KaijuChickens
In the Brooder
- Feb 5, 2018
- 4
- 14
- 21
Hello. After reading what seems like endless numbers of posts (thanks everyone for all your knowledge), I am finally posting on here for feedback. Sorry in advance for the longer post... I have set up my brooder in anticipation of getting chicks in the near future. I am hoping I have everything set and ready, but would like to double check.
Chicks: Our local laws only allow a max of 6 hens, no roosters allowed. Ideally, I would like to have 4, but 6 would be OK too (my coop is being built for 6 in either case). Breed wise I am hoping to find Easter Eggers locally, which according to research and some local chicken owners is great for my cold upstate NY area, and should be easy to find. I'd like to find local ones as opposed to online ordering, but will resort to that if need be from MPC or something.
Question #1: Ideally I would prefer 4 hens. Should I start with 6 chicks, just in case something happens to one or two of them? Chick mortality would be tragic, but as I have read sometimes happens no matter how well prepared you are (and if I end up with 6 hens I am ok with that too).
My brooder is a dog cage that I have zip tied cardboard to, placed indoors where there will be no drafts. (Details: The cage is about 3.5' long, 2.5' wide and 2.5' high. The cardboard is about 2' tall on the side. At the top, the cage bars are about 1.5" apart. I am attempting to attach a picture. Note: In the picture the front door is open, but closes and also has cardboard to complete the sides).
Question #2: Do I need to worry about chicks getting out of the top area? Or is 2' sides good enough to keep them in?
My heat source is a 250 watt lamp (overkill from what I read, but is what I have). If I put it inside the cage, the temp ranges in the brooder range from 100 directly in the hottest spot to 85 on the other side. If I put it outside the cage, the temp ranges from about 85-75.
Question #3: Would it be better to keep it inside the cage knowing the hottest spot is prob too warm, but the rest is ok, or on top where it might be a little cooler all around? I was leaning towards inside the first couple weeks, then outside then on.
Food wise I put the feeder on top of bricks to keep it out of the pine shavings directly. Seems strait forward. Water wise I am hoping to attempt to use a bottle and nipple feeder since I intend to have a nipple system in the coop when they move outside.
Question #4: Is there anything else I need or should consider before I get chicks that I have not thought of environment wise? I am excited, but also patient enough to want everything as good as I can get it BEFORE I bring chicks home.
I'll post elsewhere about my coop design... that is a whole different topic.
Thanks everyone!
Chicks: Our local laws only allow a max of 6 hens, no roosters allowed. Ideally, I would like to have 4, but 6 would be OK too (my coop is being built for 6 in either case). Breed wise I am hoping to find Easter Eggers locally, which according to research and some local chicken owners is great for my cold upstate NY area, and should be easy to find. I'd like to find local ones as opposed to online ordering, but will resort to that if need be from MPC or something.
Question #1: Ideally I would prefer 4 hens. Should I start with 6 chicks, just in case something happens to one or two of them? Chick mortality would be tragic, but as I have read sometimes happens no matter how well prepared you are (and if I end up with 6 hens I am ok with that too).
My brooder is a dog cage that I have zip tied cardboard to, placed indoors where there will be no drafts. (Details: The cage is about 3.5' long, 2.5' wide and 2.5' high. The cardboard is about 2' tall on the side. At the top, the cage bars are about 1.5" apart. I am attempting to attach a picture. Note: In the picture the front door is open, but closes and also has cardboard to complete the sides).
Question #2: Do I need to worry about chicks getting out of the top area? Or is 2' sides good enough to keep them in?
My heat source is a 250 watt lamp (overkill from what I read, but is what I have). If I put it inside the cage, the temp ranges in the brooder range from 100 directly in the hottest spot to 85 on the other side. If I put it outside the cage, the temp ranges from about 85-75.
Question #3: Would it be better to keep it inside the cage knowing the hottest spot is prob too warm, but the rest is ok, or on top where it might be a little cooler all around? I was leaning towards inside the first couple weeks, then outside then on.
Food wise I put the feeder on top of bricks to keep it out of the pine shavings directly. Seems strait forward. Water wise I am hoping to attempt to use a bottle and nipple feeder since I intend to have a nipple system in the coop when they move outside.
Question #4: Is there anything else I need or should consider before I get chicks that I have not thought of environment wise? I am excited, but also patient enough to want everything as good as I can get it BEFORE I bring chicks home.
I'll post elsewhere about my coop design... that is a whole different topic.
Thanks everyone!