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

[lazy gardener]

My old age is showing. My mind was envisioning the old fashioned shelf paper, which was smooth, and water repellent!

 

[aart]

My old age is showing. My mind was envisioning the old fashioned shelf paper, which was smooth, and water repellent!

I Know, Right!? Me too!

 

[Beekissed]

Use the large flake shavings...no chicks will be eating those. I've never seen a chick eating shavings...they pick at them, pick them up, but they put them right back down again.

I use DL from the big girl's coop and I put it in there at 3-4 in. deep....lots of tiny things in there they can eat if they were going to eat wood, leaves, twigs and shavings but I don't see them eating that either.

 

[jeapa]

So far so good. I have 9 chicks that arrived this afternoon. They learned very quickly that the MHP was a good place to be. I put chains on the front and back which make it easy for me to raise and lower the front and back. The chicks have even been using the back door. I have the MHP set at level 5. Does this sound about right for temps dipping into the 50's tonight? I am going to go out and make sure everyone is under before I go to bed. Thanks.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Sounds good to me. I think I had it on that setting when I brooded in my basement early this spring...it was roughly 50 degrees.

 

[jeapa]

The chicks were fine this morning, but I must admit the one thing I don't like about the MHP is that I can't observe them when they are under there. They all came out for a few minutes but then they went right back under. The coop is at 62 right now I just stuck a thermometer under the MHP because I am curious what the temp is under it. I'm sure I will relax in a couple days.

 

[lisasflock76]

Here are my babies. I think they sent an extra australorp. I do have them under a lamp so I can see them but I'll be switching to mhp when the weather heats up

 

[lisasflock76]

 I Know, Right!?  Me too!

Yes grippy stuff...today when it gets warmer I'll switch to shavings and mhp

 

[lisasflock76]

I started with the lamp just checked on them and they were huddled by the water (sun was shining in that and it was warm and chirping loudly. I just switched them to the pad and they are so quiet. I checked on them cause they were so quiet. All sleeping under the pad. I didn't get the five setting model just a regular sunbeam. theyll let me know it's too hot right?

 

[jeapa]

A couple of my chicks chowing down on fermented feed. My last flock started eating ff at around 8-9 weeks, but this time I wanted to start from day one. I can't say enough good things about ff. Feather quality and egg production was really great and I have this forum and Beekissed to thank for sharing their knowledge.
I have a feeling this group of chicks are going to the easiest yet to raise.