Well, I have not mastered the whole picture thing...uploaded it to the site, but you'll have to clickety click on the links! Until someone tells me how to add pictures into the message! Because I have a bunch of unidentified chicks!!! ;-) Oh wait, I just got it to work! Amazing!
Someone else on the forum came up with a Pack and Play (playpen) as a brooder. Whats a pack and play? Just a portable toddler/baby crib, folds up and down, real convenient for both kids and chickens. The best part is that I had one already, bought off of Craigslist for $10 for my last babe. So I use it for its intended purpose and think that I should sell it back on CL....but the pack and play has a bum leg (missing a screw, easily fixed), and it was cosmetically dirty (babies have gooey hands sometimes) so I thought I should donate it.
But lo and behold, lets turn it into a brooder!! Shapow! Done! Iknew that it was tall enough, but I knew that these bantam chicks will take flight a little better, so I wanted to put some sort of cover on top. Good thought, and because I have one cat, a dachshund, a 6 yr old, a 3 yr old, and a 16 month old, I knew it had to be both accessible, and strong so prying little fingers couldn't easily manipulate or push it off.
Enter the crib tent, specifically created for a pack and play. I had to shell out more money than what I wanted off of Ebay, but time was running short, so I couldn't bargain shop. the crib tent was made to keep your babe from jumping ship, and so that your cat can't jump in and potentially smother your child (or, in my case, chicks). Ive used them before with my kids, but had sold it.....I knew it was strong (tent poles) and it zips open so you can pull your kid (or chicks) in and out with disassembling the whole thing. Clamps along the side require muscle to snap them onto the frame of the pack and play.
I had to cut open a little opening at the top (but I re-enforced the opening afterwards with needle and thread) to allow both the brooder lamp and chain. in case you're wondering, the tent is strong enough to withstand the weight of big house cats (check out the ad, my cat only weighs 6 lbs, so she doesn't count) in case they jump up on it, so I knew the poles are strong enough to take the weight of the lamp and chain combo. 150 watt red bulb seems to work out just fine.
I took my leftover freeze cloth for plants and cut it into the shape to allow me to clamp the cloth to the sides of the pack and play.....to keep heat in, drafts out, and so the kids and dog wouldn't be able to see the chicks as easily and bang on the side (the older kids can peer in through the top).
So, a couple of random thoughts. My chicks were hatched and sent out on 2/8/11.....my husband drove through snow and ice to an out of the way post office on 2/9/11 to get them home quickly. the first day, they were acclimating....today, they are already bouncing off the walls, SO active and spry. can't imagine how another day (or two) would affect their strength. Another thing is, in case you're also expecting your first round of chicks, when Ideal told me they pack them in straw, it was hard to imagine. I imagined lots of fluffy loose stuff. Instead, its a box with a "mat" of solid straw, if that makes sense. Not loose. So chicks just hang out on this semi solid mat.
Another thing, I dipped my chicks' beaks in water (as advised). but I also had to backtrack and show them the poultry water nipples. OH MY GOODNESS! Beyond genius. LOVE THEM! Clean and easy to use....the chicks just keep pecking and drinking....so amazing. Seriously, look into them. Bought mine from Neil Grassbaugh here on the forum for an excellent price.
OK, I'm done with my random thoughts...just wanted to share some pics of my brooder....maybe it will work for someone else?
Someone else on the forum came up with a Pack and Play (playpen) as a brooder. Whats a pack and play? Just a portable toddler/baby crib, folds up and down, real convenient for both kids and chickens. The best part is that I had one already, bought off of Craigslist for $10 for my last babe. So I use it for its intended purpose and think that I should sell it back on CL....but the pack and play has a bum leg (missing a screw, easily fixed), and it was cosmetically dirty (babies have gooey hands sometimes) so I thought I should donate it.
But lo and behold, lets turn it into a brooder!! Shapow! Done! Iknew that it was tall enough, but I knew that these bantam chicks will take flight a little better, so I wanted to put some sort of cover on top. Good thought, and because I have one cat, a dachshund, a 6 yr old, a 3 yr old, and a 16 month old, I knew it had to be both accessible, and strong so prying little fingers couldn't easily manipulate or push it off.
Enter the crib tent, specifically created for a pack and play. I had to shell out more money than what I wanted off of Ebay, but time was running short, so I couldn't bargain shop. the crib tent was made to keep your babe from jumping ship, and so that your cat can't jump in and potentially smother your child (or, in my case, chicks). Ive used them before with my kids, but had sold it.....I knew it was strong (tent poles) and it zips open so you can pull your kid (or chicks) in and out with disassembling the whole thing. Clamps along the side require muscle to snap them onto the frame of the pack and play.
I had to cut open a little opening at the top (but I re-enforced the opening afterwards with needle and thread) to allow both the brooder lamp and chain. in case you're wondering, the tent is strong enough to withstand the weight of big house cats (check out the ad, my cat only weighs 6 lbs, so she doesn't count) in case they jump up on it, so I knew the poles are strong enough to take the weight of the lamp and chain combo. 150 watt red bulb seems to work out just fine.
I took my leftover freeze cloth for plants and cut it into the shape to allow me to clamp the cloth to the sides of the pack and play.....to keep heat in, drafts out, and so the kids and dog wouldn't be able to see the chicks as easily and bang on the side (the older kids can peer in through the top).
So, a couple of random thoughts. My chicks were hatched and sent out on 2/8/11.....my husband drove through snow and ice to an out of the way post office on 2/9/11 to get them home quickly. the first day, they were acclimating....today, they are already bouncing off the walls, SO active and spry. can't imagine how another day (or two) would affect their strength. Another thing is, in case you're also expecting your first round of chicks, when Ideal told me they pack them in straw, it was hard to imagine. I imagined lots of fluffy loose stuff. Instead, its a box with a "mat" of solid straw, if that makes sense. Not loose. So chicks just hang out on this semi solid mat.
Another thing, I dipped my chicks' beaks in water (as advised). but I also had to backtrack and show them the poultry water nipples. OH MY GOODNESS! Beyond genius. LOVE THEM! Clean and easy to use....the chicks just keep pecking and drinking....so amazing. Seriously, look into them. Bought mine from Neil Grassbaugh here on the forum for an excellent price.
OK, I'm done with my random thoughts...just wanted to share some pics of my brooder....maybe it will work for someone else?
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