen.

 

[Molpet]

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.

1/2" Hardware cloth helps to keep weasels out and coons from reaching in through chain link... what I used. http://www.windscreen4less.com/48-i...h-galvanized-hardware-cloth-chicken-wire.html

 

[aart]

Quote: 2" sounds about right...
Mine's a flat rack with bolts for legs, so easily adjusted. I start at about 2" at back and about 3" at front with 12" x 24" pad.
Then I raise it up once they have to squeeze and scramble to get under.

 

[emorems0]

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

Yes, it's my third attempt at a temporary water dish while I try to find a bucket for their poultry nipples.

 

[bruceha2000]

Can anyone suggest some dimensions for me in terms of the MHP? Particularly in terms of height, I guess. Are we talking like 3-4" at the highest point to start, then adjust as necessary? Never having had baby chicks (and with them not arriving for another week or so) I'm not exactly sure what to shoot for. Since McMurray is sending me a mixed set, no doubt some will be bigger than others, but hopefully the dome shape will take care of that.....

I ASSUME mixed set means all layers but different breeds? In my 2 batches of layers, there was VERY little difference in size of the chicks. All were "large fowl", no bantams, but even the Cubalayas were so close in size to the Faverolles that I had to look for the extra toes on the Favs to tell them apart until they were a week old. Full grown the Cubalayas are 2/3 the size of most of the other girls though my big Black Australorp is probably about twice their size.

Point being, when you open the box, they will likely all be the same size. And since the cave is lower in the back, and higher in the front AND if it is arched, there is plenty of variation in height to accommodate the birds if they grow at different rates.

Quote:
A wading pool! You must be changing their water quite often. Some reason you didn't just get a 1 pint chick waterer to start with?

 

[5138bug]

What are the dimension's of the cave and how long can the chicks use before they are to big?

 

[duluthralphie]

What are the dimension's of the cave and how long can the chicks use before they are to big?

Mine is a large pad 12x24 covered and wrapped about 2 inches high with a slope front to back. I suppose the turned down edges are 2-3 inches on both ends so around 12x18 or 12x20 space under it.


They will stop using it when they no longer need it. Of course, if you are like me you will try to encourage them to go under it and they will refuse.

 

[GardenNut]

My 4 littles are officially spoiled! They chirp loudly for me to come visit, pick them up, and mostly bring a meal worm treat. One is trying to fly to the top edge of the box. She's seen "the world" when I pick her up and wants to see more. After reading about Lisa Steele's "Fresh Eggs Daily" blog, I also threw some chickweed and lemon balm in with their daily soil clump. Cut into pieces of course. Gardening, herbs, and chickens. I've died and gone to heaven!

 

[mobius]

My 4 littles are officially spoiled! They chirp loudly for me to come visit, pick them up, and mostly bring a meal worm treat. One is trying to fly to the top edge of the box. She's seen "the world" when I pick her up and wants to see more. After reading about Lisa Steele's "Fresh Eggs Daily" blog, I also threw some chickweed and lemon balm in with their daily soil clump. Cut into pieces of course. Gardening, herbs, and chickens. I've died and gone to heaven!

Ain't life GRAND! Love this too...