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

[MolliesDollies]

Thanks @bruceha2000 & @Molpet! It must be fine on high right now because they are cuddled up in the back where its nearer the ground, but have run out to get a drink occasionally. Another just hatched, so I'll give the last 2 eggs a couple of days before I move everyone outside to the coop.

 

[bruceha2000]

I think high is probably appropriate since they are fresh from the incubator.

We need pictures of the babies in their brooder of course. @Blooie requires it of all BBB members.

 

[lazy gardener]

@lazy gardener found that if you have 2 separate caves in a brooding space, ALL the chicks will try (and fail) to get under one. They want to stay together. If you need a "double", make it wide, not square, with both the back and front open so the chicks don't have a lot of bodies to get through to get out of the cave.

Agreed with statement I have highlighted in bold. Just a bit of clarification: If you need to use 2 pads due to having too large a brood for a single pad, I recommend setting both pads up parallel to each other, BUT WITH A 4" SPACE BETWEEN THEM. In other words, the 2 caves are close together, with the peak of the caves oriented in the same direction. That way, the chicks can squirt out through the front and back of BOTH caves, but the caves are close enough together that the chicks have a sense that they are all in one big group.

 

[Blooie]

Agreed with statement I have highlighted in bold. Just a bit of clarification: If you need to use 2 pads due to having too large a brood for a single pad, I recommend setting both pads up parallel to each other, BUT WITH A 4" SPACE BETWEEN THEM. In other words, the 2 caves are close together, with the peak of the caves oriented in the same direction. That way, the chicks can squirt out through the front and back of BOTH caves, but the caves are close enough together that the chicks have a sense that they are all in one big group.

Yeah, what she said!

 

[aart]

Agreed with statement I have highlighted in bold. Just a bit of clarification: If you need to use 2 pads due to having too large a brood for a single pad, I recommend setting both pads up parallel to each other, BUT WITH A 4" SPACE BETWEEN THEM. In other words, the 2 caves are close together, with the peak of the caves oriented in the same direction. That way, the chicks can squirt out through the front and back of BOTH caves, but the caves are close enough together that the chicks have a sense that they are all in one big group.

So footprint is about 24 x 28"?
Thought they were end to end(12x48).... will remember now.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes aart, foot print would be that size if the MHPs was squished down flat.

 

[MolliesDollies]

@Blooie & @bruceha2000 As you wish! Here are 4 so far of my freshly hatched chicks!

 

[Blooie]

Awwww...your dues are paid! Don't you love it when you get the "Hey, stop invading our privacy" look!

 

[MichelleT]

I'm on round 2 with the MHP... We used a grill rack from a small BBQ grill ($1 from the local Good Will), 2 small bungee cords, and a rope threaded through the rack and attached to the walls of the brooder to hold up the front. We can adjust the height as we go. I'll get a picture of it, because it was super easy, but they're asleep (finally) now...

For now, here's one of the smallest (5 days) resting on the oldest (3-1/2 weeks). Notice her stretched legs so she can get the benefit of the MHP on her back and the benefit of her "big sister" on her tummy. Both were zonked this way.

 

[lazy gardener]

That has got to be the pest photo endorsement of MHP AND the best example of just how simple and easy, and functional multi age brooding can be with benefit of MHP!

That post gets all of my "bonus points of the day" awards!