Transition from Heat Lamp to MHP

[aart]

Should I move the heating pad on top of the wire and put the cloth on top of it?

I don't think it really makes any difference.
The idea of having it under the rack is for better contact on their backs.

Does pad have different heat settings?

 

[Rick&Chris]

I don't think it really makes any difference.
The idea of having it under the rack is for better contact on their backs.

Yes, the heating pad has low medium and high, it is currently set on high and the top of the set up is barely warm

 

[aart]

Yes, the heating pad has low medium and high, it is currently set on high and the top of the set up is barely warm

It may be to hot to go under tho.

 

[Maeschak]

It may be to hot to go under tho.

That is what happened to my chicks and their modified MHP when I first started. The MHP was actually too *hot* and I had no idea (I kept checking temps w a good thermometer and temps were never high, always low) ... The chicks refused to stay in the MHP no matter how much herding or redirecting EVEN THOUGH they were shivering and peeping while outside the MHP.
I really thought they just needed to learn how to use it. Nope. Temps were actually way too high. I figured it out by dropping the heating pads to the lowest heat, opening up more ventilation, and waiting. Within a few hours every single chick went into the MHP when chilled and at night with no crying, no peeping, or herding. It was a miracle.

For some reason I did not realize how much heat the chicks would create on their own when they piled into the MHP nor did I realize how much of the baby chick heat my MHP would retain.

Now I start my heating pad on low. If they are under the MHP and still peeping at night I then turn the heat up a bit. (Conversely, if they are not under the MHP and peeping I turn the heat lower).

I hope things work out for you - however you decide to heat your chicks!

(I guess I should note that my MHP is not a true MHP. I taped my heating pads to a variable height shelf inside of a small plywood box I made. It is more like a warming box than an MHP as the heating pads are a good 1/2 inch above their heads when they stand so they do not directly nuzzle their backs on the heating pads).

 

[bobbi-j]

Will do - I assume I start that after they are 6 weeks old??

There isn’t a set time that things happen.

It may be to hot to go under tho.

Agreed. Move it away from the heat lamp and try putting it on medium.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Thanks everyone! I'll make the changes today (lowering heat on MHP and moving it out from under the heat lamp)! Fingers crossed!! Love these girls, but I should have gotten spring chicks!

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone! I'll make the changes today (lowering heat on MHP and moving it out from under the heat lamp)! Fingers crossed!! Love these girls, but I should have gotten spring chicks!

Eh...water under the bridge now....you'll learn a lot.

 

[bobbi-j]

There isn’t a set time that things happen.

Sorry - I was at work when I started this response, then break time was over and I didn't get back to it. What I meant to say was, there is no magical age as to when it's time to start weaning off heat. I would say as soon as they're fully feathered, it's time. Just raise it a bit at a time and watch their behavior. If they're huddling under it, it's probably too high. If they're scattered to the far corners of the coop, it's too low. If they're lounging about, some under the lamp, others not, eating, drinking, and peeping contentedly, they're fine. I have found that watching their behavior is far more reliable than "this age" or "that temperature".