Too early to be outside?

[saintbee]

I’d like to put them out in the morning. I’ve never heard of the mama heating pad before I read a couple threads and I like the idea. Can you tell me what you use? I have a couple seedling heating mats- would that work? If not I can raise the heat lamp for sure. I’m just worried about them getting cold as I don’t know what killed the two chicks so worried they got cold. My “brooder” room is only reading 85 because I refuse to use a heat lamp in the house.

 

[saintbee]

I do not see any ventilation in that coop great as it is needs ventilation or will have huge problem in the winter

It has ventilation at the top if you can see it there - screen fence and fencing on the undersides of roof overhang too. But I don’t use it in the winter anyway. I have an old milk house attached to my barn with a fenced in run inside the barn - never an issue so far!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Heating mats for plants may work you can control the temp yes?

 

[saintbee]

Heating mats for plants may work you can control the temp yes?

The ones I have say they “raise the ambient temperature by 10 degrees” but they do not have a temperature control.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Should be fine chicks are not that fragile if they need heat they will get under it and that works better than heat lamps you have have crispy critters from heat lamps

 

[saintbee]

Thank you! I’ll set that up and get a temperature read over night. I will feel better about that anyway. I lost a goat to a heat lamp fire a few years ago (she knocked it over) so I’m wary anyway. Never had an issue with my seed mats.

 

[NNYchick]

I use a set up like this. It’s only down fall is I wouldn’t use this kind of set up for more than 15 chicks.
What size is the seed mats? I wonder if you could mount it to the wall or hang up like the sweeter heaters do?

 

[AZWhiteKnight]

As long as they have the heat source, they should be fine outside. I received new birds in early May (and we had an extremely mild spring) and was mostly fine. For many years, I would receive new birds and never lost one. I had and order last year in which I lost ~80% of the order, and the order in May I lost ~10%. Sometimes, that's just the way it goes. But as long as the birds have a heat source, and access to food and water, you should be OK.

 

[SueT]

I think you'll be fine...the heat mat may be perfect. 30 chicks can help keep each other warm too. After 2 - 3 more weeks, you'll be done with heat.
I have a broody hen who took her chicks outside at 2 days old. They spent much time not under her that first week, even running around with temps in the 60's.

 

[saintbee]

The mats I have are about 1 ft x 2 ft. I have three of them. I’d have to figure out how to mount them to the wall but do you think if I use all three would be enough for the chicks? I also have fencing I could make a “tent” out of and drape the mats over so the chicks could go under them.