BROODER thread! Post pics of your brooders!

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Got the brooder finished and pretty happy how it turned out using all free wood and scraps I had on hand!!!
I do need suggestions as to how to go about keeping the chicken wire front pulled up once babies are integrated fully like they are now. I had hardware cloth across there and it was eating me up. It wasn't necessary so I swapped it out for chicken wire i had. Much better! I also had it opening from top to bottom and switched that so the babies didn't have to walk/climb over the netting. So now it opens up from bottom to top - also much better.
Any suggestions what I could use besides screws to hold the netting back? It is screwed into a 1x2 then pulled back currently.

 

[SweetBerryCluck]

Got the brooder finished and pretty happy how it turned out using all free wood and scraps I had on hand!!!
I do need suggestions as to how to go about keeping the chicken wire front pulled up once babies are integrated fully like they are now. I had hardware cloth across there and it was eating me up. It wasn't necessary so I swapped it out for chicken wire i had. Much better! I also had it opening from top to bottom and switched that so the babies didn't have to walk/climb over the netting. So now it opens up from bottom to top - also much better.
Any suggestions what I could use besides screws to hold the netting back? It is screwed into a 1x2 then pulled back currently.
View attachment 3070848

That’s an Awesome chicken coop. Now you can come to my house and help me build one like that. Lol

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

That’s an Awesome chicken coop. Now you can come to my house and help me build one like that. Lol

Lol thank u...the coop my son-in-law built...the run - well that's my 2nd one cuz I collapsed my first one. So don't think u want me building it lol!

 

[Sstuder]

Here is mine

 

[Hourman]

Here is my new DIY brooder box

I just finished this project. This box was made from recycled political campaign signs and 3/4 inch PVC trim material. It was designed as a proof of concept for building cage like structures out of the PVC. I think it worked out very well and I will next use this method to build a quail grow out cage. It is easily cleaned, completely weather proof, and and should outlast wood. My initial concern was that it might be too flexible, but the plastic sheets and/or wire mesh stiffen it up nicely.

 

[Sstuder]

Here is my brooder, version 3.0!

 

[Shipgirl]

Hello everyone!
I had several ideas about what to do for a brooder, then read someone's post about how they might use a dog crate ..... *ding!*..... we had a huge one in our garage I was about to list on craigslist! (FYI, it is 27" x 40" and we have 6 chicks) This was perfect for us, to protect the babies from our house dog and the two kids. I thought it might be useful for others to see how some of us have made a brooder and get some ideas, so I will start it out!


Here it is from the outside..... it is in our living room with the light mounted on the outside. As they have needed less heat I have slowly turned it to the left, lowering the temp each week.

Here is the inside. Thermometer is on the left (not in photo though!). Food and water are on a 4x4 post scrap to get it up a bit so they dont poop in it, or get shavings in it. We still wash out the water every day. It is also in the back so it stays cooler. I screwed in screws to hang the oak branch in there and they love it. The chick flapping is one of the two who are competing for the Queen of the Pecking Order. They fight for who is on the roost, and she is clearly telling the other one to get off! We use the deep litter method, and so need the bit of cardboard in the front to prevent shavings from coming out the front! We also stir it up everyday.

And here is our huge Lab protecting the babies.........actually, he is scared of them and backs away when we get them close to him, but he wants to look at them!

Can't wait to see everyone else's ideas!

Here is mine. I’m playing with some little wooden roosts - anyone got ideas on good placement? They aren’t stuck in place at the moment.

 

[Chicken_Bureaucrat]

First chickens and first brooder here, just want to check I don't have anything missing?

Going to get 3 chicks

It's a 100 qt plastic tub. Absorbent pad on the bottom. Heating plate, waterer, feeder, little container for grit.

Do I need a cover for this so they don't fly out? When should I replace the pad with real bedding? When will I have to move them to something bigger?

 

[aart]

When will I have to move them to something bigger?

In about a week.

 

[SycamoreHorsesFarm]

I’ve been using things I have on hand… a large appliance box, a tack trunk with top replaced with screening, and now a tent. Tents are cheap, much larger than totes and well ventilated. I’m very happy with this one! It’s a pop up model so very sturdy even though it isn’t staked down.

The box would have worked great and longer if I still had part to make a secure lid but it was missing a side.