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

[SandyRiverChick]

I've been cruising through the thread trying to find stories or advice on how/when to ween off MHP.... Needless to say, it's been a super success with my chicks. They're 9 weeks now however and have been sleeping on top of it for at least the past 3 weeks (out in the coop/house) and clearly don't need the heat anymore (40s at night.) It's just their preference. I was thinking of taking the heat all the way out and leaving the hut for a few days, then take the wire frame out and leave the horse blanket I used to cover it. Then take horse blanket away.... Does that sound like a plan or is there a better/different way - ? It's up a few feet off the ground on a platform in the coop, only a few inches lower than their first roost bar 2x4...

 

[Molpet]

I've been cruising through the thread trying to find stories or advice on how/when to ween off MHP.... Needless to say, it's been a super success with my chicks. They're 9 weeks now however and have been sleeping on top of it for at least the past 3 weeks (out in the coop/house) and clearly don't need the heat anymore (40s at night.) It's just their preference. I was thinking of taking the heat all the way out and leaving the hut for a few days, then take the wire frame out and leave the horse blanket I used to cover it. Then take horse blanket away.... Does that sound like a plan or is there a better/different way - ? It's up a few feet off the ground on a platform in the coop, only a few inches lower than their first roost bar 2x4...

yes sounds like a plan...mine are off the mph by 4-6 weeks ...they should be on the roost by now...my hens have dumped their chicks at 6 weeks, usually 8 wks...

 

[bruceha2000]

They are weeks past needing the cave for heat. If you take it out perhaps they will hit the roosts.

I know my 2015's started going up to the 4' high roosts at 4 weeks of age. I think last year's were the same but the low girl in the order kept chasing them off (little b*tch) so I ended up putting a roost pole in the next door stall/sorta coop. Eventually I forced them to go in the main coop at night though I was moving 1-3 girls a night into the coop after dark. I finally fixed that by putting a piece of plywood vertically half way down the 12' roost span. Penelope had to decide which side she wanted to sleep on each night but could not easily go to the other side to chase off the kids then go back to her chosen side.

 

[Blooie]

Most of us take the heat off at around 3-4 weeks. I do, and mine are raised outside with pretty low temps....in the twenties. Take yours out, but don’t expect them to roost. They’ll do it when they decide they’re good and ready.

So happy that MHP worked well for you!

 

[Dragonflydore]

How ironic, I came here to also ask about weaning off the heat pad.

They have vegub knocked it flat and it worries me.

They are in my basement where night temps are 55-65 degrees most nights.

They are roughly 4 weeks old, is it safe to take the heat away?

Coop is not done so we can't simply boot them outside yet

 

[PetesChicks]

@Blooie & @aart thank you both for your help last night.

The little Buff was doing a bit better when I finally went to bed last night, and this morning seemed a lot better. When we got home tonight, she was running around, chasing her sisters and being chased, acting like a normal chick.

She’s getting pecked once in a while, but it doesn’t look too serious. I already added a second feeding station and grit, and tomorrow I’m adding a clump if dirt from the yard. Hopefully that will keep them all occupied. Thanks again for your help.

 

[aart]

The little Buff was doing a bit better when I finally went to bed last night, and this morning seemed a lot better.

Great News!
Sometimes the 'weaklings' make it and sometimes they don't.
Have had a few that I thought were goners only to have them pop back to action with nary a symptom remaining.

 

[bruceha2000]

How ironic, I came here to also ask about weaning off the heat pad.

They have vegub knocked it flat and it worries me.

They are in my basement where night temps are 55-65 degrees most nights.

They are roughly 4 weeks old, is it safe to take the heat away?

Coop is not done so we can't simply boot them outside yet

Should be. At 4 weeks they should be pretty much fully feathered. Might want to revamp that MHP frame for next time, it shouldn't be possible for the chicks to flatten it.

 

[brendave]

Are the bolts just through the fencing? How sturdy is it if some chicks get on top and some are underneath it? Someone posted that they lost chicks because the fencing collapsed on top of them.

I made mine similar to @aart, I used 6 inch carriage bolts and a cooling rack. I'm gonna fix T-nuts on there before next time, then it's just a matter of turning the bolt, making it even easier to adjust.

View attachment 1370216

Thanks! I changed the config and made a frame from large pine shims to attach the wire fencing to in order to stiffen the ceiling. I don't want anyone crushed!

Here's a picture of the ladies peeking out. I'll be changing out to carriage bolts soon too so I can raise it as they grow.

 

[Mamacast]

Nope, some chicks are just needy and want to be tucked in. Doesn't matter if you are on your first batch or your hundredth!

So, I have 40 Bobwhite eggs incubating and am getting the brooder ready. I am trying to rig a MHP but I have also seen where some say the chicks need guidance to go in and some could not find the cave at night without a light and died Does it make any sense to also run a 75 watt red bulb as well as the cave? I am trying a seedling mat with a thermostat and experimenting with temps under it. I have a shelf like this that I can raise as they grow, but to start out I thought I read that it should be short enough that their backs touch it? I think mine is too high right now because the temp under it (thermometer on the floor) is reading in the low 80s and I have a flat container on the top of the seedling mat filled with sand to hold in heat and give the chicks a place to stand.The back of the shelf is not draped so I may make some adjustments and get a heating pad that can drape there.
So what started this post was my question as to whether or not it is necessary to have a night light so they can find the cave! Sorry for all the details ;-)