best brooders tips, and tricks.. - Page 2

Here's a page with about thirty examples, http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-brooder-designs-pictures

 

/scott

 

 

I love the folding dog kennel and wonder if it absorbs odors?

I love the folding dog kennel and wonder if it absorbs odors?

I use the top of a 400-size plastic dog kennel flipped upside down and placed on top of the bottom part (which is also flipped upside down making it a pedestal) - the door opening side goes against the wall so the chicks can't escape or kick shavings onto the floor. It's big enough so that I don't have to move the chicks until I put them in the outside brooder.

 

The top part of the crate has vents so I can put a stick through both sides to act as a little roost for them. I already had a broooder top made for a recycle bin so I used that and the divider for a wire dog crate to cover the top.

 

This year I'm going to line it with a cut open paper feed bag to make cleaning easy - just pick up the bag by the corners and dump it in the composter. No more shavings/poop stuck to the bottom.

I haven't had a problem with odor, and they're in my room! The one I've got is 4ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft high! I'm hoping it'll hold 15 chicks, til it get warm. And plus I can reuse for the dogs!

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I built my own out of 2x4's and plexiglass....Looks nicer than some due to that fact that we are putting inside the house and the wife wanted it to look ok and I tend to overdue it sometimes....Problem is now I need to keep raising chicks to put it to use......lol

I'm a gardener so I used my cold frame and it is working perfectly.  It's still too cold to put plants out so it's dual purpose.  

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b6V0pU2NPI0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Here it is in use when the baby chicks arrived on Monday 2/6/12

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M_6NIo8WnT0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

And this is on Friday, chicks were 1 week old 2/10/12.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8TXkDWQfnrw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

I've decided to put them in the chicken house this weekend.  I've set up a space with a heat lamp.  Our February weather is so warm this year I'm not going to keep them in the house until March as I had originally planned.

 

 

we also use a tote as a brooder...works perfectly!  Just make sure the light doesn't touch the plastic...it melts :)  I use a slightly larger taller and longer version.  My advice get the largest tote you can find...those chicks grow fast!

I made one out of 3/4" ply wood.  Cut the ply wood to make 4 walls.  Secure the walls together by screwing them to pieces of 2X4's in the corners.  For the floor I stapled them plastic signs you see on the side of the road everywhere or you can use cardboard for the floor.  I can post a picture if you want

All ready for the 25 chicks I have arriving on the 22nd.  All scrap wood I had let over from my coop build.  Nothing fancy