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

[mobius]

A Broody Hen named Duane!!!

Probably another story there, better not ask! Duane: The Mother of All Chickens!!

Thanks for a good read!!

 

[Coop de Grass]

@aart Yes, the pasty butt just started.


I just read about umbilical hernias. There has not been anything hanging out of it's navel at any time.
Thanks much.

 

[CorreaClan]

I just wanted to share how my Mama Heating Pad was going. This is only days 2 and 3 for my flock and this is my first flock. I have 23 chicks ranging from 3 days to just over one week. They all seem to be doing really well! The one week olds were bought from Rural King at that age and three of them had a bit of pasty butt, but it seems to have cleared up pretty well. I haven't had to remove it more than once. I have the heating pad set to High and one side goes all the way to the ground. I'll find some of the smaller ones snuggled up against the side in the evening and early morning (I live in central Florida and my porch temperature is ranging between about 60 and 75). To further assist the warmth in the evening, I have been putting a light blanket over the top of my DIY brooder. It only takes a few minutes for them to settle down for the night. I bought the wire baskets from Aldi for $4-$5 and I'll end up reusing them for the girls laying baskets when they move to the coop. I'm very happy with how everyone is doing and am so happy I found this thread!!

 

[FlyWheel]

Although I have read a lot of the posts here, I haven't had time to read them all. My question is if anyone has used the MHP for goslings. I know you can use it for chicks and ducklings but haven't seen anyone using it for goslings. I have never had goslings and don't have any idea how much larger they are than ducklings. I have some ducklings and goslings arriving in 2 weeks and would much rather use the heating pad. The heat lamp scares me.

You may have to double up as the goslings get bigger, but I see no reason it wouldn't work.You didn't mention how many goslings you were getting. No one has yet given a serious answer to my proposition of using a heated throw for an MHP yet. But at their usual size of 60" x 72" you could raise turkeys under one.

<Snip!>


So yes, I know this is the MHP thread and I LOVE MHP and will use it from now on if a broody hen isn't available, but my point is that we get all to focused on what the books say we need to do to raise chicks properly. I think the best possible teacher of how to raise chicks would be a Chicken.. If Duane isn't fixated on all the details we humans tend to fixate on, I defer to her, she's the expert.

Well, you did use an MHP - Mama Hen Parenting!

 

[Janice123456]

Moved my 3 week old chicks to the coop todayfor practice session to see if they liked it. They went to a seperate area from big girls. They loved it. They sleep in the cat carrier under pad at night.
I have the mama pad system in the cat carrier so I can transport to the house and coop until Im ready to leave them overnight. The carrier is a safe place for them. They loved the straw and dirt bath !!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Moved my 3 week old chicks to the coop todayfor practice session to see if they liked it. They went to a seperate area from big girls. They loved it.
I have the mama pad system in the cat carrier so I can transport to the house and coop until Im ready to leave them overnight. The carrier is a safe place for them. They loved the straw and dirt bath !!

What a lovely idea to use the cat carrier to transport them and to put the mama heating pad in it! What is the dirt bath in?

Your chicks are so cute!

 

[aart]

@aart Yes, the pasty butt just started.


I just read about umbilical hernias. There has not been anything hanging out of it's navel at any time.
Thanks much.

Well, the skin can close, but not the muscle under it.
That looks like rather large bulge, but hard to tell..... how does it compare to the other chicks?
Might be a good idea to start a new thread in the illness forum with all the info and these pics.

 

[poodlechicks]

To come to this thread and read all the stories is such a delight! Thank you all for sharing them.
Coop de Grass, kept us posted on what the folks at the emergencies thread say about your chick. Best of luck!

 

[Coop de Grass]

Well, the skin can close, but not the muscle under it.
That looks like rather large bulge, but hard to tell..... how does it compare to the other chicks?
Might be a good idea to start a new thread in the illness forum with all the info and these pics.

@aart I was looking at them just now, and a couple do have a similar silhouette. And those don't have pasty butt. I will try starting a new thread. Thanks!

 

[COChix]

Cut a smaller hole in the door on the side where the chicks are and it took them no time at all to be out with the adults. We have begun integration, they have access to their side and hopefully none of the adults can fit in the door. The babies will have to be rounded up and shown where their heat pad cave mama is tonight. They will hopefully learn how to go in and out of the coop by themselves over the next week or so. They are are three weeks old today and So far things today have gone great with the adults.