Hello, I am a new chick mom. Never had chickens before, so am really new at this. But am LOVING it already. I have been learning what I should and shouldn't do with the 'girls' over the last few weeks before we decided that we could do it. Asked all my friends who raise chickens everything I could think of.
This was an easy to make Chicken Brooder. Just a few items needed. All supplies were cleaned, disinfected before assembling.
A large plastic Rubbermaid tub I used for the brooder box. Used a jig saw and cut the opening in the lid. Then drilled small holes where the zip ties would go. Cut a section of wire cloth to fit and zip tied them together. I used wire cloth to keep the cat out and the chicks in. And Very Importantly, placed the nice "Wash Your Hands" sticker from the feed store on it. For the bedding I am using bedding pellets. I am not sure if it is the best thing, because if any water is spilled, it swells up and turns to dust. Then they peck at it and tend to make a huge mess with the pine dust and I am worried they are eating it. May just switch to pine chips.
Started out with the water on setting on the bedding. But the girls got it filled with pellets and dust right away.
I used a garbage tie to hold some grass up for a boredom buster. They love it! They have to really pull at it to get any pieces off so it keeps them entertained for a while.
So to keep the dust out, I used a synch ring and some chain to hang it off the floor. Major improvement! Hardly anything gets in it.
I had to separate my little bully, who also happens to have a crusty eye. She was pecking non stop at the other chicks eyes. The kids call her spinner because she goes in circles more than the others.
Here I use a little lid for feeder. The wire makes it so they still see each other. They will even lay up against the wire to be close to each other sometimes. They are all much quieter now and not "arguing" all the time. For water, I took a little plastic sample cup and punched holes in the back and zip tied it to the bottle. Because it is bendable I can still fill the bottle easily.
The bottle has a chain I zip tied to it and has a hook to hang it on the wire cloth. Works like a charm. (Zip ties rock!)
I also drilled little holes in the side of the tub to hole the wire cloth on.
The 3 week old girls love to roost already. The 6 day old chicks like to copy them sometimes too.
So I drilled some holes, cut a dowel to length and shoved it through the holes. They got on it almost right away and now nap there.
I enjoyed making my brooder. It was a lot of fun. We love watching the new baby chicks do new things every day. It has been an adventure and lots of fun so far.
We are still building our coop. I will post picture of that and our design when we are done.
Let me know what you think of it and if you think anything could improve it.
This was an easy to make Chicken Brooder. Just a few items needed. All supplies were cleaned, disinfected before assembling.
A large plastic Rubbermaid tub I used for the brooder box. Used a jig saw and cut the opening in the lid. Then drilled small holes where the zip ties would go. Cut a section of wire cloth to fit and zip tied them together. I used wire cloth to keep the cat out and the chicks in. And Very Importantly, placed the nice "Wash Your Hands" sticker from the feed store on it. For the bedding I am using bedding pellets. I am not sure if it is the best thing, because if any water is spilled, it swells up and turns to dust. Then they peck at it and tend to make a huge mess with the pine dust and I am worried they are eating it. May just switch to pine chips.
Started out with the water on setting on the bedding. But the girls got it filled with pellets and dust right away.
I used a garbage tie to hold some grass up for a boredom buster. They love it! They have to really pull at it to get any pieces off so it keeps them entertained for a while.
So to keep the dust out, I used a synch ring and some chain to hang it off the floor. Major improvement! Hardly anything gets in it.
I had to separate my little bully, who also happens to have a crusty eye. She was pecking non stop at the other chicks eyes. The kids call her spinner because she goes in circles more than the others.
Here I use a little lid for feeder. The wire makes it so they still see each other. They will even lay up against the wire to be close to each other sometimes. They are all much quieter now and not "arguing" all the time. For water, I took a little plastic sample cup and punched holes in the back and zip tied it to the bottle. Because it is bendable I can still fill the bottle easily.
The bottle has a chain I zip tied to it and has a hook to hang it on the wire cloth. Works like a charm. (Zip ties rock!)
I also drilled little holes in the side of the tub to hole the wire cloth on.
The 3 week old girls love to roost already. The 6 day old chicks like to copy them sometimes too.
So I drilled some holes, cut a dowel to length and shoved it through the holes. They got on it almost right away and now nap there.
I enjoyed making my brooder. It was a lot of fun. We love watching the new baby chicks do new things every day. It has been an adventure and lots of fun so far.
We are still building our coop. I will post picture of that and our design when we are done.
Let me know what you think of it and if you think anything could improve it.
