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

[Blooie]

Yayyyy!!

 

[Farmer Doc]

Typically if two sides are open they are the long sides. If only 1 side is open, it really should be the long side.

Thank you! They are loving the MHP!!

It has been challenging difficult to get the heat setting right but I think we are there now. I have one duckling that seems to be a little hotblooded and voices its concerns VERY loudly when something is not to its liking. I think the goslings prefer things a little warmer but who wants to hear the complaining?!

 

[aart]

Just realized I'm gonna need another MHP for the hatch I just put into lock down!!
The one will work for a week or so, that's assuming all 17 hatch.....
....last hatch (first in new Incuview) of 26 was 100% - but they all went to the farm,
but after that it's gonna get tight.
So just ordered pad and rack, have all the other hardware, I think.
Will try an end to end config in the coop.

 

[bobbi-j]

All but one were alive when they arrived. When DH went to pick them up, they asked if he wanted to substitute it so he did. He has no idea what kind they put in there. He said, "They told me it looks like it will be pretty when it grows up." Whatever. It doesn't really matter to me. They all look healthy and happy for the most part. Eating and drinking just fine, and darting in and out from under the MHP. When I first got home there were maybe half a dozen or so under the MHP. Most of them were huddled together in a corner, and one was peeping loudly. (There is always one loud mouth in the group...) So I stuffed them under there one by one. Some stayed, most ran back out. When I went down there an hour later, more were underneath. At first I was afraid it was too warm for them, and wondered if I should turn it to medium because there were some that were crammed along the outside edge of it. It's supposed to get down to 30 something tonight, though, so the heating pads will stay on high.

DH seems to be coming around. He was watching them come and go and said, "I'm guessing when it gets dark, they'll put themselves under there, but you might want to check on them to be sure." Yes, Dear. I'm so glad YOU thought of that! He's also been playing. He left one the same height all the way across and the other one he raised the front just a bit.
What I saw when I first walked into the coop:

Here they are crammed between the MHP and the wall.

These were under the MHP when I got home. I lifted it up so you could see, but it's hard to tell. I couldn't get pics of them under it without lifting it up.

 

[bobbi-j]

One question - if they get too warm under the MHP after dark, will they go out from under it, or sit there and bake all night?

 

[aart]

Here they are crammed between the MHP and the wall.

Do they have enough room under there?
It's hard to see but you need to get a look at if their backs are touching.

 

[bobbi-j]

Do they have enough room under there?
It's hard to see but you need to get a look at if their backs are touching.

Will check when I get home (went out for supper). They are about 2 1/2” high.

 

[aart]

Will check when I get home (went out for supper). They are about 2 1/2” high.

Make it about 1.5-2" in back and about 3" in front....then they can find their sweet spot.

 

[bobbi-j]

They were all tucked in and quiet when I checked on them. Most were under the flat one, and yes their backs were touching. There were 4 under the slanted one. Three in the back, touching the pad and one with about 1/2" between it and the pad.

I'm a little concerned because I just read on a different thread that the printed side of the heating pad is the warmest, and I have that side up. It's supposed to get down to 30* tonight, but hopefully they'll be OK.

 

[Blooie]

Don’t sweat that. Yes it’s a little warmer on the printed side. But I think you’ll be fine.