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

[bruceha2000]

@darttater !! Happy that you are starting your first chicks off with MHP. It does sometimes take a day or two for them to figure out they should sleep in it at night. And smart of you to turn it down some. If it has been hot there like it was here, they very likely don't need it on high.

 

[Sunnymommy]

I read about mhp here while the kids 4h eggs were incubating. Had no idea what we were doing - still don't really. Just going 1 day at a time. But wanted to say I love the heating pad cave we made for the chickies. I didn't want a heat lamp in the house. Especially since we were going out of town for a couple days, and there wasn't going to be anyone here except a neighbor checking food/water a couple times a day.

They are 12-13 days old now, and we just upgraded them last night to a giant brooder we created out of cardboard boxes and duct tape. They don't seem to care much about the hp anymore. We kept trying to show them where it is in their new digs, but I don't think anyone slept under there. Our upstairs doesn't cool very well though, so it ranges between 76-81ish in their room anyway.
Thanks for all the info here!

 

[bruceha2000]

It is likely too hot if they aren't going in, especially if the ambient temp in the room is in the range you stated. I would put it on low, they may choose to sit on top. Since they grew up with it they will find it no matter where you put it in their new space.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I took out my heating mat halfway through week two. The room mine are in is an un-air conditioned sunroom with temps in the mid 80's-high 90's. By the time they go into the coop they'll be well acclimated to our Texas summers. I hope so anyway!

 

[Sunnymommy]

Yeah, I was thinking about moving them out to the enclosed porch. But it gets so hot in there late afternoon (then cooler overnight), I wasn't sure if that was a good idea.
There were 2 chicks under mhp this morning. The rest were outside the cave.

 

[Melodychick]

I'm trying the MHP out for the first time this year too. The chicks are in my bathroom for now where it's cooler than outside, but still warm at 78-80*. Their first night I put them under and held my hand to block their exit and turned off the light. Now that they know where it is, I'll let them choose. Last night after lights out, there were 4 chicks on top and 4 underneath.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey, Bruce. Glad to see you are kicking around here. Blooie back yet????

 

[bruceha2000]

She hasn't been on since June 24th. I couldn't remember when the Alaska cruise was. Hoping it was the past 2 weeks and she'll check in soon to tell us how fabulous it was and how much Evan and Katie loved it! With pictures of course

 

[Sunnymommy]

We have been leaving the light on in their room all day and turning it off at night. But when we turn it off they get really loud and cheep so much the kids were worried about them and got out of bed to see what was upsetting them. So tonight I opened the window shade when I turned off the light (we keep it closed during the day to block heat), because it was still light out thinking they would like the gradual darkening, but they still got upset when the overhead room light went off.

 

[bruceha2000]

Why do you have the light on during the day? One of the great benefits of the MHP method is that they get a natural sunrise, sunset day/night cycle. They learn that as it slowly gets dark, it is time for bed.

If you must have a light on during the day, try putting it on a dimmer switch so you can slowly raise the light intensity in the morning and slowly lower it in the evening. Do the evening BEFORE it starts to get dark outside. Raise the shade while it is still very light outside and slowly lower the inside light. Try to make sure the inside light intensity is less that what is coming from the window. Reverse in the morning, make sure the light isn't turned on at all until it is full sun. Then slowly raise the light, don't close the shade until the light is on full.