brooder input needed- please help me decide

[lockedhearts]

We have a brooder outside as well, I was worried as I had always raised them up in the house, but even when it got really cold, I just added extra lights and they were warm.

 

[peterlund]

Can trailer be moved closer to house? Sounds as if the trailer is the perfect home, but the distance is the only issue... My 2 cents! Good luck with the chicks.

P.S. I have 35 of the little guys in my basement in a 6 x 8 area.... A bit dusty at times, but the pine shavings and the heat lamps seem to keep dust tolerable. They are only 3 weeks old however, and 6 of them are Cornish crosses... Huge suckers! They will be in the coop in week or so!

 

[nuts4chickens]

If it were me, I would start them in the mud room with an air purifier and keep the brooder spotless (if you have a small number of chicks) and I would move them to the trailer at 2-4 weeks if she's tolerating them okay up to that point.You could always start in the mud room, and move them immediately if she starts to have any issues. I start my chicks in the garage and use an air purifier to cut down on germs. It cuts out odor too.

 

[TeamChaos]

Thank you all so much- I think I'll go forward with the half and half plan. The chicks will spend their first weeks in the mud room, then move to the trailer- but I'll set the trailer up now in case we end up with a situation that necessitates that they go sooner.

*whew*

I am so glad to be out of that thought loop, now what can I obsess about? ha ha ha

 

[ClairedeLune]

How many chicks to get!
Wyandotte, Wyandotte, Wyandotte...*just my two cents*

 

[lavacaw]

My chicks came before 7 a.m. yesterday and it was below freezing (warmed up some later). I had to put a second infrared lamp on them to get the temp up in the brooder but it is holding well. My brooder is made from a huge rear tractor tire on the ground in the chicken coop. I cut one side of it out and put the cut side of the tire down. I put 1x2" welded wire on the piece that was cut out and use it for the top. The lights can sit right on top of the wire without the chicks getting to it or anything catching fire. I am using paper towels over pelleted wood for the first few days then removing the towels. A large water dispenser and two feed dishes fit perfectly with lots of room. If the chicks get too warm, they can move under the rim edge of the tire. It was 29 degrees last night but when I checked this morning all 23 were perfectly fine. They are about 50 yards from the house so I get plenty of exercise! Go for the trailer!