brooder info

[oakmancritters]

does anyone have plans for a brooder?

 

[Katy]

I just use the largest rubbermaid containers I can find with hardware cloth over the top for the first couple of weeks. Then they go out to the coop and into a brooder box I made out of plywood and hardware cloth. I have also in the past made use of some old rabbit pens I've got.

 

[oakmancritters]

the use of the old rabbit pens would be good if i move them into the barn.

 

[urbanagrarian]

For a few chicks, I use a cardboard box or my dog's crate. For a larger number of chicks, I have Ohio brooders as shown in this post on my blog. They are easy to make. A 2x2 ft one should do for 50 or more chicks. A 4x4 ft one will brood 200 or more chicks. I think they save quite a bit of energy costs compared to just hanging heat lamps over a brooding area.


http://urban-agrarian.blogspot.com/2007/02/mini-ohio-boooder.html

 

[Katy]

Quote:
How long do you keep that many chicks in them? Doesn't seem big enough to hold them very long.

 

[ginasmarans]

Inside for the first few weeks(longer if I hatch when the weather is cold) I use the large plastic totes with a light. I just line the bottom first with newspaper and cover that with paper shop cloth towels. I quit using shavings. They were too messy and the chicks don't really need it. With the newspaper under the shop towels,clean up is quite easy. When they go outside,I keep them in a brooder someone gave me,but a wooden box with a wire top and a light for cold times will do nicely. If the weather is mild and they are fully feathered,they go into a cage which used to be a rabit hutch.

 

[urbanagrarian]

Quote:
How long do you keep that many chicks in them? Doesn't seem big enough to hold them very long.

They don't stay in it. They run in and out. This link shows the idea better than my link I think

http://www.plamondon.com/brooder.shtml

 

[Katy]

Oh...I see now....