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

[bruceha2000]

@Leahs Mom separate run from the olders main run.......main run needs smaller mesh added before mixing chicks...hopefully next week.


Left chicks pop door open today, but did not 'throw' them out into the run....didn't want to have to chase them all down(to go out and back in) again.
Tho when I walked into their coop to maybe 'persuade' them out(reads 'scare' them out) several jumped onto the threshold of the pop door,
but put on the brakes fast when they saw where they were headed, one got knocked out into the run....oops!
Didn't take her long to fly back up onto the ramp and back into coop...good sign.
Sprinkled some crumble onto the ramp and few ventured up and down the ramp a bit, but none went to the ground.
They were close but the dog started barking(at nothing I could see-shm) and scared them back up.
May be a bit more 'persuasive tomorrow, I really want them to learn to go in and out on their own.

To stay on topic(haha) went out midday and all but 2 of the 16 two week old chicks were on top of the 12 x 24 MHP.......
......filled up that space pretty well, so it's pretty crowded under there at night.
Speaks to capacity of the 12 x 24...actually the top board is a bit bigger than the pad itself.

Just leave the door open. They will get adventurous on their own. Being suspicious of new things is a positive trait in a prey animal!!

While in town today, I stopped at the feed store. I was looking for potato sets (none) but they had a shipment of adorable, very nice and active EE. (I think they called them Ameraucanas!) Today is first "due date", with more due on Sat and Sun. So far, no cheeps, in spite of repeatedly turning the fan off to listen. I did not yield to the temptation.

Good girl LG, stay strong!

(I'm allowed to call her a girl, she's a WHOLE month younger than me

)

 

[junebuggena]

You think so? They are 4 weeks and were raised inside until 2 nights ago when I moved the brooder into the garage. I was worried that the temp changes would be too much shock for them. It's warmed up some now so the lows and in the low 40s for this week.

Low 40s is plenty warm for them. I've had chicks outside in those kinds of temps at 3.5 weeks old without heat. Your's should be just fine.

 

[lazy gardener]

Just leave the door open. They will get adventurous on their own. Being suspicious of new things is a positive trait in a prey animal!!


Good girl LG, stay strong!

(I'm allowed to call her a girl, she's a WHOLE month younger than me

)

Love ya, Bruce!!!! I got an internal pip tonight!

 

[bruceha2000]

Woot!!!! I hope you have a good hatch. Are these going to be banded as "came from a 'more likely a pullet egg'"?

 

[Blooie]

While in town today, I stopped at the feed store. I was looking for potato sets (none) but they had a shipment of adorable, very nice and active EE. (I think they called them Ameraucanas!) Today is first "due date", with more due on Sat and Sun. So far, no cheeps, in spite of repeatedly turning the fan off to listen. I did not yield to the temptation.

Nice job, LG!! I wasn't that smart. Intended to pick up 5 chicks to add to the two I have. Came home with 7. But it looks like the eggs for Katiebug, the Bantam eggs, are clear, so we picked up two Bantams for her. She got to put them in the brooder this afternoon.....could barely get her to let them go. "Is the heating pad low enough for them? They're littler than the other ones." Yes, Katie, it's fine. "Can they reach the button on the hanging water thing?" Yes, Katie, they can. They go out tomorrow.....she'll be hovering, I'll bet!

That chick is fully feathered. She doesn't need a heating pad anymore.

Agreed. Mine did great outside in temps far lower than that. Relax - you've got this...She looks great, and really nicely feathered.

Love ya, Bruce!!!! I got an internal pip tonight!

Keep us posted, LG!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think she's pretty feathered but mine were inside until 3 weeks old then moved to the garage until 7 weeks then outside permanently. Mine really didn't feather much at all until they moved to the garage. But I also had the pad in 6 the first week then on 4 when I realized it was way too high. Plus my mom kept turning the heat up really high in the bathroom. Maybe your room was cooler. It was also October. And after a while I turned the pad down to 2 or 3. But at first I was worried it was really cold so left on 4, even 5 for a bit. But yeah, i dont think it would hurt to have it on lower when you move them. Even if they don't necessarily need the heat, they will often go under it for security too. At least mine did. Also you may have to train them. I didn't do the sunset properly so had to train them a lot with flashlights but then they started going to bed on their own and now they go in the coop every night, often before it's fully dark.

 

[aart]

Whether to use a heat lamp(gasp) if needed for capacity(too many chicks, not enough pad)
or an MHP longer than others might can be a matter of individual situations.

Quote: Yep, just sharing the days story........no one else wants to hear me 'talk' about chick(en)s.

 

[bruceha2000]

Their loss @aart

 

[FlyWheel]

I have also heard that the feathered friends of ours are quite addicted to tomatoes as well! I will be sure to maintain fencing for these monsters. Thank you so much for the word of advice!

Blooie those babies are sooo cute!

Snow tonight up to 12" by Sunday. These girls are spoiled. Hot oatmeal with Chia and strawberry tops...they were fighting over it. MHP will get her use this weekend.

I have tried a few different treats to entice my chicks; mealworms? Nothing to write home. thawed out frozen strawberries? Uh-uh. Blackberries? little real interest (the adults love em though!). Apples? About the same as mealworms.

Pieces of tomatoes? INCOMING!!!!

 

[dyorto]

Well I'm glad most of you feel they will be ok even without heat. I have the MHP in there but when I checked in them after dark they were all huddled on the roost bar furthest from the heating pad. But they were quiet and seemed settled so I just left them that way. At least it's not in the 20s so I'll just have another glass of wine tonight and not worry about it