Brooder Question

[Chickadee28]

My baby chicks should be here the first week of Feb. I bought this brooder http://www.strombergschickens.com/images/brooders/SBR_L.jpg from Strombergs. The way it is set up the light bulb is exposed. Do I have to worry about the chicks getting burned? Should I construct a little cage around the bulb? This brooder is much smaller than I thought it would be, I am unsure if I will even be able to use it much more than a week and I will have to come up with something bigger. It is actually just a converted covered cat litter box from what I can tell.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
That's exactly what it is! I wouldn't worry too much about the light, I use a bulb with no cover and never had a chick burn itself.

 

[Chickadee28]

Thanks, if I had known it was just a litter box I would have saved my $38 and made it myself

I was looking at the huge storage tubs yesterday, I think one of those is going to work great once they out grow the small brooder.

 

[nccountrygirl]

That's what I'm making mine out of. I can't afford those ridiculous prices that are in the catalogs.

 

[ksacres]

A lot of those places just take advantage of the new comers that don't know! I use storage tubs from Wal*Mart for the first couple weeks, then move to large cardboard boxes that I get from my work. Cheap, easy, and no shipping charges

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I use cardboard boxes here myself in the house til it's warm enough to put the chicks out in the garage in a big wooden box and heat lamp...works great for me...no hidden costs....

 

[Chickadee28]

I ordered it because it said it could hold 12 standard chicks. I thought it would be nice and roomy because I ordered only 6 chicks. I don't even think 6 will fit comfortably in it. Oh well, I am one of those newbies that will fall for anything!