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

[welby1205]

The frame for the pad needs to be adjustable, so that you can make it taller as the chicks grow. That's why a lot of use are just using some scrap wire fencing as the pad frame. It's easy to bend, and if it needs to be a bit taller, just press the sides in. If it needs to be lower, you just smoosh it down a bit. And it's sturdy enough for chicks to sit on.

What is the scrap wire fencing? Is there nothing else that can be used though? I mean, that's it?

 

[aart]

Quote: There's lots of options....if you browse thru this thread, or at least the pics, you'll get lots of ideas.

If you're on a lap or desk top you can 'view all images' over on the top right hand side of screen...
...not sure if that works on a mobile device.

 

[bruceha2000]

Quote:
People have used lots of things but a piece of wire fence is the easiest because it is easily formed into a cave and the height and shape is easily adjusted by using the highly technical MHP term "smooshing"

A left over (and that may be your problem, no left over wire??) 12" deep and 24" wide (the open side) for a 12"x24" Sunbeam Xpressheat pad works quite well. If you use 1/2" hardware cloth (which you may have when you finish your coop and run) works but you'll need to "reinforce" it so it doesn't sag down when the chicks start sitting on top. Chickens LOVE to sit on top of things. Same with chicken wire if you are using that (but it shouldn't be used on your coop, it is NOT predator proof). Other options people sometimes have around are 1x2, 2x3 or 2x4 welded wire fencing.

BUT others have successfully used a piece of linen or pantry shelf or other flat racks of various nature. The can't be smooshed so you need to come up with another way to get them at the right height as the chicks grow. But they also don't need to be "reinforced" since they will hold up a ton of chicks without sagging.

Look back through the thread, you don't have to read it all, just look at the pictures.

 

[COChix]

I also knew someone that thought their bird was blind..it was also attacked. 

But within a week as the eye was healing, the bird began to be able to open the eye and was able to see.  It had just been injured, but did heal. 

We have a girl that is blind in one eye. She got injured while young, like 6-7 months, not sure how. We believe it was a roo trying to mate based on her injury was more of top of her eyeball. Long story short, she was attacked at first. After some respite and healing time with a few flock mates she was able to be integrated back into the flock. She has adjusted and does free range with the roo. It was touch and go at first but she made it and is stronger and more assertive now than she used to be.

 

[Blooie]

While there's no doubt that birds that have some kind of impairment can function and take their place in the flock very successfully, all I had to go on was the description giving by the original poster, and with just that information I just don't see that happening with this chick. It sounds as if the injuries are far more serious, and if the OP is counting on the other chicks to teach this one what she needs to know to survive, I'm afraid she's going to be disappointed and the chick will likely die a rather miserable death from chilling or starvation or both. If I'm wrong, then that's a plate of crow I'll happily eat!

Okay, as for what to use for making a frame....lots of ideas here, as @bruceha2000 and others have said. Hardware cloth can certainly be used and bent into a suitable frame...just run some dowels through the holes at the very top and then press the hardware cloth down to rest on them so it can handle the weight of the chicks on top, especially as they get bigger. Tomato cages have been cut down and "smooshed" to the right height. Open wire shelving, @aart uses a cooling rack, someone even used an barbeque grill grate. Those are as smooshable, but by cutting off the legs on the shelving and then attaching adjustable legs, they can work just fine! Use your imagination, and if it works, great - if it doesn't, regroup. Nothing about MHP (except the need for a pad that stays on continuously) is set in stone! We work with what we have.

 

[azygous]

People with petrified brains shouldn't be allowed near baby chicks. I had the MHP off all day yesterday since the two-week olds weren't using it at all. It was around 75F. But when evening came and I turned MHP back on, I forgot to hit the "stay on" button and the tykes were without heat all night. It got down to 45F.

Luckily, the chicks seemed no worse for their chick mom having just half a brain. I guess their cave served as a huddle box.

 

[Blooie]

People with petrified brains shouldn't be allowed near baby chicks. I had the MHP off all day yesterday since the two-week olds weren't using it at all. It was around 75F. But when evening came and I turned MHP back on, I forgot to hit the "stay on" button and the tykes were without heat all night. It got down to 45F.

Luckily, the chicks seemed no worse for their chick mom having just half a brain. I guess their cave served as a huddle box.

Must be something in the air....I did the same thing yesterday!! We came home from Billings and realized that power had gone off briefly! Uh oh! Ran out and got the heating pad turned back on, but forgot to hit the "stay on" button. Went out to do one last check about 9:30 last night and didn't see the glow from the controller. Lifted the cold cave and found them all smooshed in a corner. Luckily nobody got tangled up or smothered, but I sure was grateful for that Insta-heat feature, and I know they were too! Also glad that the straw on top of, underneath, and all around the cave retains some residual warmth for some time after the pad goes off. They're not quite a week old yet! Checked this morning and they are all happy again. We got down to 48, with thunderstorms all night but thankfully the power stayed on.

If MHP has one disadvantage, that would be it. I said I was going to get the same heating pad @henless has but figured with two working pads I just couldn't justify buying another one. The one she has comes back on to it's last setting as soon as power is restored. Might need to rethink things a little bit here......

 

[Mini Meat]

I think the birds see the weak or sick or injured members of the flock as a threat the might attract predators.
Have you ever seen how they will mob a bird in distress. It is like watching a primal blood lust come up in an otherwise stable flock.

I saw a broody hen dispatch a badly injured chick once. It was one of her own and she had tried to abandon it but it kept catching up.
She had a large brood to protect and she just took care of the threat. If she hadn't, I would have.

 

[ShanandGem]

I use small metal shelves I buy at the dollar store and just layer the shavings underneath more deeply for smaller chicks. As they grow I reduce the depth of the shavings. The shelf is also smaller than the heating pad so it drapes all the way to the floor at the back to ensure anyone who is cold can touch it directly.

 

[Joyst]

I'm another convert to the mama brooder. Thank you all so much! I'm adding two chicks to the flock and they are happy and healthy using this method.
Here's my setup:

They're In a large dog crate in my craft room. I'll take them outside if it ever stops raining!