Bathtub Brooder

[mobius]

Several pics, I just set this up and moved week old chicks today...I lined the tub with plastic sheeting and ut in cardboard box. If they outgrow the box, I may just use the sheeting. Lamp suspended from hook in ceiling...whole thing looks like a play pen

 

[curious chickee]

Looking good, hope nobody needs to bathe

 

[mobius]

Lol, I have another bathroom!! This bathtub has just been repurposed as it was not being used!

 

[Blooie]

Keep an eye out for overheating - more chicks and chickens die from that than from being too cold. With the heat lamp up there, the tiles absorbing heat, and the doors closed, it could get pretty hot in there really quickly. So far they look good.

Edited to add: I think I'd move the feeder out from directly under the lamp as well.

 

[ChickityChina]

I really like your idea of hanging shiny/jingly things! I bet they love that haha

 

[curious chickee]

Blooie makes a good point, there should be warm and cold spots in the brooder, see if you can move the heat lamp so it is just on the side keeping only that corner to about 85-90 degrees. If you have a thermometer use that to monitor temps. When using a heat lamp, I like mine at 85 under heat lamp and 70 near the food.

 

[mobius]

Thank you all so much!!! I do have a remote thermometer in the brooder under the light, on the floor, right now it is at 90 F exactly. I fussed with the light and the doors for ventilation and temp. Holding steady at 90 right now. The remote thermometer is in front of me as I type..., I just keep it with me. Love those remote thermometers! They are at 1.5 weeks now...let me know if this is right...

I will test each end of the brooder (right now) to see if temp varies, if not, I will move light to one end. Right on thanks! I don't like that light either, and considering strongly fashioning the heat pad as Blooie suggests...

For me, it is 50 percent peace of mind and 50 percent raising them right so they are healthy and as friendly as possible...

And yes they LOVE the shiny things!! The silver ribbon is their favorite...

I put down outdoor moss (a couple clumps) and they have been busily distributing it around the brooder...

Also I hope this discussion helps others who are using a bathtub...

 

[mobius]

ok, with door open, 88 F under lamp and 72 F under feeder...you all were so right! Moved feeder. The chicks were a bit "loggy" until I moved lamp and they all ran to area not under the lamp. Left door as shown in pic, i think that will work, so far, so good. Fingers crossed!

 

[mobius]

OK I removed the dratted heat lamp and put in the Mama-Heating-Pad (thanks super much Blooie and everybody!!!) and a few hours later, I hear the mot beautiful contented "trilling" sound from the baby chicks. They are in and out as mentioned, mostly in, and with heating pad on medium, it is 90F underneath.Of course, they may be laying on the thermometer. But the temp has been between 81-90F since I put it in. It holds heat amazingly well.

Next move: into the coop (fri or Sat). Thanks all!!

 

[ShanandGem]

I love the trilling sound! I sit in total darkness in a freezing cold coop every night and wait for all the trilling to stop and everyone to be asleep.