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

[Blooie]

Hi there! Yep, most of us love it too...works so slick and with (well, usually with) with a minimum of fuss. Just a frame, a heating pad and a towel. And in the case of many those of us brooding outdoors from the start, some straw piled on top.

 

[dyorto]

I ain't a good waiter.  

Me either! The suspense is killing me. Mine were still all up on the roost this morning. It was funny to watch them try to get up the courage to come down. Only one figured out there was a ramp.

 

[csneill]

My wellie chicks will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. I think their feathers are really coming in nicely. Supposed to be nice weather this week so I think I'll move them into our chicken tractor at least during the day- it's not secure enough for the nights I think but at least the babies can get outside. I'll move the cave outside w them. We will be gone for a few days next weekend so I'm not quite ready to move them in w the big girls til I can supervise a little more. Overall we are doing great!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Where they are right now, I have a huge indoor pen area that is 22 x 12. 6 ft. of that is divided off for the chick-safe pen. I do have an idea on how to get the youngsters outside into a covered area but it would still be separate from the elders.

 

[junebuggena]

 

[junebuggena]

I have no idea how they get all the way up there

 

[aart]

I have no idea how they get all the way up there

Whooaaa!!! LOL!
Um...they probably fly ;-)
Thing is, can they get down without massive crashes?

 

[junebuggena]

The door opens into a 10x10 run and the coop is 8x10, so there is plenty of room for flying/gliding. They glide down pretty well, but they do sometimes land on an adult.

 

[Victoria-nola]

I was a little behind on changing the coop <snip> then a really thick layer of pine shavings over all of that, used the entire bag between the nest boxes and coop floor.

Just want to mention that you might prefer to use the deep litter method in which basically you only ever have to clean out the coop once or twice a year at most. In warmer areas possibly not even have to do it once a year because the composting action of the deep litter is not so slowed down by cold temps during the winter (this was my experience in New Orleans). You can search BYC for "deep litter" for more information. Basically it involves using a lot more pine shavings all at once so that you have 12" of litter on the floor (mixed with plenty of DE, yes). The deep litter basically composts the droppings in place (you stir the heavy dropping areas once a week or so) and creates a probiotic environment which keeps the chickens healthier and happier, with the huge added bonus of far less work with far less smell, flies, and ultimately, expense. Periodically add more pine shavings as they break down.

fyi

 

[chickenmomma16]

I have 20-25 chicks coming the first week in June and I would love to do this method of brooding. What size pad, or how many stations for this number of chicks? Also, what brand of heating pad does everyone like the best?

Two large pads over one frame is better than doing two separate caves. With two caves and lots of chicks, they may try to all like up into one cave, ignoring the other. Sunbeam is the brand most commonly used, but any pad with the option to stay on will do. Do not attempt to use a pad with an autoshut off that can't be disabled.

Great! I was looking at Sunbeam on Amazon. So 2 of their king sized pads should do the trick then? http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-732-5...6&sr=8-4&keywords=Heating+pad#customerReviews
This is going to be so much better than the silly heat lamps! I was thinking about adding some feather dusters to the inside of their cave. Good idea of no?

I am also doing it in the coop with the big girls. They are used to chicks so this should be a seamless transition. I am actually excited this time to brood chicks myself.