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

[Coop de Grass]

It's about the same as yours. Remember how my run is made from cattle panels? That means I have the framework of cattle panel fencing arched above it. So what I do is just hang (using zip ties) some of that green plastic fencing all the way around it. At the place where I can walk in, it's just held to the side with a bungee cord. Would some photos help? Pretty dusty out there at the moment, so if you can overlook the dust I'll try to get a couple.


Don't you DARE apologize for posting such a question here!

If we can help, that's what we're here for, and your questions are no less important just because you aren't using MHP yet! Sounds to me like the little one does need some heat, but also sounds to me like she's found just what she needs to be comfy and her provider isn't objecting in the least.

So it's your call, but I think I would.

Honestly, this is the best BYC group that I've interacted with! Everyone is incredibly helpful and encouraging!

 

[Blooie]

Honestly, this is the best BYC group that I've interacted with! Everyone is incredibly helpful and encouraging!

Thank you so much! And we know who we have to thank for that, don't we? Every single one of you!!! Okay, got the pics...gonna load 'em now.

PS - CdG, your check is in the mail.

 

[Blooie]

Okay, I'm going to get these posted, but I'm doing it from my iPhone. So give me a few minutes AFTER they are posted so I can come back and do the final edit. Patience, Grasshoppah!

 

[Blooie]

The green plastic fencing is just folded in half because we didn't want to cut it and make it useless for anything else later. Then we just ran zip ties through the weave, up around a cattle panel wire, and secured it. It doesn't need to be secured at the bottom, but Ken did it anyway in a few spots. We didn't need to do the backside because where the run arches it actually holds the dog x-pen in place because it's up against the cattle panel there. They can't get out there.

The zip ties holding the fencing to the top of the run.

This is the side I have to use to get in. So there the plastic fencing is secured with a bungee cord stretched between the plastic and the front of the run. To get in, all I have to do is unhook one side, open the door, and enter.

Well, how do you think a shot of Sluf, Sweet Pea, and AsYetUnnamed got in there?

The whole set up.

Hope these help!

 

[saraem]

Thank you, @Blooie !

As much as it pained me to do so, heat lamp is back on for the night. Although it's adorable that a 4-weeker is playing mama to the baby, I can't be sure she'll reliably keep her warm all night. Taking comfort in knowing they only have to endure a night or two more of the lamp! Temps will be about 10 degrees colder this week, so I'm now feeling very sure that setting up the heating pad will be well worth it.

 

[dragonthehunter]

I got my chocolate orp bantam and blue maran yesterday they love the MHP thanks @Blooie

Sent from my SM-T110 using Tapatalk

 

[lalaland]

blooie, thanks for posting the pics of the green fencing hanging from the top of the hoop coop. I've been trying to figure out how to partition off part of the hoop coop I am building for th3 chics because it is soo big - didn't want the babies to wander to far from the mhp. that will work perfectly til they are bigger.

 

[tenman78]

This threads slogan should be "Momma chicken,without the cluck!"

 

[lazy gardener]

Went to lock up......no chicks!
Could hear them...but......oh , all in one nest box smaller than their huddle box...SHM.....wish I coulda got a pic.

Put them all on a roost, 15 almost 5 week olds just fit on a ~4 foot roost....should keep em warmer.
Not as warm as it was in that nest box, it was toasty in there......gotta remember to close off then nest boxes in the late afternoons.

It's a battle here every spring, and sometimes well into the fall. I finally made a panel with key hole slots that can hang from 2 screws to block off the bottom 3 nests. The top 3 nests can be blocked off by folding up the roost bar that I made just wide enough to block the access. Super easy fix, if you plan ahead for it. Not so easy to always remember, though!!

 

[Blooie]

blooie, thanks for posting the pics of the green fencing hanging from the top of the hoop coop. I've been trying to figure out how to partition off part of the hoop coop I am building for th3 chics because it is soo big - didn't want the babies to wander to far from the mhp. that will work perfectly til they are bigger.

You're welcome!! I used a dog xPen for the body of the enclosure, then have our old brooder box (the one we built for inside the house back in the heat lamp days) standing up on one end as a 3 sided wind block. MHP cave is in there on the floor. I wouldn't trust the green fencing to keep chicks in - they can squirt out of holes I'd have sworn water couldn't trickle through! But up high as a way to keep them in and the Bigs from flying in, it works very well.

This threads slogan should be "Momma chicken,without the cluck!"

Well, Sluf survived the night. Got down to 36 last night and he was just 2 days old when he went out. So yeah, horray for Mama Heating Pad!!!