"FAKE" mama chicken to keep chicks warm.

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 2:02 am

Years ago when we had our 1st order of Day old chicks, I used alot of heaters.
My mother-in-law couldn't believe I would pay $ to heat the brooder.
"HER" mother raised chickens in Finland & didn't have hydro in the shed.
She would ride her bicycle with chicks in the front basket & sell them

She would tear strips of fabric & make a few "MOP" heads.
They were hung in the brooder about an inch above the floor.

YES I tried it & I was surprised the chicks actually seemed to like it.
All you could see was the tiny legs peeking from under the mop.
I made the 1st mop with strips, after that I bought a couple from the $1 store.

I still prefer the heat lamp, because I like to see how the chicks are doing.
BUT it never hurts to have a plan B incase of an emergency. :chick6:

goatgal35 · Post by **goatgal35** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:24 am

Thank you for sharing that.

SandyM · Post by **SandyM** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:31 am

I've seen that online before for people who go off the grid and don't want to use the power to heat their chicks. Brilliant if you ask me :)
In a few years when I'm off the grid....

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:53 am

Paying attentionto this....seeing as I AM off the grid...interesting..poultry princess...tell me more, if there is more..lol

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:03 am

I think I will borrow that idea and hang some tassels off my flat plastic chick brooder! Thanks for posting.

Post by **thegawd** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:27 am

interesting can I see some pics???

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:57 am

The Brinsea Eco Glow radiant brooder is only supposed to use 14 watts. A solar electric system should be able to absorb that extra load, shouldn't it? Or could you run it off a 12V battery?

I found an interesting read here about how things were done in the early twentieth century:
http://www.archive.org/stream/poultrybr ... h_djvu.txt - see pages 323 onward for the artificail brooding section..

I've also read quite a few articles where they used a brooder set up around a wood stove and kept a few bricks on the stove. They put warmed bricks in the brooder and put a towel or some straw or something on them so they don't burn their feet. Switch out cooled off bricks with warm ones as needed. Apparently chicks like to sit on the warm bricks. Hot water bottles under straw could be good for cold nights.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 11:18 pm

I've set my boxes and totes by the wood stove for years, and when I can't or it's not burning, I swap out hot water bottles. I haven't used an electric heater or lamp for chicks in about 10 years. The rag mop idea is grand, I might actually use it to get my 3 and 4 week old guys out to the barn without worrying about burning it down or hydro bill! Cuz I just hatched a couple dozen more, and it's THEIR turn near the wood stove lol

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 11:50 pm

I've looked everywhere & so far NO pic.
There's been 2 computers since the pic was taken.
IF I still can't find it, then I will take a pic with the new chicks.
Hatch is "supposed to be" around the 20th.
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I don't think "Tassles" will work Robbie.
It won't maintain the chicks body heat.

I bought a few of those old fashioned Mop heads @ the $1 store.
I think they are made of white twisted cotton cord.
You screw in a broom stick @ the top end.
The mop has to be squeezed & twisted by hand to get rid of the water.
Do you know which ones I mean?

I tied the mop head to a cord & hung in the brooder.
It was about 2 inches off the floor of the brooder.
It was Not near the heat lamp, I put it closer to the corner.
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I made my "Fake Hen" out of 100% cotton fabric.
I tore the strips about 1 inch wide x 12 inches long.
Pile them on top of each other & tie a cord or yarn around the grouping.
The cord should be about 3 inches from the top & make it tight.
"shake out" the FH in case there is any loose threads.
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YES Jaye, hubbies grandmother also mentioned about warming bricks & rocks by the wood stove.
I can't imagine how much work that would be - eeek!

I know someone who raises chickens & pheasants.
She uses a few old ICE CREAM Freezer as brooders.
It's with the insulated glass doors on the top of the freezer that slide open / close.

Will get pics pronto (*o*)