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

[bruceha2000]

I do not believe that @Beekissed meant the entire thing, frame and pad, are wrapped in the trash bag but that trash bag is on top of the frame, same as using Press and Seal on top. I didn't bother with the "impervious" layer, just wrapped the whole thing in an old flannel pillowcase and put an old towel on top. The pad was plenty clean when they were done with it in 3 weeks when Zorra decided she wanted to "Mother" them after all.

 

[shadowfox]

My chickies are a week old now. For the past day or two they have really liked hanging out on top of their cave. I think they may be too warm inside, so I turned the heat down. Last night at bedtime they were all huddled right at the entrance. I raised the height of the cave, hoping that would help them find a spot that was just right.

 

[MichelleT]

I love love LOVED the MHP so much we're doing it again in the spring...
We wouldn't be, but of the 5 chicks we got in May, 2 have died of bacterial infections due to yolk sacs that didn't pass - they were too young to start laying. (14 weeks and 16 weeks)

We also lost a hen mid-summer due to reproductive cancer, and another just this morning is showing signs of EYP (which doesn't suprise me; I was waiting for this to happen with this particular hen).

So, our flock of 9 in May is a flock of 6 (now soon-to-be 5) and so we're looking again at getting chicks again. Here's my question:

In May we used a chunk of the old coop as our brooder, and it did MARVELOUSLY for 5 chicks. We tossed it though (not enough room to keep it around) and so now I'd like to do the same set-up... an in-run brooder that can be opened up with escape doors as they get older and start mitigating the run with the big girls. I have searched for pics here, but they're all indoor type brooders. I'm looking to build something that would go in the run, be safe from the big girls (and the occasional mouse that might wander in, yuck!). It's predator safe in the run. I'm thinking of buiilding a box from 1x1s and hardware cloth and figuring out some way to include escape hatches for when they get bigger. Also, I want it to be easy to clean out (of course) and access the food and water. Our run is completely covered but it is shorter than I am, so I stoop when I'm inside. This makes some things a little bit of a challenge, so I need to keep this in mind at the same time.

Has anyone built anything like this, and if so, do you have any pics? Easy and fast to build and store during the non-chick rearing times would also be a big plus.

 

[Blooie]

I have, and so has @azygous - I copied her portal design and loved it.
I'm on my phone and out of town, but if you're patient I can post them tomorrow night. I always brood outdoors. I used a dog exercise pen as a brooder with MPH in it. If you look at Yes, You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors, there are photos there but I wasn't using the portal doors yet.

 

[azygous]

How large is your run? I have a very roomy run that I partitioned into sections that can be closed off. This enables me to set up the MHP and brood chicks in any of these sections. When they turn two weeks old, I then open the portals that I've built into every partition, and the chicks have free run of the entire place from then on, returning to their own section at will.

 

[aart]

Has anyone built anything like this, and if so, do you have any pics? Easy and fast to build and store during the non-chick rearing times would also be a big plus.

I section off part of the coop using a temporary wire and wood wall to brood and integrate chicks. It's pretty easy to put up and take down.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
I did plan ahead for this by building 2 people doors into coop for access to sectioned off parts, and the wall with the tiny chick doors wasn't fast or easy, took a couple tries to get doors small enough that big birds couldn't get in.

Not sure building it in the run would be best, it would have to be protected from all weather including wind.

Best of cLuck!

 

[bruceha2000]

My brooder space is actually just 2 sides covered with 1/2" hardware cloth that fits in the corner of the coop and a 2x4 wire cover laid on top

 

[MichelleT]

Thanks for the pics and links! Our run can be partitioned BUT, it's kindof odd shaped (think square sitting next to a kite, with one of the shorter sides of the kite adjacent to a side of the square)... we built it this odd way because we wanted the run to bump up to a retaining wall. So, we have partitioned it off for a recovering hen before, but it's not that easily accessible and the only reason it worked for her was because she was more than willing to come out on her own when we opened it up. I can't see how that particular set-up would be very easily accesible with chicks. I have plenty of time to plan, since I'm not expecting to get our new babies until May. And I do want them outside, not in the coop, for two reasons: exposure to weather (and sunshine) is one (sheltered exposure, of course) and our coop is an above-ground coop, so although I could put something in there, it's not that easy to get to.

Like I said, last year we had a little "house", so to speak, with one wall open. I put a glass window on the opening (at night) and screening (in the day) and then finally replaced that with some wire fencing that I cut small doors into when they got older. It was perfect for what we needed as it also had great ventilation being a prior add-on to our previous coop. In hind-sight, I wish we'd found somewhere to put it. I was not expecting to get more chicks so soon.

 

[Faraday40]

Here's a pic of what I do for chicks. I'm not very handy & can't build. I also don't want to permanently alter my run, so I just add 2 panels of a play yard & just stick it in a corner. By changing the angle or adding another panel, I can give more or less space. The "door" can be made by leaving a small space between the wall & the temp panel. It's not like the adult hens are going to chase & attack baby chicks or knock down the walls. They just want the chicks to give them some space & respect.
(BTW- It was very hot that night.)

The play yard can also be used as a temp run so the chicks can enjoy grass. I just attach something on top to prevent day time predators.

 

[bruceha2000]

Sadly the pictures don't show up for me @Faraday40