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

[ShrekDawg]

You can do the pipe thing with horizontal nipples and the cup waterers, too. I know those instructions used the push-in, but I use the screw-in kind.

Really? I may have to try that then! Although the bucket has been working out great so far. Would be nice to get it up higher though. Does it stay cool? Because my bucket is deep so stays freezing near the bottom. I'd be worried a pipe would hear uo like a hose on a summer day

 

[GardenNut]

For some reason the video of a dog pissing on an electronet popped in to my mind when I read this.

Thanks @aart! I know I'll almost always get a laugh from your posts! I can just the look on that dog's face. I need to put electro netting in my yard for my male German Shepherd. He's a "neutered, marking machine!"

 

[suchcutenails]

Hello! I have a couple of questions! I am sure they have been answered in this wonderful thread, but I haven't been able to find them, so here goes...

1. I have my 13 baby girls (3 - 2 1/2 weeks old and 10 - 1 1/2 weeks) in a brooder that is a large, old, wire dog crate with the mama heating pad nest. They have done great! Everything seems to be fine...growing, feathering, flying, pooping

! lol However, the last couple of days, it seems like they don't want to go inside the cave. They spend plenty of time running around like normal, but then they get on top, huddled together like chickens do. No loud chirping or other things people say happen when they are cold. The room that they are in is about 65 degrees, so I would expect them to be happier inside. I have made it a little taller as they've grown...especially for the older 3. I guess they are okay? It just seems like they can't be warm enough? Even last night, at bedtime, it was like they planned to sleep there. I had to 'encourage' them to go inside. My real concern about this goes with my next question.

2. I am almost done building their big girl coop, and am SO ready for them to move.out.

I am in north central Mass, in the mountains. We have no snow, and our weather this week should be 40's overnight and 60-70 during the day. I know LOTS of you post about them being fine out in the coop, and I am comfortable with it. But how do I do it? Do I start with their whole brooder in the coop? Or just set up the heating pad nest in a corner for them? If there is some reason they don't want to go in it (from my first question) I want to make sure it is all set so they won't have any trouble staying warm enough.

Any thoughts about this would be SO appreciated. These are my first chicks, and I am learning a lot as I go! I am grateful that you all are willing to share your experiences!!!!

 

[aart]

Hello! I have a couple of questions! I am sure they have been answered in this wonderful thread, but I haven't been able to find them, so here goes...

1. I have my 13 baby girls (3 - 2 1/2 weeks old and 10 - 1 1/2 weeks) in a brooder that is a large, old, wire dog crate with the mama heating pad nest. They have done great! Everything seems to be fine...growing, feathering, flying, pooping

! lol However, the last couple of days, it seems like they don't want to go inside the cave. They spend plenty of time running around like normal, but then they get on top, huddled together like chickens do. No loud chirping or other things people say happen when they are cold. The room that they are in is about 65 degrees, so I would expect them to be happier inside. I have made it a little taller as they've grown...especially for the older 3. I guess they are okay? It just seems like they can't be warm enough? Even last night, at bedtime, it was like they planned to sleep there. I had to 'encourage' them to go inside. My real concern about this goes with my next question.

2. I am almost done building their big girl coop, and am SO ready for them to move.out.

I am in north central Mass, in the mountains. We have no snow, and our weather this week should be 40's overnight and 60-70 during the day. I know LOTS of you post about them being fine out in the coop, and I am comfortable with it. But how do I do it? Do I start with their whole brooder in the coop? Or just set up the heating pad nest in a corner for them? If there is some reason they don't want to go in it (from my first question) I want to make sure it is all set so they won't have any trouble staying warm enough.

Any thoughts about this would be SO appreciated. These are my first chicks, and I am learning a lot as I go! I am grateful that you all are willing to share your experiences!!!!

1. If they are on top of the pad and not distressed, it may be too hot under the pad.
Turn the heat down on the pad and see if they go under.

2. You could do either, might need to turn the pad back up.
Might also want to open a window in the room with the brooder, if you can close off the room and the heat in that room, to acclimate them to cooler ambient temps and/or take them out on day trips.

 

[aart]

Quote: Note that Allyn is down south.....you could do a pipe in summer, but it would freeze in winter in MA unless you set up a heater and a re-circulation pump.

 

[TerryH]

Awwww.... ..I hope they spend enough time out form under for her to watch.
Will she be able to get the feed and water changed out?

Yes on all accounts. We went down to make sure all was well last night and she told us all about their day or running around, trying to fly, scratching with wood chips a flyin', pooping everywhere etc... She had already taken what I had for a feeder out and made her own. Quite ingenious really. She took a shallow Tupperware container and cut a couple of holes in the lid so they could get the food but not scratch it out. Smiles all around.

 

[Molpet]

Dues payment

I took my 17 day old littles out again yesterday again... I do not have electricity out by the coop so they are still in the basement.

The Turkeys are the only ones that still go under MHP... yes people say to keep turks off the ground for months, but they peep when the chicks are outside LOL.. they loved being out, it was their first time.
The bigs hens had hackle raised at first

but they settled down.. Although they did thunk the littles on the head through the wire once or twice... getting that pecking order established LOL... roo was better behaved.




.

 

[COChix]

This morning wake up and roll call, snow suppose to taper off around noon. I am re-thinking that whole brooder areas, as once the snow melts that is sitting on top of the wc, on top of the run it will be a muddy mess in there. I had put down a bunch of straw before setting up their brooder so hoping that helps. Chicks seem to be doing well, cave temp this am was 75.

 

[GranolaGirl72]

First experience with a pop door this morning. Drinking coffee and reading about the importance of heat lamps and not letting your birds out until at least 3 weeks old. Still waiting for my week and a half old girls to kick the bucket.... Any time now.....

 

[Jensownzoo]

First experience with a pop door this morning. Drinking coffee and reading about the importance of heat lamps and not letting your birds out until at least 3 weeks old. Still waiting for my week and a half year old girls to kick the bucket.... Any time now.....

Yep, they suuuuuuure look unhealthy. Might be any minute now...