brooder design

[skurfa]

I just joined the forum, and I am only raising my second batch of chicks (from a commercial hatchery) but I just discovered something I want to pass along, hopefully I am not posting something that has been talked to death already. Anyway, the brooders I am using are plastic storage bins. Last year I raised both chicks and ducks (at different times) using the same brooder, a blue plastic tub. This year I had more chicks than i felt should be in one brooder so I picked up a 2nd one, this one rather than blue is a clear plastic tub. I right away noticed that the chicks in the clear tub were WAY calmer than the others when I walked up, the ones in the blue tub would freak out on my approach. Tonight I picked up a second clear one and moved the chicks from the blue to the clear and viola!, they immediately calmed right down. So I highly recommend clear plastic brooders to anything that the chicks can't see through, and when I think about it, I myself, if constrained would be much more comfortable if I could see all around me rather than just up.

 

[theberlinfam]

WOW!!! Thanks for this. Mine freaked out too. They are in a large rabit cage/hutch now that they have outgrown this box. I'm planning to use it for other hatches I have coming up in a few days, but perhaps I'll go buy a clear one then!!!

 

[TBJumper0514]

Thanks for the info, makes a lot of sense. I will have to try that on my next batch of chicks!

 

[lotzahenz]

YEAH, and welcome. You are soooo right. I always knew the birds usually freak as I am sure their reflexes say RUN when something HUGE overhead comes near. The clear plastic lets them see you walking up as you are on your way, they know it's YOU, not a hawk and are calmer. Such a great idea. I guess the glass aquarium would be even better. My last batch of chicks were started by someone else in tiny boxes on a table that had very short sides. They were NOT flighty nor do they hardly ever startle. I wonder if this is why? They would see all around them, getting used to people being in the room. AT 9 weeks old, they are still the most gentle birds ever, I was just thinking it was their breeding, I will experiment and see.

WELCOME WELCOME you will love this site.

HenZ

 

[skurfa]

Thanks for the welcome, and I'm learning a lot here!

 

[wingsofglory]

Yes the clear plastic tubs work better. I've used both kinds too.

I now use the clear plastic christmas-tree-storage tote. It is very long, the biggest I could find.. I put old oven racks over the top, overlapping them, or a lid made of hardware cloth. It is in two parts to I can overlap them and slide open just the section I need to access.

 

[Badbaby05]

I raised mine in a large aquarium that leaks (no good for fish or funiture). They were so calm, they would actually get excited when they would see people as we spoiled them...alot!

 

[PHarris985]

Thanks for this idea. I shall try this also. I get my chicks April 1st.

 

[newchicks5]

i,m going to use fish tank to.29 long ceramic heater .tested it all ready temp just fine 95.