Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[ronott1]

In a little over a week with meaties, I've discovered some things. First, EcoGlows don't work too well with them. Actually, for heat, they work beautifully. Problem is, they got on top of it and poop about 5 times the amount of a normal chicken, then lay in it. YUCK! So today, I've switched them to a low wattage heat lamp. 2nd, I'm not up for cleaning the brooder every 2 days..............did I mention how much they poop? So shavings just weren't cutting it. In 2 days they had a solid poop trail by the feeders and waterer.

They now have a nice, super absorbent horse pellet bedding. My friend that split the order with me did this, and she said it's working wonderfully.

Thanks for the Warning!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Are you getting meaties Ron?

 

[ronott1]

Are you getting meaties Ron?

I might try some a bit later this year.

I so well with the boys I hatch. I want to wait until the weather is warmer and I need to build a pen with lots of sand so that I can rake out the poo.

We raised meaties when I was growing up. I think I might try 6 and see if my Family likes them. If so, I may do several batches this year to fill the Freezer.

 

[Beekissed]

My non-meaties are also spending more time ON the thing than under the thing.

Mmmm crusty poop cakes.

Someone on another thread has mentioned placing cling wrap on the top of these heat plates and just replacing it every day...but I can see some chicks getting tangled in it and suffocating in my imagination. I was thinking a person could use some of that thin plastic they make that clings to carpet with a very fine adhesive for covering high traffic areas...it comes on a big ol' roll and you can buy it at Walmart.

I'd just sprinkle some bedding on top, let them use it for resting and playing and just sweep it off with my hand each day, grab up some dry out of a corner and replace the bedding. The Premier1 heat plate has a dome cover you can purchase to prevent this but I would be interested in using that warmth on the top to keep my fermented chick feed warm and out of the bedding. I'd also place the water there to keep it out of the shavings....just enough room for them to eat and drink but not sleep there.

 

[Tomtommom]

Someone on another thread has mentioned placing cling wrap on the top of these heat plates and just replacing it every day...but I can see some chicks getting tangled in it and suffocating in my imagination. I was thinking a person could use some of that thin plastic they make that clings to carpet with a very fine adhesive for covering high traffic areas...it comes on a big ol' roll and you can buy it at Walmart.

I'd just sprinkle some bedding on top, let them use it for resting and playing and just sweep it off with my hand each day, grab up some dry out of a corner and replace the bedding. The Premier1 heat plate has a dome cover you can purchase to prevent this but I would be interested in using that warmth on the top to keep my fermented chick feed warm and out of the bedding. I'd also place the water there to keep it out of the shavings....just enough room for them to eat and drink but not sleep there.

Honestly, it scrapes off rather easily, once crusty

Any remains are quickly taken care of with a baby wipe. It's slightly textured and want to keep it that way, so they dont end up with wonky legs. They just love warming their bellies on that thing. I would feel mean buying the cover and taking away their favorite spot.

 

[Beekissed]

Me too! That's how they act with a broody mama, though I've never seen them poop on her....but you'll often see them after the first week and there will be a few on her back, some with heads poking up through her wings and tucked here and there all over the poor gal...and she seems to love it!

 

[chicken junky]

WOW, she's super woman!

Your Mom is my new hero! See if she wants to write a homestead book after horse lessons and I'll take one.

 

[Beekissed]

Your Mom is my new hero! See if she wants to write a homestead book after horse lessons and I'll take one.

She's not much into writing. I've often thought of taping her as she tells about her childhood and how they lived, as it's good listening. You wouldn't believe the life my parents had as children and how far they've come from it...all I can say is that we all do a lot of whining nowadays about how our parents affected our lives and blame them for a lot of things, but until you've had parents like they did, a person can't really whine much. The child abuse, domestic violence and poverty was astounding back in those days in the hills of WV.

 

[chicken junky]

My polish grandpa is 99 and I love to hear his stories. Can't even imagine what it was like growing up through all the hard times. He too was raised on a farm with an insanely large family of which he is the last living child. He is a hard controlling man though and we only get along because I don't take his crap and have what they might call loose mouth. I love reading books about their times but can't imagine it. My husband is Cheyenne and was raised on an Indian reservation and boy was it harsh.

 

[Beekissed]

My polish grandpa is 99 and I love to hear his stories. Can't even imagine what it was like growing up through all the hard times. He too was raised on a farm with an insanely large family of which he is the last living child. He is a hard controlling man though and we only get along because I don't take his crap and have what they might call loose mouth. I love reading books about their times but can't imagine it. My husband is Cheyenne and was raised on an Indian reservation and boy was it harsh.

I bet! Do you all go to powwows and such? They look so very interesting that I would love to see one in person.