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

[NotAFarm]

Ditto what @Blooie said about meat birds not needing as much heat and they grow FAST. Raise the pad up, give more room for them than you would for laying breeds and keep the pad set on low temp. You will hear "distress peeping" if they are too cold but if they are too hot, they will just die without communicating...other than staying out from under the pad if they are healthy enough to move out from under it.
They give you extras because they know a few will not make it through the shipping stress.
Did you make sure they all had a good drink on arrival and that they know where the waterer is?

 

[Minky]

Hi
thanks for replies.
Yes, I dipped everyones beak in the water, and the pic may not show the big round waterer that I bought when I picked them up from feed store (I was washing it for first use- they weren't air shipped- just a short drive).
I think maybe it was too low for meat birds... didn't know they need less heat. Seeing as they died mid day I bet thats what it was. The sun room warms up quite a bit in the day, and I think even though I turned the heat pad down to 1 in the day- I may just turn it right off at noon each day because by 5 pm its like a summer day in there.
And after seeing my layer chicks being raised by mama hen in the barn- they are out all day without heat and rarely go under her at 2 weeks.
I've raised it, but they wont be able to push up against the heat. I think there are enough of them to keep warm with body heat and the pad above hovering. 11 of 25 ended up sleeping on top of it last night anyways.

I am still amazed the 4 day old birds are same size as 2.5 week old birds.

 

[bruceha2000]

MHP ready for the 6 kids. Shipping notice received yesterday, no sign of them yet so I guess they will be showing up at the P.O. in the morning. Last year they shipped on Monday and were delivered at the house by 1 PM Tuesday

 

[aart]

Chickies hatched and bought in the Brooder Palace.
Still some in the bator, 3 hatched, 2 pipped and ?

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

I'm so glad I learned how to make a MHP! You all are the best for sharing your experiences! Our chicks are thriving - they are going on three weeks now. Here's some pics when they were little.

 

[wifeyschlegel]

I was thinking of using my ecoglow unplugged/off as a frame for the MHP, any thoughts? I only have 4 chicks, I'm wondering if they'll still all be able to get up under there once they're bigger..

 

[aart]

I was thinking of using my ecoglow unplugged/off as a frame for the MHP, any thoughts?

Why not just use the ecoglow as is?
<scratcheshead>

 

[bruceha2000]

I'm so glad I learned how to make a MHP! You all are the best for sharing your experiences! Our chicks are thriving - they are going on three weeks now. Here's some pics when they were little.View attachment 1355340 View attachment 1355339

Nice looking brooder space!

 

[bruceha2000]

I wouldn't want @Blooie to kick me out of the Brigade so here is a picture I took just after bringing the 6 new chicks home. 3 of them found the MHP cave before I even started to show it to them. I'm sure you will all be to find out that they went silent as soon as they got in the cave.

Of course since they found the cave it isn't much of a picture, can't even tell what breeds they are:
1 Barnevelder
1 Welsummer
2 Barred Rocks
2 Golden Campines

 

[bruceha2000]

They came out to eat after about 1/2 hour.