Brooder from a chest of drawers!

[FenDruadin]

I saw one for sale on craigslist the other day and thought it was the COOLEST idea. They were asking $125 for it, which is a little rich for my blood, but I loved the idea and now I'm going to make one. It was just a chest of drawers with the top three drawers removed and that area covered in hardware cloth with a little door. It had a brood lamp at the very top, but I think I'd install a bulb in a wire cage, with a dimmer switch that can be adjusted from the outside. The two bottom drawers were left in for equipment & feed storage. How cool is that?

It would need adjustments for ducks--I'm thinking I would install a drain, and put a little bucket under it (in the drawer below) so when they splash all their water out into the bottom, it wouldn't flood them out. Also, I'd have to either line it with linoleum & caulk the edges, or spray it with that stuff that turns into a plastic coating. It would also have to have a lip on the front to prevent poop spraying everywhere and water splashing out on the floor.

But I'm seriously digging it. Can't wait to get started.

 

[Gonzo]

 

[chick4chicks]

sounds like a good idea, now I need a chest of drawers. LOL.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

GREAT IDEA.

I noted where you were located and did a search, ... VOILA! Here are the pictures. http://charlotte.craigslist.org/grd/1738214848.html

I was just going to throw away a couple of dressers ... that I got for free on Craigslist, actually. NOW, I'm going to do this! Brooder problem solved!

THANKS.

Oh, and love the color too.

 

[Papadavid]

I did a dresser 3 months ago only a little different. I took all the drawers out, knocked the back off and nailed 2x4 legs on it to make the bottom 24" high. Left the sides intack, covered one end of the top with a24" piece of plywoodand covered the rest of the top with chicken wire. Took the bottom, now the end off and made 2 doors with wire. Put chicken wire on the bottom and the took the hardboard back i had taken off and put on the wire to hold the shavings. Put a roost half way up under the plywood end and there's the brooder. It measures 48" long, 36" wide and 18" deep. Works great; no bending and easy to clean, puthe heat lamp on top, set the feeder and water on bricks and the chicks and I love it. Will try to get pictures in the next couple of days or so.

 

[FenDruadin]

Cool--thanks for posting that link! I'm surprised it's still up, though I guess the price probably seems a little steep to a lot of folks. I'm glad you posted the pics though--worth a thousand words.

Papadavid--yours sounds really cool too. Do you have pics?