*** 5/17/2022 ***
I uploaded the pictures incorrectly. The moderator let me know and I think the images are back. Made a few edits and added a recent picture.
*** 5/17/2022 ***
MHP (original post 3/14/2022)
We just saw that our local feed store will be getting chicks next week. They will have a good variety. Buying from them lets us avoid the shipping and post office stress. I suppose the feed store deals with that stress. Plus, they are local and we love supporting them.
Below are a few pictures of our MHP (Momma Heating Pad). We used one like this a few years ago and it worked very well out in the run. We will add a pillowcase which will protect the heating pad a bit from the worst of the poops. The blocks of 2x3 we use to raise the MHP as the chicks grow. Note that we leave enough space for the chicks to escape from all 4 sides. That is to prevent getting trapped and crushed.
We are doing this a bit earlier this year. But I think the MHP will work just fine. In the past I have read about people trying to measure the temperature in the MHP environment. I don’t think that is needed. The heating pad we use has no auto-shutoff. That is important. The chicks go under to warm up. This simulates the heat of a mother hen. My guide to temperature is, if the heating pad is warm to the touch it is as warm as a broody hen. And that will work just fine.
But people still want to know about temperatures. OK. Here are a couple pictures. One shows the temp of the underside of the heating pad. One shows the temp just a few inches below. The current temperature in the kitchen is 65F. Note that the heating pad is currently set to medium.
Here are the anticipated temperatures for the rest of the month. Not bad for southern New England. Maybe we will get some golf courses open soon.
Here is an update of the chicks at 5-6weeks. The MHP is now permanently off. And the chicks venture through the chick escape doors to share the run with the big girls.
Here is an article on our outdoor brooder from 2020. Brooder in covered run - Updated 7/11 Six weeks
I uploaded the pictures incorrectly. The moderator let me know and I think the images are back. Made a few edits and added a recent picture.
*** 5/17/2022 ***
MHP (original post 3/14/2022)
We just saw that our local feed store will be getting chicks next week. They will have a good variety. Buying from them lets us avoid the shipping and post office stress. I suppose the feed store deals with that stress. Plus, they are local and we love supporting them.
Below are a few pictures of our MHP (Momma Heating Pad). We used one like this a few years ago and it worked very well out in the run. We will add a pillowcase which will protect the heating pad a bit from the worst of the poops. The blocks of 2x3 we use to raise the MHP as the chicks grow. Note that we leave enough space for the chicks to escape from all 4 sides. That is to prevent getting trapped and crushed.
We are doing this a bit earlier this year. But I think the MHP will work just fine. In the past I have read about people trying to measure the temperature in the MHP environment. I don’t think that is needed. The heating pad we use has no auto-shutoff. That is important. The chicks go under to warm up. This simulates the heat of a mother hen. My guide to temperature is, if the heating pad is warm to the touch it is as warm as a broody hen. And that will work just fine.
But people still want to know about temperatures. OK. Here are a couple pictures. One shows the temp of the underside of the heating pad. One shows the temp just a few inches below. The current temperature in the kitchen is 65F. Note that the heating pad is currently set to medium.
Here are the anticipated temperatures for the rest of the month. Not bad for southern New England. Maybe we will get some golf courses open soon.
Here is an update of the chicks at 5-6weeks. The MHP is now permanently off. And the chicks venture through the chick escape doors to share the run with the big girls.
Here is an article on our outdoor brooder from 2020. Brooder in covered run - Updated 7/11 Six weeks
