Brooder questions

[Debbie292d]

We raise ours for the first three weeks in a big plastic tote in a spare bedroom. Dust is not a problem because we use puppy pee pads, not shaving or bedding. We change the pads every evening. We use a heat bulb in ceramic housing as @Debbie292d mentioned, and we suspend it from a rod in a closet from which we have removed the door. The tote is half in, half out of the closet so it has a warm area and a cooler area and the chicks can go to the area they prefer.

@azygous' suggestion is also a very good one, but we usually start our chicks very early in the spring when the weather is quite inclement and frankly ... I don't like the cold and wet and mess at all, at all, lol! Brrr!

We start ours indoors too, but in a brooder hubby made, and horse bedding pellets so no dust, no odors.



We pull the towels after a few days.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Nice!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What's in the box?

 

[Debbie292d]

What's in the box?

Just their food. They like the noise it makes scratching on cardboard.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Seeing you're in Canada, I believe you'll need something besides a brooder plate if you're putting baby chicks out in the coop. Like @azygous said, brooder plates are only good for 50F and up. I'd use a ceramic bulb in a UL shroud approved for it. We hang ours with a chain to a secure hook that you can raise and lower link by link as they get acclimated.

They’ll be in the house until it’s warm enough for them outside! Probably graduate into the heated garage before they make it out to the coop too!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

We raise ours for the first three weeks in a big plastic tote in a spare bedroom. Dust is not a problem because we use puppy pee pads, not shaving or bedding. We change the pads every evening. We use a heat bulb in ceramic housing as @Debbie292d mentioned, and we suspend it from a rod in a closet from which we have removed the door. The tote is half in, half out of the closet so it has a warm area and a cooler area and the chicks can go to the area they prefer.

@azygous' suggestion is also a very good one, but we usually start our chicks very early in the spring when the weather is quite inclement and frankly ... I don't like the cold and wet and mess at all, at all, lol! Brrr!

How many can you fit in the tote? I like the pee pads idea.

Yes my hatching eggs are being delivered end of Feb so they’ll definitely have to start inside.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We have started as many as 12. But after about a week we separate them into two totes. Then we have a third tote set aside that we use for cleaning. We get it ready with clean pads, fresh food and water, and put six chicks into it, checking each one for pasty butt. Any chick that doesn't pass inspection goes into a holding box for later. When all clean chicks have been transferred, we put the clean tote in the closet, under the lamp. Repeat with second tote. Set the dirty tote aside. Take dirty chicks to bathroom for cleaning. I will clean any chick that even has a few sticky bum feathers. Dry, and return to proper cates. Clean dirty tote and put clean pad in it for tomorrow. Of course in the midst of all this we wash the water bottles and refill them, and fill the feeders. It's nice to have extras of these also.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

We have started as many as 12. But after about a week we separate them into two totes. Then we have a third tote set aside that we use for cleaning. We get it ready with clean pads, fresh food and water, and put six chicks into it, checking each one for pasty butt. Any chick that doesn't pass inspection goes into a holding box for later. When all clean chicks have been transferred, we put the clean tote in the closet, under the lamp. Repeat with second tote. Set the dirty tote aside. Take dirty chicks to bathroom for cleaning. I will clean any chick that even has a few sticky bum feathers. Dry, and return to proper cates. Clean dirty tote and put clean pad in it for tomorrow. Of course in the midst of all this we wash the water bottles and refill them, and fill the feeders. It's nice to have extras of these also.

Thanks! That is all very helpful. I like this idea. It sounds very easy to keep clean. I do have several jumbo size totes already.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

We have started as many as 12. But after about a week we separate them into two totes. Then we have a third tote set aside that we use for cleaning. We get it ready with clean pads, fresh food and water, and put six chicks into it, checking each one for pasty butt. Any chick that doesn't pass inspection goes into a holding box for later. When all clean chicks have been transferred, we put the clean tote in the closet, under the lamp. Repeat with second tote. Set the dirty tote aside. Take dirty chicks to bathroom for cleaning. I will clean any chick that even has a few sticky bum feathers. Dry, and return to proper cates. Clean dirty tote and put clean pad in it for tomorrow. Of course in the midst of all this we wash the water bottles and refill them, and fill the feeders. It's nice to have extras of these also.

I think I saw a picture of your set up on another post but now I can't find it. Do you have a picture?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I think I saw a picture of your set up on another post but now I can't find it. Do you have a picture?

Not handy .... I'll look for it. Do you have any idea how to get to pictures I've previously posted here on BYC? If I have an album I have no idea how to access it ....