Brooder questions help/suggestions please

[mustangsaguaro]

Well, I need to start thinking about a brooder as I have 38 eggs in the bator and due to hatch at the end of this month.

I had a space I had all picked out for the brooder area but am now reconsidering after what someone told me yesterday. I was planning on putting the new chicks in the area where I have my hay for my horses. Bear in mind the hay is not in a barn, but in a converted garage area. Hay is on one side of the room and chicks will be on other side. I was told by someone yesterday that, that wouldn't be a good area because of the drafts and their is no real heat in there. Basically they will be in a room, that has a door that can be closed. I planned on putting bales of straw up to keep them contained in the area, and then put for sure one, maybe 2 heat lamps, and also put shavings down on the floor too. Is this an acceptable area or do I need to rethink it? It's physically impossible for me to keep them inside w/ me as my husband and I live in a small 5th wheel trailer and we have 3 cats and a dog. So it's pretty cramped as it is. We do have another 5th wheel that is not currently being used. Would this be a better place to keep them since it is more enclosed/insulated than the room where my hay is? My only thing about keeping them in the other 5th wheel is since they would need a heat lamp on them 24/7 if they are in the other 5th wheel I am more concerned about a fire starting w/ the heat lamp in the 5th wheel.

Any sugggestions would be greatly appreciated. If I need to start rethinking where I am going to put them I need to do it now, or need to think about starting to build something now.

Thanks
Kim

 

[chickenranchwife]

I would think that if they were surrounded with hay and had a lamp or two they would be ok. The only draft they would have would be from the top is that correct? Bales are good insulation.

 

[mustangsaguaro]

Quote:
Yes, the only draft would be from the top. There are windows in this room, and one of the windows is missing a pane. However, I plan on putting a board up on that one. Plus the door will remain closed at all times w/ the exception when I am in there tending to the chicks or when I am in there getting hay to feed the horses.

 

[mustangsaguaro]

bump.

Is there anyone out there w/ other suggestions. Or is my plan for a brooder ok.

 

[2dream]

I don't see why the bales of hay stacked up with the heat lamps on them would be a problem. I think if you covered most of the area with a sheet draped over the bales that would keep the drafts out. Plus with the bales as the brooder you can start out with a small area and then enlarge it as the chicks grow.
If you have really cold temps at night you might consider using the plastic container type brooders for a few weeks. There are tons of them posted here with directions and they are extremely inexpensive to make.