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

[SunHwaKwon]

Well we've made it through our first week with a "mama hen" heating pad. Today I moved them out of the brooder and down onto the ground. A bit worried that the ground will be too cold, even with the pine chips on it, but that's probably a silly worry. I also made a double mama so that there's enough room. I have 17 bantam chicks. They ran right under the "mama" on day one after they got here in the mail (they spent the night in an air conditioned mail room). They stay on top in the daytime and underneath at night. I turn it off in the daytime since it's been in the 90s. Mid 70s at night, so it's been on 2 at night. I have a t shirt wrapped around a shelf to keep little heads safe, then the pad, then a towel. No problems with anyone getting stuck, yay! Here's the first "mama" in the brooder (chips are piled around to keep anyone from getting wedged: And here is "super mama" on the ground in the coop:

That looks great! What breeds are they?

 

[bruceha2000]

If only I could find where I put the carriage bolts….

This shipment will be 10 welsummers, 1 mottled java, 1 delaware, 2 BO, 2 Jersey Giants and some others.

If possible, a future second shipment may contain the remaining mottled javas and blue orps that I had originally ordered plus extras.

I had originally only ordered the mottled javas, welsummers and delaware, which they were going to sub blue orps for.

Sounds like it is time to start building the coop addition or second coop!

 

[Brigabart]

We have buff brahmas, Mille Fleur D'uccles, welsummers, white crested polish, and easter eggers (all bantams).

Of course tonight they all gathered at my feet and cried - they wanted back up in the brooder LOL. Ended up moving one section back up into the brooder box, then lifted everyone back up - they all ran under "mama" and happily cheeped themselves to sleep Looks like they get a mama up in the brooder for night and a mama on the ground for daytime LOL.

I love love love how happy it makes them - I've had chicks under lamps and they did well (my flock of large layers), but this works better for me. They already have much more feathering than I'd expect for one week, and are very inquisitive and brave, exploring and taking baths

 

[COChix]

Ok been a little bit since I posted an update....

This was a thrift store find that was just too cute to pass up for $2, thinking of painting it fuscia. How is this MHP related, you ask? Glad you asked, well it holds eggs and those pictures are of eggs that are from our mixed flock that we hatched chicks from, who ultimately were raised by MHP and eventually laid eggs for the eggs holder.


Ok and some updated shots of the boys from this years hatch.

Our BO alpha roo has taken the white roo under his wings and he is now roosting in the main coop near him at night. The other two still are roosting in the run.

 

[henless]

It's been a while since I've updated, about 3 months to be exact. Here are some pics of my EE's. I bought 10, lost one a couple days after bringing them home. All 9 are doing good, but I ended up with a little cockerel in the lot. Of course, he was one of the prettiest chicks! When I picked out my chicks, I made sure that no two looked alike. Of course, when they feathered out, most of them look very similar.

I wasn't planning on having another roo for a while. I sold all my Cream Legbars & got out of breeding for a while. With work, my mom's health problems and dealing with my own, I just didn't have time or the energy to continue breeding my CL's. Since I got an "oops" cockerel, I'll keep him and see how he does.


Here is Elsa & Hedwig. Hedwig looked like a snowy owl when he was a baby. I thought about changing his name, but Hedwig could be male/female I'm thinking. Hedwig has a bear & muffs. Elsa only has muffs.



As you can see, most of my girls look very alike. No two are just alike, but you have to really look to see the differences. I ended up with 3 smooth faced EE's. The rest have beards/muffs or just muffs.



They are almost 16 weeks old, so still a few weeks off from laying. I have some Black Sex Links that are a week older. Some of those are already getting red combs/wattles. I'm hoping they start laying soon. I had to get regular eggs at the store this week.

 

[FlyWheel]

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"Thank you, Blooie, for that great idea, SO much better than those stupid lamps!"

 

[COChix]

Roo update - so our BO alpha roo has pretty much taken the three cockerels from our hatch under his wings now, so to speak. It is like a roo school right now, they are learning the ropes by following him around. He started by allowing the white too, youngest from our hatch into the coop at night about two weeks ago. Now all three are roosting in the main coop at night. So far the almost 5 month old cockerels have not challenged him nor tried anything with the hens. At first he wouldn't allow them close but now he is tutoring them. It all has been very informative and educational to see play out.

 

[aart]

Roo School.... hahahaha!!
That's great!

 

[FlyWheel]

"Roo School" huh? Do they have a reform class for trouble students? Mine took another piece out of me today.

 

[Molpet]

"Roo School" huh? Do they have a reform class for trouble students? Mine took another piece out of me today.

yes ...





it is called freezer camp