Brooder question

[skya328]

We are getting 11 chicks on Thursday. (These are our first babies ever!) Do most people have their brooders in the garage or is it ok to keep in the house? We are going to be using a giant dog crate. We have dogs, cats, fish, and two small parrots indoors. Are there any health reasons that would prevent us from keeping them inside instead of the garage? Our garage is detached and not insulated. I'm worried about keeping the temperature the same all day/night in the garage.

I appreciate all the help I can get!

BTW, the dog crate is already cat/dog proof!

 

[Snakeoil]

When you first get your chicks the temperature must be 95 degrees and decrease 5 degrees per week. A dog crate from what I've seen is not very big, how many chicks are you going to put in the crate? Eigher put paper towels or get some pine shaving for the bottom. You need to have everything ready before the chciks arrive. Cold weather is tough on new chicks.

 

[TXmom]

Many of us keep our young chicks in the house. I have 17 4-week old chicks in the house. Actually, they are in the coop right now for some play-time, but they're in the brooder in the house most of the time. As far as health concerns...I think it's the same as any other small animal. Keep the brooder as clean as possible, but there will still probably be dust issues. I have an air purifier in my living room because of our "zoo" (chicks, rats, gerbil, turtle, cat, dog)

 

[TXmom]

Oh, by the way...

I know where Wylie is...I used to live in Allen

 

[mirecipes]

My current brooder is a soft sided hot tub that I brought inside for the winter (I felt it was too expensive to keep running the pump to keep it warm) I lined it with plastic for easier cleaning afterwards

I have a heat lamp with a 100 watt bulb (not 250 at this time)
When they sleep in a ring around the warmest part..Thats good..If they huddle all together in a group, they are too cold..

I used papertowels (in a smaller temporary brooder) for their first day till they learned what food was..Then moved them to the hot tub with pine shavings (don't use cedar or other hard wood due to the aromatic oils)

And yes..There is definitly a lot of dust happening! lol!!

Just keep their wood shavings clean, keep them warm and fed..And watch out for "pasty butts" (make sure their little bottoms are clean so the poop can come out properly

Chicks are a lot of fun!!
Enjoy!!