Pulled the trigger. Arrival: Next week

[Counting chickens]

Aart gives excellent advice. I also had concerns about your tunnel configuration. That they are not going in it tells me that the interior is too warm. And it can be a trap. If one is in the middle and an other is blocking her exit, she can't exit and can actually get killed from being too warm. The MHP brooder must be designed so that the chicks can ALL easily enter and exit without being blocked by a traffic jam of chicks in front of them. An other concern I have is your duct tape. I once used some electrical tape to secure the pad to the bottom of my wire frame. A chick got stuck between tape and pad, like a little tar baby. If I had not checked under the pad, I'd not have found her and surely she'd have died if left in that state for any length of time.

Consider the design of a MHP cave: Would you feel safe putting it in a crib with a new born baby? If the answer is yes, then it is safe for your chicks. It must not have any places that could cause entrapment. No sharp edges, nothing that can be pulled off and eaten. No spot for a little head or foot to get stuck.

and had missed the duct tape portion. All the duct tape is on top. I used it to pull the t-shirt against the pad and cover the cord. I am not petite, so there was a lot of excess fabric...

 

[lazy gardener]

I usually sew a pillow case to fit my frame and pad. (both go in the pillow case together) Then, I use mini bungee cords to secure the pad to the underside of the frame (others put their pad on top of the frame) so it does not sag. Finally, I tape the opening of the pillow case shut. I use painters tape b/c I've found that it provides the best adhesion to the fabric.

Last season, I ran out of time/energy and still had one more MHP to construct. I took a piece of sheet, and my hot melt glue gun, and simply glued the sheet around the pad/frame, being sure that the heat did not adhere the sheet to the pad, or touch it in such a way that I'd be concerned about causing issue with the electrical components of the pad. This is a great option for someone who does not sew!

These mini bungee cords are great. If you find them to be too long, you can simply pull one end through the springy end thing, cut it off, tie a knot to make it the length you want it to be. To secure the knot, I put a dollop of hot melt glue in the middle of the knot. The wire ends can be bent to make them the right diameter to hold pad and frame together. I also put a nice big dollop of hot melt glue on the end of the wire so it doesn't dig into the frame. LOVE MY HOT MELT GLUE GUN!!!!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Tr...75035&wl11=online&wl12=54778400&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[Counting chickens]

New digs...

 

[Counting chickens]

 

[4 ever Orpington]

They should be here next Thursday or Friday!
Said screw it and figured I would get ahead of the curve on chicken math. I ordered 15!

Congrats!

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Is it normal to sleep face first in shavings?
They're all exhausted. Probably just thrilled to not be in the box again.

Mine did. Also would sleep face down in the feeder. Silly birds