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

[junebuggena]

They are almost 7 feet up. There are roost bars on both walls that they could use to get down if they so desired, but they prefer to fly down. I watched them get up there last night, and they use the highest roost bar on the right side of the coop to get up to the ledge on the wall, where the wall meets the gable panel. Then they jump/fly to the metal framing bars. In another week or two, they will be too big to maneuver on the ledge they are using to get all the way up there, it's only about 3 inches wide.

 

[Blooie]

@junebuggena that shot was so worth the wait!! Silly chickens!! I remember mine being terrified of the real roost, but flying up and roosting on the studs far above it until they got too big to fit! They never fail to amaze me with how strong they are and how determined they are to follow every instinct for survival.

 

[Eggs on Toast]

Hehe, so cute.

 

[junebuggena]

And they don't come down until all the grown ups have left.

 

[aart]

They are almost 7 feet up. There are roost bars on both walls that they could use to get down if they so desired, but they prefer to fly down. I watched them get up there last night, and they use the highest roost bar on the right side of the coop to get up to the ledge on the wall, where the wall meets the gable panel. Then they jump/fly to the metal framing bars. In another week or two, they will be too big to maneuver on the ledge they are using to get all the way up there, it's only about 3 inches wide.

I wondered if they were using 'proper' roosts and the top of the wall.
Will be interesting to see how things change as size increases.

 

[Leahs Mom]

They are almost 7 feet up. There are roost bars on both walls that they could use to get down if they so desired, but they prefer to fly down. I watched them get up there last night, and they use the highest roost bar on the right side of the coop to get up to the ledge on the wall, where the wall meets the gable panel. Then they jump/fly to the metal framing bars. In another week or two, they will be too big to maneuver on the ledge they are using to get all the way up there, it's only about 3 inches wide.

That's why, when we were using the hen shed, we put a HC "roof" overhead beginning where the wall sides connect to the roof slope. That way no one could get up above the wall height. It was just a wood frame with hardware cloth stapled to it. ETA: The frame was attached to the wall studs.

 

[Finelyfound]

MistyMountain. I purchased a 12x36 wire closet shelf. I tacked a small 4x4 remnant to each end. I put the heating pads directly on the shelf and cut towels to fit (3 layers) topped with straw. I took the pillow cases off the heating pads after my favorite chick got inside the pillow case and cooked. I also had chicks constantly getting in the folds of the towels so I eliminated the folds and pillow cases so hopefully it will be more difficult for them to commit suicide. I'm pretty pleased with this set up, the towel edges hang down low so they have to duck under to get in the cave. The only downside is that I don't think it retains heat as well as my other one did, but the nights are in the 50s so it should be warm enough. I lost 4 chicks to "the cave" out of 28 and I have 2 with pasty butt under a light in the house since one of those is much smaller than the rest.

 

[Petect]

Hi to All especially Blooie

I’ve been lurking for a while and read almost every post in the MHP thread. I want to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge. Now for my 2 cents.
I set up a plastic storage bin, complete with MHP, turned it on to heat up, and went to buy the chicks. When I got back I put them in the bin, did a quick count, and sh** (I’m not a poo kind of guy), they gave me one too few. Before heading back to the feed store, I stuck my hand under MHP and there she was. She must have shot under there as soon as her feet hit the ground. In less than a minute all 7 under with no coaxing.

Now to the hi-tech MHP construction. I took a piece of 3/16” plywood, drilled a hole in each corner and ran a piece of string through one hole, under the plywood and up through the opposite side. I did the same on the other side. I put the heating pad in a kitchen trash bag, folded it over, and taped it flat. I then tied the heating pad to the bottom of the plywood with 3 pieces of string. I lowered the MHP-to-be and spring-clipped the strings to the top edge of the storage bin. I adjusted the height so that at the front it was about chick height + 1”, and slightly under chick height in the back. I put a piece of plastic fabric on top to help keep it clean, and put a strip cut from an old dish cloth so that it hangs down over the opening in the front. Both are held in place with spring clips. As the chicks grow, I can just raise the strings and clip them so that MHP is higher. The whole thing took me about 5 minutes to make.

