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

[aart]

UPDATE on Micro (38, 1wk old)....The bin got crowded plus no MHP was needed with all that body heat. Today they moved out into the brooder (4 x 8) in the patio. I partitioned off half added artificial light (LED), it's still warm enough (78 - 80) late morning that I can keep the MHP off. In the evening (5 - 6pm) will turn it on, turn the light off....It will be their first night, so I'll probably be checking on them several times.

Sweet!
Strongly suggest you pull the MHP away from the wall so they can get out the back if needed.

 

[Shezadandy]

Loving the MHP set up! I used the racks you screw into your kitchen cabinets to hold foil and plastic wrap as the cave frame- easy to bend down for the back area for the smallest chicks -- and easy to bend the frame to make it taller as the chicks get bigger.

 

[ChickNanny13]

On the first two batch of chicks I raised under MHP, notice by 2wks they're preferring getting on top of MHP. On my 3rd batch (Micros), a few are already hopping on top then jumping at the bunch that are down eating, ha ha. Will see when these start sleeping on top instead of under. Thank you aart for the suggestion of moving my MHP from the wall, just moved it. Makes sense, no one gets "trapped" in the back & allows air flow....That's whats great about BYC so many help hints & feedback!

Micros are alot HAPPIER with all the space they have....

 

[drumstick diva]

what beautiful chicks

 

[FlyWheel]

UPDATE on Micro (38, 1wk old)....The bin got crowded plus no MHP was needed with all that body heat. Today they moved out into the brooder (4 x 8) in the patio. I partitioned off half added artificial light (LED), it's still warm enough (78 - 80) late morning that I can keep the MHP off. In the evening (5 - 6pm) will turn it on, turn the light off....It will be their first night, so I'll probably be checking on them several times.

Sounds like my set-up, except that I had the LED light plugged into an appliance timer so it turned on and off automatically. And I would +1 on moving the MHP away from the wall. With that many chicks it is too easy for an overheated chick to become trapped behind a bunch of others who don't want to leave.

P.S. is that a pet training pad on the top? Good idea!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sounds like my set-up, except that I had the LED light plugged into an appliance timer so it turned on and off automatically. And I would +1 on moving the MHP away from the wall. With that many chicks it is too easy for an overheated chick to become trapped behind a bunch of others who don't want to leave.

P.S. is that a pet training pad on the top? Good idea!

Yup, training pad on top of MHP....Can't take credit as I saw it on another post. I had been using towels & washing but thanks to BYC members, we're all learning of ways to make things simpler & better, less labor intensive = more Chicks, ha ha. I did move MHP from the wall as aart suggested, makes sense & so thankful you all caught it, worked out GREAT last night.

 

[dyorto]

If an egg freezes and makes it crack in the coop, can I hard boil it right away and still eat it?

 

[Molpet]

If an egg freezes and makes it crack in the coop, can I hard boil it right away and still eat it?

I thaw and fry hard.. so far I haven't gotten sick LOL
but some people cook it for the animals

 

[bruceha2000]

If an egg freezes and makes it crack in the coop, can I hard boil it right away and still eat it?

The one time I had one freeze enough to crack (it closed up as it thawed) the yolk was kind of chalky like an overcooked hard boiled egg.

Healthwise I can't see why it would be a problem. Texture is another matter.

 

[Thiriel]

Hello,

Just starting to get into chickens here and just want to say that I am super thankful that I found this thread. I'm one of those people who doesn't like to use heat lamps, for many reason, one of which is that is disrupts the natural day/night cycle of the babies.

Since there are about 796 pages of posts, please forgive me for not reading every one. I was wondering if there were any reports about any incidents or major improvements? Any incidents of fire/sparks? How do you keep the chicks from pecking at the cords?

I would very much like to use this when I get my chicks in the not-to distant future, but I want to learn all that I can, especially as a first-time chicken owner!