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

[saraem]

Exactly, I am not worried about the 4 weekers.

Well, I AM worried about them getting TOO much heat and light, which is why I was thinking of implementing MHP for the younger one.

If you think a little cave/roofed area would keep them warm enough in a huddle though, I'd try that for sure. Just wanting to turn the heat lamp off at this point for the big girls, but don't want to chill the smaller one.

 

[bruceha2000]

My birds are at 3 1/2 weeks now and we are averaging nights at about 38' at this point. We are building our coop this week and I would love to get them out of the garage. I have had the MHP set taller and on medium for the last week and they seem to spend nights sleeping on top of it rather than their roost. Is it time to turn to low and encourage their feathers to grow a bit more and potentially sleep on their roost, or still a little early? They do perch on it during the day when they are not scratching around the box.

I don't think it is unusual for chicks younger than 4 weeks to NOT sleep on the roost, even if they stand on them during the day. Not ever having been a chicken (to my knowledge), maybe they don't have the ability to sleep on a roost until about that age??

Exactly, I am not worried about the 4 weekers.

Well, I AM worried about them getting TOO much heat and light, which is why I was thinking of implementing MHP for the younger one.

If you think a little cave/roofed area would keep them warm enough in a huddle though, I'd try that for sure. Just wanting to turn the heat lamp off at this point for the big girls, but don't want to chill the smaller one.

I would go with the MHP cave for the younger one. Turning off the lamp is a good idea, let them ALL live as they should with natural day/night.

 

[Blooie]

I agree. Sorry took so long to respond. You can put a heating pad cave out there for the Tinys, and the Littles will probably spend time on top of it. They really don't need the heat but the Tiny's will, so just let them find their own comfort zones.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Question for those that are brooding different age chicks.

I currently have Four 4-week olds and Two 2 week olds that have been brooded together. The younger of the group still uses the heat at night; the olders maybe half-under unless it's really cold.

I will be getting 6 new hatches on the 9th of May. That makes the oldest previous about 6 weeks and 4 weeks.

Has anyone tried putting new hatches into the same brood area with chicks that old? I could use 2 different MPH so they have their own, but I'm thinking that 6 weeks and newly hatched is too large of an age gap. They will be in a 6x6 area.

I've been planning on figuring out how to divide the area but thought I'd ask to see if anyone has had that age gap in the same space without division and/or how old the new hatches were before you removed a divider.

Thanks for any experience you might have!

 

[aart]

Question for those that are brooding different age chicks.

I currently have Four 4-week olds and Two 2 week olds that have been brooded together. The younger of the group still uses the heat at night; the olders maybe half-under unless it's really cold.

I will be getting 6 new hatches on the 9th of May. That makes the oldest previous about 6 weeks and 4 weeks.

Has anyone tried putting new hatches into the same brood area with chicks that old? I could use 2 different MPH so they have their own, but I'm thinking that 6 weeks and newly hatched is too large of an age gap. They will be in a 6x6 area.

I've been planning on figuring out how to divide the area but thought I'd ask to see if anyone has had that age gap in the same space without division and/or how old the new hatches were before you removed a divider.

Thanks for any experience you might have!

I've found 6 weeks to be too much age gap and had to split brooder....then integrated using a crate with small door opening as safe haven for tinys once they were out in the coop.

 

[Blooie]

Question for those that are brooding different age chicks.

I currently have Four 4-week olds and Two 2 week olds that have been brooded together. The younger of the group still uses the heat at night; the olders maybe half-under unless it's really cold.

I will be getting 6 new hatches on the 9th of May. That makes the oldest previous about 6 weeks and 4 weeks.

Has anyone tried putting new hatches into the same brood area with chicks that old? I could use 2 different MPH so they have their own, but I'm thinking that 6 weeks and newly hatched is too large of an age gap. They will be in a 6x6 area.

I've been planning on figuring out how to divide the area but thought I'd ask to see if anyone has had that age gap in the same space without division and/or how old the new hatches were before you removed a divider.

Thanks for any experience you might have!

Mine are usually integrated with the flock by 4 weeks old, so I'd have let the older ones start to co-mingle, keeping the younger ones in the brooder awhile longer. Then I have no touble putting new chicks in with the 2 weekers, but I don't think I'd do an age difference greater than that, as @aart said. If you can start integrating the older chicks now, then add the ones that will be 4 weeks when the babies come, that is what I'd try to do. This article explains how I do it. Now, of course, I'm using @azygous portal doors and will start integrating my chicks next week. (Holy cow, that time went by fast!!)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[FaerieGlynne]

So I know that I should let the ducklings tell me what they need for the brooder, but they are one week old and I've already got it turned down to 4 but they still only sleep on top of it. Right now it's 80, but the past few days have been in the 60s and they still almost only slept on top of it. The weather here is supposed to be 82 tomorrow down to 60 by Wednesday and then into the 70s by Friday.
Should I turn it down to three already? Should I turn it back up to 4 when it's colder?

 

[saraem]

I've left the heat lamp off all day (it's been quite warm) and I just came home to the 3 big girls sleeping in a triangle with the tiny one in the middle. I wonder if they're ok like that? Should be about 65-70 tonight where they are.

 

[saraem]

I will also add that I have never heard them so quiet. For a moment I worried and then I realized, they are just experiencing dusk for the first time. This is exactly why MHP is so ingenious. No light glaring at them all night.

 

[FlyWheel]

There ya go!! A trash pump might be the ticket.
How did you 'siphon' it...picturing how one often gets a siphon hose going...ewwww!

The tub was six feet around by 30" high. I just dunked the hose into the water until it filled up, then pulled one end out and started watering/fertilizing.