New Chicks & MHP Brooder set-up

[Christabean]

This is my second time raising chicks (4/4 survivors the first round, now 2 1/2 years old!) but my first time using a MHP (heating pad) set-up. This time around I only have 2 chicks due to local limits of 6 hens. So far it is going really well, I have the whole set-up in a large plastic dog crate. My idea was to keep them more cozy and secure in the event of a cat sneaking into their room (we do keep the cats out but accidents happen with 2 kids in the house) and also it allows me to keep them on a table which I read on here can lead to friendlier chickens when they're not scared of me reaching down from above. I thought I would post a couple pictures because most of the MHP instructions use wire and I chose to use cardboard. I cut down a canning jar pacakage into a slope to help them regulate warmth, and taped the joints for strength. I cut it into just a frame because I read they should be able to press their backs directly to it.

Heating pad frame:


Here is the set-up with water (with Rooster Booster & ACV at the recommended concentration; it's worked well for my hens) and food. I'm still filling a little dish with water until I'm confident they're using the nipple waterer well.


And last but not least my adorable chicks, Fluffy (Golden Sex-Link) and Toko (Easter-Egger). I know Easter-Eggers are notoriously variable in markings but any idea what she'll look like? The farm co-op said they often turn out red or blue with a grey head. These pictures are from yesterday right when I got home (their second day after hatching). They are now more confident with amazingly noticeable feather growth for less than 30 hours!! I can hardly believe how cute they are and will post updated photos as they grow.

 

[DobieLover]

They are adorable!
I think they will do just fine with your setup. You might want a shallower water bowl for them until they are stronger.
Or better yet, a baby bottle like the one in the pictures I attached. I made this for less than $10 and still use it with my pullets/cockerel.



I cut up an old wire hanger and bent it to form hooks and then just hung the bottle over the edge of my brooder. I used pieces of 2x4 scrap to make a block for the chicks to stand on to reach the nipple. All 11 of them started using it within one hour of me putting it in and showing 3 of them how it worked. Monkey see, monkey do.

 

[Christabean]

Thanks! They are just starting to use the horizontal nipple waterer; they can reach it but don't peck very hard yet. I only have a tablespoon or so of water in the dish. It's smaller than it looks, they're just very tiny chicks!

 

[Christabean]

Here's a photo update of the chicks at a week old. I turned the heating pad down to "medium" on day 5 based on them seldom using it and warm weather.

 

[Christabean]

And growing fast, at 2 weeks! I'm in California and it's been very warm so the heating pad is already down to "low." I will leave it unless the weather changes.

 

[Christabean]

Three weeks! Posting another update for people searching for Golden Sexlink or Easter Egger feathering patterns. Turning into pretty little pullets, if a bit of an awkward stage right now! They started sleeping on or next to the heating pad at a couple of weeks and today at three weeks I took it out as they don't seem to be using it and are pretty well feathered. They looked pretty comfy sleeping in the corner of the brooder (plastic dog crate so no drafts).

 

[Christabean]

The girls are over their gawky stage and have turned into beautiful little pullets if I do say so myself! They're spending their first night out tonight (still in their kennel/hutch) at just shy of 6 weeks. It's only about 10 degrees or so colder than indoors where they've been without a heat source for awhile. Hopefully it's a good sign that the older hens had zero interest in them through the wire fencing . . . I'll keep them separate for at least several days and then try letting them into the run while the big flock is in the coop & letting them in the coop while the big girls (4 of them) are in the run.

Here's Toko, Easter Egger (above) and Fluffy, Golden Sexlink (below)

And here they are (camouflaged on the right) showing size difference with the big hens. (As cat Janey supervises!)

 

[RoosterML]

I love the heat pads. They work great here is a picture of my set-up,
"Easy bake oven"

 

[Dew]

Hey guys - Since you have experience with the MHP, wondering if you could hit me w some advice...I have a dual set up, as I didn't trust myself with just the MHP, but my chicks will not leave the heat lamp side of their brooder. Any ideas for coaxing/showing them/leading them to the MHP so I can get rid of the heat lamp? Thanks so much! (And btw - they're in/behind the feather duster mama in the pic...they love sleeping there!)

 

[Doc7]

Hey guys - Since you have experience with the MHP, wondering if you could hit me w some advice...I have a dual set up, as I didn't trust myself with just the MHP, but my chicks will not leave the heat lamp side of their brooder. Any ideas for coaxing/showing them/leading them to the MHP so I can get rid of the heat lamp? Thanks so much! (And btw - they're in/behind the feather duster mama in the pic...they love sleeping there!)

Trust the MHP, remove the heat lamp. I use a MHP all by itself as long as it is above 15 degrees fahrenheit outside with 1 day old chicks.

Same when you change waterers. Take the old waterer out , show them how to use new one, and ignore them for 24-48 hours. Chicks dont change, you make them.