Does the type of brooder affect your chicks' behavior/handleability?

[lizms]

Trying to find info on this but coming up short. I'm curious what people's experiences are raising chickens in standard 'dark' brooders (i.e. a Rubbermaid bin where they only opening is on top) vs. more 'open' or clear walled brooders (i.e. glass or grating where chicks can see a lot more of what's happening) and if anyone's noticed a difference in the chicks' behavior? Our first flock we raised in a clear aquarium (we only had a few) and they turned out to be pretty easy to handle/snuggly/less fearful than the second batch that we raised in a big gray tub. My hypothesis is that raising them in an 'open' brooder exposes them to more things visually and they grow up less scared, but I'm dealing with some small sample sizes and other factors that could be causing the differences in behavior (the second batch were all silkies/showgirls and I think once we introduced them to the big hens they got way more fearful cuz the big girls bully them a bit). I have a small backyard flock and they're basically my pets, so am trying to ensure my next batch is as snuggly as possible. And yes, I'm aware that snuggling them is not medically advisable and I accept my future salmonella fate.

Does anyone else notice a difference in open vs. dark brooders?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Maybe not so much with transparent vs opaque sides, but many folks on here feel chicks do better with side opening brooders vs top opening, which is something similar. If they can see you coming, it's less scary for them than having you suddenly appear and reach in from the top to grab them.

 

[lizms]

Just reporting back that I ordered a collapsible puppy pen with a zip open top and side door, and the 4 chicks we raised in it are pullets now and they are super friendly. I definitely think having a more open brooder where they're exposed to lots of new stimuli has made them way less fearful.

 

[UrbanHomesteadTX]

I've also wondered about this! So far the biggest thing I've noticed is using a side opening rather than a top opening makes a huge difference! Of course, I raise Leghorns... skittish to begin with, but all the chicks I keep in the lower brooder with a top opening are always super skittish, but when I move them to the upper brooder with a side opening, they really become much friendlier and easier to handle! I'm able to interact with them more, and they don't have nearly as much fear as the chicks in the top open brooder.

Another thing I've noticed was the one time I had to use a plastic tote to raise chicks (my other brooders were full with 3 wk/olds and I haven't finished setting up to move them out quite yet) for the first week of life, those chicks ended up being my most skittish batch for weeks! Don't know if it had to do with the solid walls, the fact that everything was red (both box, and heat lamp), or what, but they were so freaking fearfull of everything up until they were 4 wk/olds and had been in the side opened brooder for two weeks. All I know is I'm never using that tote again if I can help it, especially not for a full week!

(Just to note, my 'lower brooder' is a guinea pig cage with a solid base, but wire walls and top. It's got a great open top access, but the side access is too small for me to use much at all. The 'Upper brooder' is a wire poultry cage that's further off the ground. I'll usually put the older birds in here.)