Brooder mess

[GC-Raptor]

I also have the largest tote I could find. 23" x 15" at the bottom.
That's good for 7 chicks for a week. Here in the tote at 7 days. .
Here in the cardboard box my cutoff saw came in. 35" x 18" at 9 days. .
Here they are at 26 days. .
It was good for a month for 7 chicks. I used 2 of the biggest window screens I could find to keep them in. . GC
ETA; I've read that you can get large boxes at places like UHall box truck rental.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The boxes watermelons come in work very well too. You know the big ones that have angled corners.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/question-about-pumpkin-melon-box-brooder.1003200/

 

[NNYchick]

The best advice I received from this website was to raise chicks in the coop with mama heating pad. I use one of these animal tents for the first week after hatch to make sure they are eating.

Then after first week I move them out to a sectioned area in my coop, using a wire puppy play pen. All mess outside and they are integrated with flock by week 3. This gives them space to run around and learn to be chickens. Oh did I mention all the mess is outside.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Because the tub is small for the number of birds, plus water spillage is a pain, you may find you need to clean a lot more than you like. You wouldn't happen to have an unused bathtub available? I brooded my first batch in a bathtub (3 chicks) and was full cleaning every 3 days - went through several bags of aspen shavings and 6 rolls of paper towels that way.

(Second batch I got a lot wiser and brooded outdoors. I didn't clean at all, instead I moved the brooder around every few days and let my adult chickens take care of "cleaning" by scratching and kicking everything around. )

 

[JoyV]

I ended up borrowing this playpen. I put cardboard boxes down. What bedding do you suggest? I have been using the wood pellets.. but should I switch to pine shavings?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I ended up borrowing this playpen. I put cardboard boxes down. What bedding do you suggest? I have been using the wood pellets.. but should I switch to pine shavings?

Great idea!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Shavings or pellets should be fine.