Before eggs hatch, what is the best time to prepare the brooder?

[Meloout831]

How many days in advance should one prepare the brooder?

 

[gabrielle1976]

I would say have everything ready to set up a week befor
and actually set it up say day 19 or 20 .

 

[Meloout831]

So get a good temperature going? I was thinking of doing a Tractor Supply setup (1 big bucket with pine shedding and a brooder light). Anyone done it that way?

 

[gabrielle1976]

I use a giant rubber made container and paper towls for newborns and then straw when there about a week old. Pine and ceder have chemical oils in them that can damage the respatory tracts and get into the blood of animals , its a no no in any rodents or birds but alot of people use pine and there chicks seem to do fine , I woudnt try it if it was me thats like saying hey gorge burns lived to be 100 and he smoked cigars every day of his life

aspen shaveings are ok , straw is ok if it dosnt get to wet and stay wet or it can mold, I would guess that you could use paper pellets like yesterdays news but I havent heard of anyone actually useing them. YOu can go to the chick section they have a link at the top that has tons and tons and tons of photos of peoples brooders

Oh and a red heat lamp is better then a clear one.

THey should have room to get closer to the light and also room so they can get as far as they need to from it. It should not be easly combustble

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

Could you put paper towels on top of straw? I set up the brooder for the new chick that hatched out today, but set it up with straw.

 

[gabrielle1976]

you can keep them on straw as new borns I just dont becuase they tend to try to eat everything and stuff right after there born , same reason for haveing marbles in there water the first week cause they try to drown them selves.
Paper towls can go over the starw

 

[Mahonri]

I probably spend to much but keep them on paper towels for at least 4 weeks.

 

[beepbeepinajeep]

I have one of those very shallow waterers that has a mason jar on top... would that work ok? I think that is what they have at our feed store... it is what they suggested.

 

[gabrielle1976]

those are ok but I think they still recomend that you put marbles in for the frist few days as some chicks try to reconect with the moistness of the egg or something.