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

[bruceha2000]

Funny! My girls never nap on the roosts and never did at any age!

 

[K0k0shka]

One day last week, at 5+ weeks old, they just up and went to sleep on the tallest big bird roost, and that was that. They haven’t slept anywhere else since, despite 40’s nights and open windows. I guess the babies have grown up!

Thank you, MHP! You have served us well and we all loved you.

 

[bruceha2000]

Looks like you need more roost at that level. If they HAVE to, the ones lower in the pecking order will sleep on the lower roost but they will be happier being up at the same level with everyone else.

 

[jreardon1918]

Another satisfied customer of the MHP. The chicks spent 4 days in a cardboard with MHP. Moved them to the outdoor brooder at lunch. I wish I have a video camera to monitor. But the coop is a little too far from the house. A plywood roof goes over the outdoor brooder. The MHP has been a very low stress, way to raise the chicks. Decided to add a pillowcase to the MHP. Let's the chicks get really hidden if they want.

 

[bruceha2000]

Glad you like it Jack! Best thing since sliced bread. Actually bread isn't that hard to slice, best thing since the invention of the wheel

 

[K0k0shka]

Looks like you need more roost at that level. If they HAVE to, the ones lower in the pecking order will sleep on the lower roost but they will be happier being up at the same level with everyone else.

I’m not keeping all 11 chickens. Only about 4 or so. They’ll have to make do until I cull the extras, and after that they’ll have plenty of room on the top roost.

 

[bruceha2000]

That works

 

[The_Flock]

So I'm new to brooding chicks and made myself the MHP and am now awaiting the wee fuzzy things to fill it. Lol. They are supposed to be coming in a week. I'm pretty excited. The temp in the MHP is between 32-34°C, which to my understanding is where I want it.
Please give me any ideas on improvements needed, if you notice any needed in the pics. Improvements other than needing food and water. Haha!!
Happy chickening!!

 

[wyoDreamer]

How many chicks are you going to have in there?
Is the height of the MMHP set-up adjustable?

 

[Trisseh]

Mine is kind of cobbled together but it works. Haha. My frame is a panel from those cheap little garden fences, you know, the kind that are meant to be decorative around a flower bed or whatever? They’re easy to bend, and have enough support in the middle that the pad doesn’t hang in the spaces. I wrap my heating pad in an old T-shirt or pillowcase and then duct tape it to the frame. When it’s time for the next batch or it gets too poopy, out comes a new cover and away we go. I’m only brooding a few babies at a time though so that makes a difference. I don’t think I could fit more than a half dozen under this thing. xD but I love seeing the variations and adaptations from everyone! So many ways to do the same kind of thing. It’s awesome!