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

@Mamacast. Welcome! Sorry for the late response. Truth is, I don’t know quite what to advise because I know absolutely nothing about raising quail. Guess I could lie and wing it, but that darn sure doesn’t help you one bit and just makes me look dumber than an “I don’t know “ answer would. :oops: I know we have folks who have used MHP to raise them, so I’ll answer what I can and hope someone else chimes in.

Yes, your frame is way too high. You want the level of the heat to be right at their backs. The easier your frame is to adjust, the easier it is to find that “sweet spot”.

@aart uses a lamp for her chicks for a couple of days until she’s confident they have the basics down....food, water, warmth....and that they aren’t suffering shipping or hatching stress. While I do keep my chicks inside a day or so for the same reasons, I don’t use a light - not even their first night here. I haven’t had to show mine, they just seem to figure it out. But if you are keeping them outdoors and your pen gets nice and dark, (without bright street or yard lights shining in) wander on out there and check on them. (To avoid disturbing any of my chickens with a light, any time I have to go out there to do or check something I use a rubber band and secure a dark colored washcloth over the lens.). If you see any babies not under MHP, you can tuck them in then and hold your hand over the entrance until the settle down. Not quite as likely once they’ve scooted in for the night, but if there is some kind of light that is shining in there, they are actually more likely to come out.

I don’t know how big your quail chicks will be, but 40 of them under one MHP seems a stretch.....I’d be concerned that overcrowding under there and suffocation as a result might be a bigger issue.

As for seedling mats, if I remember right the folks who tried them weren’t all that impressed. Again, I could be wrong, but never fear....someone here will remember!

Wish I could have been more help. Best of luck with your hatch - it’s gonna be a biggie - and share some photos of them! The only thing I know about raising quail is what I’ve read and seen from friends on BYC.....well, that and the fact that they’re awfully doggone cute!

@CapricornFarm and @JaeG, can you help? I’m sure that I know more people who have them, but I just can’t remember.
 
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?
Yes, back touching is critical, thus so is adjustability, pad doesn't heat like a lamp.
Agrees 40 quail, might not fit under the typical 12x24 pad.
Using a flat, rather than a cave, design will extend your usable space
I don't recall anyone using an MHP for quail...
....might tying a new thread in the quail forum asking.
 
@Blooie thanks so much for the detailed reply I did pick up the recommened heating pad today because I am also not sold on the heating mat. I will look forward to seeing whether or not I need to add a light. They will be inside for the first week then out to the garage.
 
Hello
We just received our 8 chicks yesterday and I wanted to say they slept all night without a peep thanks to the MHP. With the exception of our Black Copper Marans who needed a little direction (she’s our cry baby) but even she settled after a few minutes. I was amazed and so thankful it worked so well, and still is! I’ll share pictures in a bit. One of our Favaucana chicks arrived with splayed leg and wouldn’t eat or drink, so we made her a hobble and I have been making sure she gets nutridrench and fermented food slush with a syringe (so glad I ordered one!). I’ve been consumed with worry about her since they got here, I know I should just be thankful that they all made it here alive

There’s one little concern with the MHP but it appears to be due to user error. This morning when we pulled back the heating pad and towel to peek at the chicks through the wire and placed it back down, we didn’t realize our little Ameraucana had gotten it’s head stuck between the pad and wire frame. Thankfully we found her and got her freed without any harm. Needless to say I’m now over paranoid about anything like that happening again! The worry is normal right? I can’t stop wondering if I should be doing something, or if I should give them some space In a bit I’ll go check their butts and try to snap some pictures... by myself, wish me luck! I hear no distressed peeps and I thank the MHP for that❤️
 
Hello
We just received our 8 chicks yesterday and I wanted to say they slept all night without a peep thanks to the MHP. With the exception of our Black Copper Marans who needed a little direction (she’s our cry baby) but even she settled after a few minutes. I was amazed and so thankful it worked so well, and still is! I’ll share pictures in a bit. One of our Favaucana chicks arrived with splayed leg and wouldn’t eat or drink, so we made her a hobble and I have been making sure she gets nutridrench and fermented food slush with a syringe (so glad I ordered one!). I’ve been consumed with worry about her since they got here, I know I should just be thankful that they all made it here alive

There’s one little concern with the MHP but it appears to be due to user error. This morning when we pulled back the heating pad and towel to peek at the chicks through the wire and placed it back down, we didn’t realize our little Ameraucana had gotten it’s head stuck between the pad and wire frame. Thankfully we found her and got her freed without any harm. Needless to say I’m now over paranoid about anything like that happening again! The worry is normal right? I can’t stop wondering if I should be doing something, or if I should give them some space In a bit I’ll go check their butts and try to snap some pictures... by myself, wish me luck! I hear no distressed peeps and I thank the MHP for that❤️

I put the whole thing in a zippered pillow case, so the cord comes out where the zipper is almost close... and bungy the sagging part.. the king size needs a full size pillowcase and the regular size heating pad fits in a travel size pillowcase. kmart/Walmart carries them
 
I just bungie the pad tight under the rack, then cardboard on top held by end bungies.
No gaps and easy to tip up to check for decedents.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/
brooder-heater-in-da-coop-6-1-17-2-jpg.1028463
 
The worry is normal right?
Yes it is! But as mentioned, the safest thing to keep chicks from getting between the pad and frame is to make sure there is no possible way for them to do so.

Looks like you did your "before they arrive" research. I hope the splay leg chick gets better quickly. I've not had that happen but it does seem to be something relatively easy to correct.
 
8275E334-FB64-4FA8-B16C-8980AC8F3B51.jpeg
Yes it is! But as mentioned, the safest thing to keep chicks from getting between the pad and frame is to make sure there is no possible way for them to do so.

Looks like you did your "before they arrive" research. I hope the splay leg chick gets better quickly. I've not had that happen but it does seem to be something relatively easy to correct.

I will be buying bungie cords today and will rig up a safer version with the heating pad under the wire. Thank you everyone for your help❤️ Our little splay legged chick seems stronger today. When we put her hobble on yesterday she wouldn’t stand, but today I caught her standing without my coaxing. Her name is Hope. Here is a picture of her just as we figured out what was wrong. She’s incredibly sweet and if she pulls through this, I think her and I will have quite the bond. She doesn’t really have any desire to try and peck food yet, which worries me.
 

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