Momma Crockpot keeps my chicks warm :)

[yakitori]

This was so funny to me, that I had to share.

I hatched these two in a crock pot and didn’t particularly want to use a heat lamp since it was just 2 chicks...



So back in the crockpot they went

Meet Little High and Little Low






and their mommy - Crockpot.
I did what I could to mimic the conditions under a broody: cozy, dark and warm. the towel is normally folded down at the opening to keep the heat in.

I had to change out the previous towel because they pooped on it. (What did I expect). The new towel is now lined ingeniously with a sheet of paper towel

Momma Crockpot is hooked up to a thermostat controller for auto shut off at 38C.

It must be super snuggly in there because they aint making a peep

My last brooder babies under the heat lamps were for sure a noisy bunch!

 

[K0k0shka]

Congrats, you have discovered the "mama heating pad" method! Meant to mimic the conditions under a hen, as you describe - snuggly, dark and warm. SO much better than a heat lamp! More natural for them and sure does keep them quiet. Having a bright light glare down on you day and night with no reprieve must be quite frustrating for anyone. Creatures need a day and night cycle with darkness. Of course they'd be screaming under the lamp. I don't use lamps.

 

[Weeg]

That is such a good idea! I've tried a heating plate before since I don't like heat lamps for the listed reasons. It didn't get hot enough and killed my chicks. Chicks that I hatched from my incubator and become so attached to. I know a different brand would probably make a difference, but I don't really trust them anymore.
This is genius though! I have a Crock Pot that I never use since getting an Instant-Pot, and I would love to try and make something similar.
Did your remote come with the pot or was it something you had to buy? I'm definitely interested in trying this. Such a good idea!

 

[WonkierZulu]

That is such a good idea! I've tried a heating plate before since I don't like heat lamps for the listed reasons. It didn't get hot enough and killed my chicks. Chicks that I hatched from my incubator and become so attached to. I know a different brand would probably make a difference, but I don't really trust them anymore.
This is genius though! I have a Crock Pot that I never use since getting an Instant-Pot, and I would love to try and make something similar.
Did your remote come with the pot or was it something you had to buy? I'm definitely interested in trying this. Such a good idea!

The ceramic emitter bulbs I enjoy quite alot. Will have to try the momma method next time.

 

[yakitori]

Congrats, you have discovered the "mama heating pad" method! Meant to mimic the conditions under a hen, as you describe - snuggly, dark and warm. SO much better than a heat lamp! More natural for them and sure does keep them quiet. Having a bright light glare down on you day and night with no reprieve must be quite frustrating for anyone. Creatures need a day and night cycle with darkness. Of course they'd be screaming under the lamp. I don't use lamps.

It’s great! It’s definitely how I’m going to do it going forward. I feel like I’ve been slowly moving towards a more natural way of brooding. The chicks are happier and so am I

My first brooder was on pine shavings and under a lamp, that was so much effort, to the point where I was screaming internally that I would never brood chicks again. lol

Too bad I can’t return the bulbs i bought since I’ve misplaced the receipt

 

[K0k0shka]

It’s great! It’s definitely how I’m going to do it going forward. I feel like I’ve been slowly moving towards a more natural way of brooding. The chicks are happier and so am I

My first brooder was on pine shavings and under a lamp, that was so much effort, to the point where I was screaming internally that I would never brood chicks again. lol

Too bad I can’t return the bulbs i bought since I’ve misplaced the receipt

This is not going to last you long though. The chicks are going to outgrow the pot in probably about a week or two and will need something else until they can be weaned off of the heat. And you'll need something else from the start if you want to brood more than a couple of chicks next time. I make my own contraption with a heating pad from Amazon (just make sure it has no auto shut off) bungied to the underside of a wooden board. I put the board on 6" bolt legs so it can easily be raised as the chicks grow (put a nut on the underside so the board doesn't slide down the bolt. Use the nut to raise the height of the board). And I don't use pine shavings - too much work and waste throwing out soiled shavings. I use sand and scoop with a reptile scoop (smaller holes than kitty litter scoop, so the little poops don't fall through). Works perfectly and my chicks are happy! (and so am I - very low maintenance).

 

[yakitori]

That is such a good idea! I've tried a heating plate before since I don't like heat lamps for the listed reasons. It didn't get hot enough and killed my chicks. Chicks that I hatched from my incubator and become so attached to. I know a different brand would probably make a difference, but I don't really trust them anymore.
This is genius though! I have a Crock Pot that I never use since getting an Instant-Pot, and I would love to try and make something similar.
Did your remote come with the pot or was it something you had to buy? I'm definitely interested in trying this. Such a good idea!

I got the thermostat controller from amazon, it’s extremely accurate, which was what I needed for the incubation. I wouldn’t use the crock pot without it, because 1) fire hazard and 2) probably not a good idea to keep it on for weeks on end.

So more than the crockpot, I’m in love with my thermostat! lol

I have sous vide and yoghurt making plans for it in the near future too, lol!

The ceramic emitter bulbs I enjoy quite alot. Will have to try the momma method next time.

I should have gotten that over the stock red bulbs. They are so much more energy efficient, and doesn't have that annoying red glow.

 

[WonkierZulu]

I got the thermostat controller from amazon, it’s extremely accurate, which was what I needed for the incubation. I wouldn’t use the crock pot without it, because 1) fire hazard and 2) probably not a good idea to keep it on for weeks on end.

So more than the crockpot, I’m in love with my thermostat! lol

I have sous vide and yoghurt making plans for it in the near future too, lol!


I should have gotten that over the stock red bulbs. They are so much more energy efficient, and doesn't have that annoying red glow.

I got the thermostat controller from amazon, it’s extremely accurate, which was what I needed for the incubation. I wouldn’t use the crock pot without it, because 1) fire hazard and 2) probably not a good idea to keep it on for weeks on end.

So more than the crockpot, I’m in love with my thermostat! lol

I have sous vide and yoghurt making plans for it in the near future too, lol!


I should have gotten that over the stock red bulbs. They are so much more energy efficient, and doesn't have that annoying red glow.

Just make sure the housing supports the bulb fluckers makes a good for cheap on amazon.

 

[yakitori]

This is not going to last you long though. The chicks are going to outgrow the pot in probably about a week or two and will need something else until they can be weaned off of the heat. And you'll need something else from the start if you want to brood more than a couple of chicks next time. I make my own contraption with a heating pad from Amazon (just make sure it has no auto shut off) bungied to the underside of a wooden board. I put the board on 6" bolt legs so it can easily be raised as the chicks grow (put a nut on the underside so the board doesn't slide down the bolt. Use the nut to raise the height of the board). And I don't use pine shavings - too much work and waste throwing out soiled shavings. I use sand and scoop with a reptile scoop (smaller holes than kitty litter scoop, so the little poops don't fall through). Works perfectly and my chicks are happy! (and so am I - very low maintenance).

You might be right. The current pot I’m using is 2qt and I’ve stuffed it with extra fabric to make it cozier inside. I’ll remove the fabric as needed. Since these two are batams, they should fit until they feather out

I’m going to try to think of my own larger scale DIYs as well

 

[Weeg]

The ceramic emitter bulbs I enjoy quite alot. Will have to try the momma method next time.

I did actually buy a black heat light that was suggested by someone else, but it seems to produced a lot of heat towards the sides of the bulb, heating up the dish around the bulb. It doesn't seem to put off a to of heat outward though. I may just have to put the extra money towards a ceramic black heat bulb. I'm interested to try to Crock Pot idea as well.