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

[SunHwaKwon]

Oh my! When mine are 4 weeks old they have been off all heat for a few days and are integrated completely with the flock! At 3 weeks my heating pad is already on the lowest settings.

Yup mine hit 3 weeks yesterday and I am planning to slide it down a notch to Low when I clean the brooder today. They are almost fully feathered and I don't want them being too hot, which does sounds silly when its in the 30's out but you know what I mean!

Oh by the way, I'm planning to move them out to a bigger brooder (about 3.5'x7') that's out in our small barn; right next to their eventual coop (still in the making). But I really want to see them understand this MHP thing before feeling confident of doing that. Though I'll probably section off a much smaller part for a while to make sure they're oriented to it, and expand the space incrementally.

I had no hard schedule in mind for that move, but was hoping for just a few days. But that's flexible.

No problem with that. I do like to leave them inside for a couple days and make sure no one is having any problems, but the sooner you get them out after that they sooner they can start acclimating. Admittedly, it can be a bit nerve racking having them outside where you can't check on them every 5 minutes, at least at first.

 

[10AcreChick]

Quote: Oh, I know, Blooie. I'm just a worrisome momma! Its in the 30s outside, teens at night here, and the MHP is SUPER slanted, like 6 inches at front, so they really just kind of congregate at the front. I guess I have it turned up so high, cause I figure why not and better safe than sorry. I can't integrate them with the flock, because my flock is free range and I have some outside cats that I am concerned, actually I know, will hunt them and eat them. They are not quite big enough! I do need to turn it down to like 3 tonight, you are right.

Did you see my questions up above?

 

[frenchiegirl21]

I finally got some good pictures of my setup and the chicks!

Here is the base layer of cardboard and shavings. You can see the tiles I use to adjust the height:


On top of that goes the piece of wire with some wood ziptied to the front end for a little extra slant:






Then I put the heating pad on top (it's on the highest setting right now):



And finally a piece of flannel with press n seal on it:



And here are the chicks! They prefer being on top

But they are happy, so that's good.

 

[Nathan J]

Admittedly, it can be a bit nerve racking having them outside where you can't check on them every 5 minutes, at least at first.

LOL, yeah, no doubt.

Good news is that I just went out there and about 6 (of 16) were under MHP and the rest were eating, etc., not huddled. I did turn down the heating pad to Low a while before, so who knows, maybe it was a bit too warm for them. I gave them a little clump of grass/soil and some chickweed to peck at (and some chick grit too).

 

[SunHwaKwon]

LOL, yeah, no doubt.

Good news is that I just went out there and about 6 (of 16) were under MHP and the rest were eating, etc., not huddled. I did turn down the heating pad to Low a while before, so who knows, maybe it was a bit too warm for them. I gave them a little clump of grass/soil and some chickweed to peck at (and some chick grit too).

Smart move. I, too, like to start exposing them to the dirt early to get that immune system working and optimize the gut microbes.

 

[Shezadandy]

LOL, yeah, no doubt.

Good news is that I just went out there and about 6 (of 16) were under MHP and the rest were eating, etc., not huddled. I did turn down the heating pad to Low a while before, so who knows, maybe it was a bit too warm for them. I gave them a little clump of grass/soil and some chickweed to peck at (and some chick grit too).

Great job! It is nerve wracking when they don't seem to follow the instruction manual. At least with 16 of them there's a good amount of sibling heat. Haven't been brave enough to use the garage for chicks, but part of that is our outdoor cat stays there at night- the one that catches all the mice and rats looking to invade the feed storage ... he's very good at his job and I wouldn't put it past him to figure out how to knock a cover off the box and have himself a chick snack feast in the middle of the night...

If they hatched Monday they've still got some of the yolk they absorb right before they hatch to sustain them - so your hatchery did a great job getting them to you overnight! Today and tomorrow you'll probably see some good changes as the last of their yolk reserves are digested (that's why they can be shipped as newly hatched babies- food supply is set for a couple days) and they start actively searching with a little more intent and their world gets bigger.

Our first group of MHP chicks was supposed to have a broody in December- but she rejected the chicks (killing the first one and running for the hills when I opened the broody box) so it was a scramble firing up the incubator and patching together an MHP. That little group took turns with 1 chick getting "lost" and standing on top of MHP broadcasting the peep of mortal distress ... that could be heard in every room of the house, basement, main floor- everywhere- even though it was warm, clearly knew how to get up on top, back down, and under with the siblings. Sometimes it's just "that" group. The next group of 10 didn't do that- and the current group of 6 didn't either. Wonder if some groups lack "the smart chick" that figures things out and teaches the rest in the absence of a diligent bossy broody hen.

Hopefully by the end of today they catch on. It is surprising how little time they'll spend under the hen. My October hatch (up here in Oregon) was out in the rain and mud with mom- after that first week and a half she marched them outside and it was only a quick scoot under for warmth then they'd be off and running.


From their first trip outside:


To "way too old to be doing this": (they were around 6 weeks here, you can see the size from the chick laying in front of momma)



You're doing great!

 

[Nathan J]

If they hatched Monday they've still got some of the yolk they absorb right before they hatch to sustain them - so your hatchery did a great job getting them to you overnight!

Hopefully by the end of today they catch on.

It's in-state so that's why.

Good news. I went out there and they were ALL under MHP. So I'm thinking that it was probably too hot after all. I really didn't think that was it. But it just goes to show, you never know. In a cold garage using Hi or even Med was apparently too much for these little ones.

Add that bit of wisdom to this thread.

 

[Shezadandy]

It's in-state so that's why.

Good news. I went out there and they were ALL under MHP. So I'm thinking that it was probably too hot after all. I really didn't think that was it. But it just goes to show, you never know. In a cold garage using Hi or even Med was apparently too much for these little ones.

Add that bit of wisdom to this thread.

Good to know! I wonder if the 12x24 pad puts off more heat - think I saw that you've got the bigger pad in one of your posts - also having 16 warm little bodies might make a difference.

 

[debid]

Interesting! I have mine on "high" and they are definitely sleeping underneath​ at night rather than on top. Maybe max temp varies by model?

 

[aart]

There are lots of variables.....
Brooder config, MHP config including height, pad brand and model, ambient temps, number and age of chicks......
That's why you go by your chicks behaviors in adjusting temp setting and height.