Anyone using a freezer for a brooder?

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

I have been playing around with a old upright freezer. I am thing about using it for a brooder. With a 25 watt bulb and 34 degree outdoor temp it will maintain a 95-100 degree temp. I have a wafer thermostat and will install that and probably go double 60 watt bulbs. I am making baskets to fit the shelves. 4 inch holes for air exchange.

Will a circulating fan bother the chicks? Have to have it or the top will be about 15 degrees warmer than the bottom.

 

[quailmale]

Why not (other than to save room) just lay it down, no need for shelves?

 

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

Quote:
I need for them to stand up. Takes up about 25% less space. Shelves are there. In have about 20 now that would take up most of the shop if they were laid down. I have also been using the upright refrigerators and freezers to start my meal worm farms.


anyone know of any bad things that may exist by using them for brooders?

 

[Rexbandit]

You'll have to have some way for fresh air to get other wise the freezer will seal up to tight and the'll suffocate

 

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

Yes, the one I'm working with now has 4 one inch holes I drilled into the side of it. It get so cold here that I am just trying to come up with a cheap efficient way to brood the chicks during winter.

 

[joe125]

I would think about turning an old freezer into an incubator, not a brooder.

A brooder should have a hot spot, large enough for all the chicks to get warm, then colder spots where they can learn to regulate their own internal heat. No "BROODER" should have one uniform temp.!

 

[rittert3]

I agree with joe. Are you thinking about brooding outside in the winter? If so I don't think that sounds like a good idea at all.

 

[wolftracks]

Quote:
x2

 

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

Quote:
Cool, that was the kind of info I was looking for. I will just use it to grow meal worms.
I'm trying to figure a way to brood chicks this winter without having a huge electric bill. We have up to 5 months of really cold weather. I may just get busy and build a room in the shop and I have a new radiant wall heat I can put in. Keep it at 60 degrees and use a few heat lamps

Thanks!

 

[lenadriver]

You could put fridges on top of each other, on their sides so you could open the doors. 3 in one stack should take up about the same space as 3 standing upright