Brooder questions

[BearValleyChick]

I’m hoping to get my babies this week. I’m only planning to do small flock. I’m thinking of a puppy playpen for a brooder or large boxes. I’ve been reading the chicken chick blog. The playpen I can fold up for later and the boxes I can just throw away. I already have the heating plate for heat. So playpen or large boxes.what is your favorite way to water?
I’ve had a couple of batches of chicks in the past. I’ve used the plastic totes, a big diy wooden box and a farm trough. I didn’t love any of those options.
Thanks

 

[All4Eggz]

You can use a playpen as long as there are no holes big enough for a chick to get through, and as long as it is tall enough to keep the chicks in. I use a mini, quart waterer with small pebbles to reduce the risk of chicks drowning.

 

[Poodlemum]

I really love the idea of the enclosed pet playpens, but it’s not in our budget right now (maybe if I stopped buying chicks??? Whaaaaaat???). We got some free pack n plays locally and they’ve been great until the babies start to fly lol. Right now we mostly have bantams and silkies inside, so they're not going anywhere for quite a while and are growing way slower than their siblings. The LF chicks have already transitioned to pack n play #2 in the washroom since they were jumping up onto the waterers. I am having a hard time finding big enough boxes right now since it’s not produce season yet

 

[rosemarythyme]

How many chicks, OP?

If it's a small batch I'd just do a box (or 2 or 3, you can deconstruct them and tape them together to form a bigger one if needed) because it's free/cheap, and you can just toss or compost the cardboard after.

I have zero use for a puppy pen so that'd be an extra thing to store when not in use.

For water I just get the typical small mason jar type gravity waterer advertised for chicks. Decent size for a few chicks, easy to clean, cheap.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Either of those options should be fine. I have used both the default chick waterer and a 20 oz water bottle with a vertical nipple in the cap. Both have been great.

Just to share my set up: I also raise small batches of chicks. The most I've ever had in a brooder is 4. I use a small animal cage that we already had. We have a 1.5'x3' cage and a 2'x4' cage.

 

[Shezadandy]

I’m hoping to get my babies this week. I’m only planning to do small flock. I’m thinking of a puppy playpen for a brooder or large boxes. I’ve been reading the chicken chick blog. The playpen I can fold up for later and the boxes I can just throw away. I already have the heating plate for heat. So playpen or large boxes.what is your favorite way to water?
I’ve had a couple of batches of chicks in the past. I’ve used the plastic totes, a big diy wooden box and a farm trough. I didn’t love any of those options.
Thanks

I used a farm trough turned on its side with the heating element in there - and a combination of boxes and wire panels as their need for increased space happens. Then you've got a "cove" they can hide in, where they can have heat or not, and an open area to explore. The black is 1/4" rubber mat.

 

[goldenyears]

I used a farm trough turned on its side with the heating element in there - and a combination of boxes and wire panels as their need for increased space happens. Then you've got a "cove" they can hide in, where they can have heat or not, and an open area to explore. The black is 1/4" rubber mat.View attachment 3031805

Won’t be long before they’re on top of the trough! My trough is upright with a hardware cloth/wood cover. Also use a 10x12 shed with three different enclosed areas as they grow out. I start them in large plastic bins as well.

 

[Shezadandy]

Won’t be long before they’re on top of the trough! My trough is upright with a hardware cloth/wood cover. Also use a 10x12 shed with three different enclosed areas as they grow out. I start them in large plastic bins as well.

Oh yeah, for sure. I then built a "wall" (to almost the ceiling) out of plastic green poultry net with 1/2" pvc pipe as the frame so they couldn't jump out, this is when they were in the house while the coop was being built (years ago). Provided a nice perching area.

 

[goldenyears]

I like your use of the green netting stuff. I’m gonna borrow that idea as I’ve got a buncha babies (32) right now and have an incubator full of eggs. Plus, for some “unknown reason” I have 20 Silkie chicks coming this week!!! Chicken math….

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh yeah, for sure. I then built a "wall" (to almost the ceiling) out of plastic green poultry net with 1/2" pvc pipe as the frame so they couldn't jump out, this is when they were in the house while the coop was being built (years ago). Provided a nice perching area.

I would LOVE to see pics, if you have some!