Baby Chick Brooder Ideas?

[FizzyChicken]

Hey everyone! Fizzy here! I was wondering what you guys use for brooders, as the brooder I was going to use was instead used for coop cleaning (which included bleach) against me saying "NO". I've been looking at guinea pig cages online and we're going to PetSmart tomorrow so if you have any brooder ideas then let me know (besides cardboard boxes)

Thanks
Fizzy

 

[dheltzel]

I use plastic storage boxes (Rubbermaid, Sterilite, etc), and hang the lamp from a stick or piece of plastic pipe. I use paper towels over newspaper for the first week, then use the fine shavings until they are ready to go outside.

 

[SFrati]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/6233/brooder-thread-post-pics-of-your-brooders

Check out that link and they have listed a bunch of different ideas.

 

[FizzyChicken]

I use plastic storage boxes (Rubbermaid, Sterilite, etc), and hang the lamp from a stick or piece of plastic pipe. I use paper towels over newspaper for the first week, then use the fine shavings until they are ready to go outside.

Thanks for the idea! The container was actually a Rubbermaid container! I used shavings last year, I didn't know if I was supposed to do newspaper over paper towels because of like, splayed legs etc. Thanks for the suggestion! Also, how did you make your roosts, or if you didn't make them, where'd you get them?
~Fizzy

 

[MakelaNJoe]

I am using my bathtub as a brooder i have pine shavinga in the bottom with a wire cage around the inside so they have plenty to play/roost on

 

[SFrati]

i used an old wooden square planter as a roost. It is a perfect size for little feet. Go to salvation army and just look around for ideas. You might find a surprise for super cheap.

 

[donrae]

Your Rubbermaid container is still fine to use, just be sure it's rinsed well. Course, they don't last too long space wise for very many chicks. Yes, tiny fuzzy butts look so small in them, but what you need to do is picture 6 week old chicks in that brooder and see if there's enough space.

I brood in galvanized livestock troughs, in the barn. No chick dust in the house for me!

 

[luebscknshack]

We just got 4 Rhode Island Reds and we have a Rubbermaid container for them and all the stuff they need to stay warm. I have noticed they like to be in a soft blanket in a large mixing bowl in my lap. They fall fast asleep and after I put them back in the container around 20 to 30 minutes later they want to be held again. Is this normal and healthy for them to do this?

Thanks for the help

 

[sophiaw00]

I use an old wooden crate. It's 16 sq feet. I didn't put it together (my neighbor gave it to me for a stray cat shelter a couple years ago) but it would be simple to construct. I'll post pics.

 

[azygous]

Have you considered just brooding them in a section of the coop or run? I'm sure there would be much more space there, they would get accustomed to any adult chickens, as long as they are kept separate and safe from them, and your house wouldn't get all dirty from the dust and chick dander.

As long as they have heat, they will be fine. I'm brooding outside this year in the grow-out pen instead of the house. I'm going to use the "Mama heating pad" chick cave method, letting them hang out in their little heated cave, and they'll have a 70 square foot pen to run around in from day one. It's adjacent to but partitioned off from the main run, with small mesh netting around the bottom to prevent tiny heads from poking through and getting pecked by the older chickens. When they no longer need heat, I'll transition them to the coop.