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

[aart]

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.

Sweet!!!
Hopes your hopes are affirmed!

 

[dyorto]

I'm so excited that my coop was delivered today!!!

 

[GardenNut]

Dang! I could live in that! I think they're called "a tiny house?!" Nice!

 

[COChix]

Sweet!!!
Hopes your hopes are affirmed! 

Thanks, I think this is about my favorite age with chicks. They are so tentative but soooo curious that it doesn't take them long to decide to venture about...

I think the greyish chick to the right is a male based on the tail feathers, wings and I think I see the beginning of a comb at 3 weeks. We will see, we need a replacement roo so hoping to get a blue egg gene male.

These smarties decided to roost their first day in the run and seeing roosts.

 

[mobius]

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!!

doing good!!! yay MHP

 

[aart]

I'm so excited that my coop was delivered today!!!

Sweet Pic!

 

[dyorto]

I started a new thread in coop building for anyone who would love to help out my stress of making sure it's suitable for a growing flock!

 

[susan251]

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.[/SIZE

Actually, i thought it was a great idea, only i didnt find one where you can override the auto shut off. And i dont know if they get as hot? But can you imagine having that much brooding space? I dont know about anyone else, but i might just go a little overboard...

 

[aart]

Getting chick wire up in small run today.....
gonna whine, about arthritic body, long damaged knees/ankle/foot making it very difficult to get up and down off the ground, %$#*&@*!.
....the pain tomorrow is going to be nofunatall.

The first 17 foot section is up, probably the hardest one as I had to remove a bunch of roots. Another 17 footer, then an 8 footer and that'll be it.
I'm confident in getting this done today, nice to feel some realistic optimism...the chicks should be back outside by midafternoon. Yayy!!

Time for food and some ibuprofen to stave off the pains....then back at it!

 

[mymilliefleur]

I filled up the brooder again today. I was planning to get 18 but when I got home there were over 30 in the box....Not sure how that happened.
I think I might experiment this time with putting the heat pad over the chicks, instead of under them.
I'm a bit worried about not having enough space, one heat pad is not really enough for 30 rapidly growing chicks.

The first batch of chicks is doing well. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago. They have already doubled in size since than!