The chicks are in an enclosed porch. The weather has been crazy lately, and the temps in the porch have varied from about 65 to 85 one day recently, and about 38 to 52 today. It’s been interesting to see how during the warm weather they’re running around most of the day and have slept near



slept near the opening of the MHP. On the colder days they come out for a while then head to the back of MHP. The top of the MHP is just a little warmer than the rest of the storage bin, and they just use it as a little extra space to hang out.
I put a few pieces of wood in the bin. They seem to like climbing and perching on them.

Hopefully the pictures will show how easy this was to make.
Pete

 

[Blooie]

If it's working, it's golden!! Welcome to the Broody Brigade, and your dues are considered paid in full!! Not sure about the kitchen trash bags - but keep us posted on whether you have any problems with it softening or with the chicks finding a corner of it and pecking at it until they manage to eat some of it. Silly chicks!! Sounds like they are doing exactly what you want them to do - self regulate, and that's a good thing!

MistyMountain. I purchased a 12x36 wire closet shelf. I tacked a small 4x4 remnant to each end. I put the heating pads directly on the shelf and cut towels to fit (3 layers) topped with straw. I took the pillow cases off the heating pads after my favorite chick got inside the pillow case and cooked. I also had chicks constantly getting in the folds of the towels so I eliminated the folds and pillow cases so hopefully it will be more difficult for them to commit suicide. I'm pretty pleased with this set up, the towel edges hang down low so they have to duck under to get in the cave. The only downside is that I don't think it retains heat as well as my other one did, but the nights are in the 50s so it should be warm enough. I lost 4 chicks to "the cave" out of 28 and I have 2 with pasty butt under a light in the house since one of those is much smaller than the rest.

Sometimes I just shake my head because I don't understand. I never lost a chick to getting hung up in the wires. Never lost one who got trampled or stuck in the middle of a dog pile. Never lost one to getting in the folds of the towels or pillowcases. It isn't that anyone is doing anything wrong - it's just that for every potential problem, a solution is found and chicks still manage to make that solution into another potential problem. What's up with them, anyway?

I had one who had a death wish before he got all the way out of the egg, for crying out loud!!

Every time someone loses a chick (or more) I wonder if there's something I could have explained better, or differently. In the beginning it seemed so simple - a frame, a heating pad, and a towel. For brooding outside I added straw. Never an issue. This year I put the heating pad on the inside of the cave with bungee cords and wrapped the entire assembly in a pillowcase. There are few people I respect more when it comes to chicks and chickens than
@Beekissed and it's the way she did it before I ever heard of MHP. The pillowcase just didn't work for me - but it's still a way to do it that I have no problem recommending for people who are concerned about chicks getting hung up in the wire. I'm back to just the pad (although it's now on the inside of the frame) old towels and straw. I still use the closed cave configuration. It's what works best for me, and that's kinda the point - folks should do what they are comfortable with and what will work best for them.

Would it make it easier if there was a cut-and-dried formula? Probably. Cut this to this dimension, buy nothing but this pad, use only this configuration - but life isn't that way and neither is chick raising. But then I have to remind myself that this forum and others are full of stories of chicks lost under heat lamps, in fancy expensive Eco-Glows, even Sweeter Heaters. Like I said, sometimes all I can do is shake my head and wonder about chicks in general. For having such strong survival instincts, they can sure find a lot of ways to defeat that survival. And I still feel bad every time a chick manages to do just that. <sigh>

 

[KiminPA]

Hello. I'm new to chicks, got two last Thurs and getting 7 more this Thurs. Made a MHP and the two LOVE it, so thank you. The only question I have is what can I do to make the top not so slippery? I put the pine shavings on top but they slide off. The chicks do manage to climb up but I see them slipping and I don't want them to get hurt, and I can only imagine this will get worse when I add the new chicks this week.

Here's a pic of the set up.