MHP question

[junior67]

ok last year I brooded in a dog crate but got a puppy after the chicks were out of it so now the puppy uses it. this year I will be brooding in the coop (making a brooder in there) but wanted them in the house for the first 3-4 days so I could watch them closer then. Well I got a tote for that amt of time.... My problem is my MHP is 12x24 and the tote is only like 19x36 so the MHP takes up a bit over half of it....... I have another heating pad but it is the same size. I don't want to have to try to find another heating pad to do a smaller one. Would it be OK to fold the heating pad in half to make a smaller MHP? Or any other ideas to do a frame with out having to purchase anything? I don't have any fencing. I have HWC but I don't see how that would be strong enough to stand up to them standing on it....... I had thought of maybe trying to bend a cooling rack to make a dome shape with it? Mine right now is on a cooling rack that is flat with bolts for legs.

 

[Blooie]

If you’re talking just a couple of days until they’re moved, that lack of space won’t be a problem. Any longer than that is impractical though. I’ve certainly had to do it once or twice myself.

 

[junior67]

If you’re talking just a couple of days until they’re moved, that lack of space won’t be a problem. Any longer than that is impractical though. I’ve certainly had to do it once or twice myself.

Thanks. They should be in Fri or Sat and going to move them out to the coop on Tue. I could move them Sunday if they come in on Fri if I need to though. Once I get the top cut off of the tote I will take a picture of it but YIKES the MHP didn't seem that big till I put it in there........ And the tote didn't look that small till I put the MHP in there. haahaa.

I just figured once I hung the waterer (it is a nipple waterer) and put the food in there is like no room to walk besides under the MHP. Well on it as well. I have a curved roasting rack that may work but it is higher so I would need to build up the bedding under it so they can reach it but that might work or even put some wood under the bedding to build it up for them

 

[Blooie]

It sounds like you are quite comfortable and familiar with MHP. You know, for just a few days a good old cardboard box would be just fine too. You can pick up large ones at any UHaul outlet for just a couple of bucks. Appliance boxes from appliance stores are also great.

When I had 11 chicks (my first MHP batch) in one dog crate with MHP in it, I thought it was just for a couple of days too. We planned to set up the outdoor brooder the next day. But the night we brought the chicks home, hubby suddenly collapsed on the floor in more pain than I’d ever seen anybody suffer. I hauled his hiney to the ER, where he was diagnosed with acute Pancreatitis. He ended up hospitalized for 5 days and was still terribly weak when he got home. So my chicks ended up inside in that dog crate for longer than we’d anticipated. It was far too small. But they managed, and did just fine. I do wish, though, that I’d thought to just pick up a bigger box somewhere until Ken was up to helping me set the outdoor brooder up.

Keep me posted on how you get on!

 

[junior67]

It sounds like you are quite comfortable and familiar with MHP. You know, for just a few days a good old cardboard box would be just fine too. You can pick up large ones at any UHaul outlet for just a couple of bucks. Appliance boxes from appliance stores are also great.

When I had 11 chicks (my first MHP batch) in one dog crate with MHP in it, I thought it was just for a couple of days too. We planned to set up the outdoor brooder the next day. But the night we brought the chicks home, hubby suddenly collapsed on the floor in more pain than I’d ever seen anybody suffer. I hauled his hiney to the ER, where he was diagnosed with acute Pancreatitis. He ended up hospitalized for 5 days and was still terribly weak when he got home. So my chicks ended up inside in that dog crate for longer than we’d anticipated. It was far too small. But they managed, and did just fine. I do wish, though, that I’d thought to just pick up a bigger box somewhere until Ken was up to helping me set the outdoor brooder up.

Keep me posted on how you get on!

Yikes but I understand that. I am getting the brooder under my poop boards tomorrow or Friday with chicks coming next Friday or Sat so hopefully they will be good.

I read you post over and over before I decided on the MHP last year. I LOVED it last year. The chicks were basically off heat at 3.5 weeks but I kept it super low for 4-7 days after just in case. The heating pad I got has 9 heat settings which is nice.

I would do the box but I have cats. The chicks will be in my daughter's broom those few days and I know she won't want to lock them out. Plus my elderly little dog sleeps in there. So I need something to keep them safe. Hopefully I can figure something out.

 

[Blooie]

I have total faith in you!!

 

[junior67]

I have total faith in you!!

Thanks.

 

[junior67]

This is what I am thinking of using.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think for a short period of time the chicks will be okay even in a smaller-than-ideal amount of space. But do NOT fold the heating pad. You can curve it around the frame, no problem, but folding will damage the wiring and that's when you're looking at fire risk (or simply a heating pad that won't work)

 

[junior67]

I think for a short period of time the chicks will be okay even in a smaller-than-ideal amount of space. But do NOT fold the heating pad. You can curve it around the frame, no problem, but folding will damage the wiring and that's when you're looking at fire risk (or simply a heating pad that won't work)

ok thanks. that is what I was afraid of but was hoping that wasn't the case. LOL But think I can use that roasting rack.

I will get a picture today of the space. It takes up like 3/4 if not more of the tote and the MHP is against the side of the tote on 2 sides so not many escape routes. and that is with out food and water in there. once I put that in there would be almost zero floor space. I wish I could make it work but sadly it won't. But I will figure it out. hoping the rack posted above works.