AmeliaBedelia
Crowing
I have 10 baby chicks coming next month. I have secured a crib (photo below) I am going to hopefully convert into a brooder on our back deck. What I am not sure about is the best way to make it weather and predator proof.
Here it is:
It does have legs, but I can’t find the bolts to attach them and figure they probably aren’t necessary. The deck is one story up, but there are stairs to ground level. It is not covered, so my brooder will need a roof.
Ok so as far as predator-proofing goes, thinking we will want a solid floor, back wall, and roof. But hardware cloth or similar for the front wall for ventilation? Would you guys recommend solid or wire to cover the 2 inch wide slits on the sides? It will be April and May when we are brooding them, so probably the lowest low will be around 50 degrees in April and highest high about 80 or 85 in May (all Fahrenheit). They will have a heat plate. Thinking one open wall might be better to avoid drafts, but let me know your thoughts.
Also would like input about the optimal floor height - I can set it at about 16 inches, 21.5 inches, or 27 inches from the top of the crib. Not including the height you lose when adding the solid floor and bedding. It’s less expensive if I have less height to predator proof, and having them off the floor helps with weather-proofing, but I don’t want them to be cramped.
For weather-proofing, how long of an overhang would you recommend for the roof on the open side(s)? I could also use a tarp and bungees if it is rainy.
And lastly, I am not super handy, so how would you go about slanting the roof away from the house so rain can run off in light of the fact that (1) it is also the lid to access the chicks and (2) it needs to be predator-proof? Looking for the easy and functional way, not the pretty way.
Ok and FOR REAL lastly, open to creative (CHEAP) ideas for materials.
Here it is:
It does have legs, but I can’t find the bolts to attach them and figure they probably aren’t necessary. The deck is one story up, but there are stairs to ground level. It is not covered, so my brooder will need a roof.
Ok so as far as predator-proofing goes, thinking we will want a solid floor, back wall, and roof. But hardware cloth or similar for the front wall for ventilation? Would you guys recommend solid or wire to cover the 2 inch wide slits on the sides? It will be April and May when we are brooding them, so probably the lowest low will be around 50 degrees in April and highest high about 80 or 85 in May (all Fahrenheit). They will have a heat plate. Thinking one open wall might be better to avoid drafts, but let me know your thoughts.
Also would like input about the optimal floor height - I can set it at about 16 inches, 21.5 inches, or 27 inches from the top of the crib. Not including the height you lose when adding the solid floor and bedding. It’s less expensive if I have less height to predator proof, and having them off the floor helps with weather-proofing, but I don’t want them to be cramped.
For weather-proofing, how long of an overhang would you recommend for the roof on the open side(s)? I could also use a tarp and bungees if it is rainy.
And lastly, I am not super handy, so how would you go about slanting the roof away from the house so rain can run off in light of the fact that (1) it is also the lid to access the chicks and (2) it needs to be predator-proof? Looking for the easy and functional way, not the pretty way.
Ok and FOR REAL lastly, open to creative (CHEAP) ideas for materials.
