Any ideas for making a brooder?

[Girly White Silkie]

Based on your name I assume you have silkies? Mother natures PERFECT / Cheap incubator.

No, I just love silkies!

 

[debid]

That means they don't squash the chicks.

None of the heating methods should squash chicks. If you do decide to DIY, read the thread about the mama heating pad as it is important to avoid design flaws that can be hazardous.

 

[Girly White Silkie]

None of the heating methods should squash chicks. If you do decide to DIY, read the thread about the mama heating pad as it is important to avoid design flaws that can be hazardous.

Thanks!

 

[Sublight]

No, I just love silkies!

Get yourself a silkie, and let her go broody. She takes care of EVERYTHING.
Temp, and humidity.
She is the brooder box.
And its really cute to watch her teach them to dust, and scratch and stuff.

 

[debid]

It sounds so simple -- just get a hen prone to broodiness. Except hatcheries don't select to preserve that trait and a great many hatchery Silkies disappoint their owners who wanted a broody by being either disinterested or male.

I have a Marans hen from a breeder that I thought for certain would go broody. As soon as it starts getting cold out, she will sit on any egg left in the nest at dusk. All night if I don't show up to collect. Weirdest thing I've seen. But, as soon as the sun is out, she's done until the next evening. I tried enticing her by leaving a clutch of fakes in place, she didn't bite.

 

[chickens really]

It sounds so simple -- just get a hen prone to broodiness. Except hatcheries don't select to preserve that trait and a great many hatchery Silkies disappoint their owners who wanted a broody by being either disinterested or male.

I have a Marans hen from a breeder that I thought for certain would go broody. As soon as it starts getting cold out, she will sit on any egg left in the nest at dusk. All night if I don't show up to collect. Weirdest thing I've seen. But, as soon as the sun is out, she's done until the next evening. I tried enticing her by leaving a clutch of fakes in place, she didn't bite.

She is not Broody...In the habit of sleeping in the nest box...A whole other issue..

 

[debid]

She is not Broody...In the habit of sleeping in the nest box...A whole other issue..

She doesn't sleep in the nest box. The minute you take the egg, she's back on the roost. And, she only stays in the box on an egg. It's a 4' community box so she gathers them into a clutch if there are several. It isn't broodiness since she doesn't stay but it is most definitely protecting the eggs from freezing.

 

[chickenmama109]

i used a red heating lamd light bolb i had 12 chicks and they all made it

 

[chickens really]

She is practising...My one Stupid Orpington lays on eggs till I collect too and she has never been Broody...My Broodys that are resting lay and leave...Hence her name is Ding-Dong...lol

 

[debid]

She is practising...My one Stupid Orpington lays on eggs till I collect too and she has never been Broody...My Broodys that are resting lay and leave...Hence her name is Ding-Dong...lol

The odd hen will be 5 in spring so if she was going to go broody, I think she would have by now. I consider it a favor for the winter nights we get home late. So, I patiently shine the flashlight for her so she can get to the roost and thank her for her service.