Transition from Heat Lamp to MHP

[aart]

Well, if you don't get chicks under a hen soon enough they don't acclimate... maybe the same scenario here.

That's what I was thinking....they are weird little critters.
Was wracking my brain to think of a similar scenario, older chicks going from lamp to pad, but couldn't think of one.

The girls have no interest in the MHP, not for lack of my trying!!! So, I supposed we will continue with the heat lamp for a couple/few more weeks until more feathers come in. I don’t want to take any chances. The shivering was concerning to me for my babies.

You certainly did try....maybe on the next batch of chicks!

 

[Rick&Chris]

What are the chances of the acclimating to the colder temps? How do I go about doing that?

 

[aart]

What are the chances of the acclimating to the colder temps? How do I go about doing that?

At about 6 weeks, when they are fully feathered, I'd start ramping down the heat lamp output.
Either by raising the lamp up higher or using a dimmer extension cord to reduce output.
Tough call, I've never raised chicks this late in the year.
You're climbing two learning curves at once, raising chicks and your first winter.
You'll want that lamp really secure and a way to keep them from flying into/onto it.
Do you have a plan for heating your waterer?

 

[Rick&Chris]

Yes, I took a lot on with these girls. I did buy a different heater to help wean them from the heat lamp. Think this will work instead of the heat lamp for the next 3 weeks? Or is a ceramic bulb a better idea? I like that there is no light, so they’ll get used to day/night cycles. As for the watered, I was going to get a heater. Not sure what kind, yet. Still researching .... recommendations or thoughts?

 

[aart]

I can't speak to the effectiveness of the flat panel for chicks, that it's vertical may reduce it's access...not sure if it 'throws' heat any distance away.

I've tried ceramic 'bulbs' and found them to be too hot right underneath and the heat dissipated quickly as you went out from center.

Had a thought on your situation, maybe put the MHP very near the circle of heat from the lamp, given time they may try it out again.
Do they still go on top of the MHP(I think I remember them doing that?)?
You could then slowly turn down the heat from the lamp.
Just a thought....for yet another thing to try.

I've used this for a waterer for 4 years now...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/
...but you'd need to go thru another learning curve to train the birds to use Horizontal Nipples.

 

[Rick&Chris]

I’m going to test the panel heater before I put it out in the coop to see what happens. It is a radiant heat and I’ll have to see how far it throws the heat.

Thanks for the input on the ceramic bulbs.

I have the heat lamp directly over the MHP, and they sit on top of the MHP. I have not seen any one of them go under it, even when the heat lamp was off. IDK - maybe they will have to have a small heat source all winter (LOL) - my husband said to put an oil filled heater out there to give them heat. We have a generator that we plug in during an outage, so if the power goes out, they’ll still have heat.

Regarding the MHP - I have the heating pad under the wire frame and a piece of cardboard on top of the wire frame. Maybe the heating pad should go on the very top so the warm from the feet up? I just don’t want them to get burned from direct contact.

As for the heater for the water, I think I’ll teach them a new water system in the spring! I can’t do that now.

 

[bobbi-j]

Work on weaning them from the heat, and they will acclimate. Providing heat all winter does them no favors.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Work on weaning them from the heat, and they will acclimate. Providing heat all winter does them no favors.

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

 

[aart]

I have the heat lamp directly over the MHP, and they sit on top of the MHP. I have not seen any one of them go under it, even when the heat lamp was off.

Oh, well, so much for that idea....tho maybe move it out from under the heat lamp, to the edge of the 'heat circle'.

Regarding the MHP - I have the heating pad under the wire frame and a piece of cardboard on top of the wire frame. Maybe the heating pad should go on the very top so the warm from the feet up? I just don’t want them to get burned from direct contact.

I seriously doubt they will get burned from direct contact...looks like there is a cloth covering on pad? Does pad have different heat settings?

 

[Rick&Chris]

Oh, well, so much for that idea....tho maybe move it out from under the heat lamp, to the edge of the 'heat circle'.


I seriously doubt they will get burned from direct contact...looks like there is a cloth covering on pad? Does pad have different heat settings?

The pad itself has a cover. The pad is under the wire. On top of the wire is a piece of cardboard and then an old kitchen towel on top. Should I move the heating pad on top of the wire and put the cloth on top of it?