Brooder questions

[switters]

We're getting 9 chicks on Wednesday. We built a brooder from wood scraps we have laying around. It's 7'x2' with 2' high walls. We put a top over it with a plywood lid on a hinge in the center, for easy access, and then chicken wire on both sides of the top (see picture below).

Two questions:

1) Will the chicken wire be enough to keep out rats and other critters that can be found in urban backyards away from our little chicks? The brooder is in a basement, and we try to keep the door closed at all times. But it sometimes gets left open, and we found a raccoon in their once as well as several rats.

It seems pretty secure to me, but I've heard that rats can fit through chicken wire (don't know if that's true).

2) We have 250 watt infrared bulbs in both of those reflectors. Is that too much? Would one be enough? The brooder is 7 feet long, as I mentioned. We figured we'd have it warm on both ends and then they could go to the middle if they get too hot. But reading the other thread about 250 watt bulbs, I wonder if maybe just one would be better? The lamps are suspended from ceiling hooks so they could easily be raised up.

 

[al6517]

The brooder looks great and will fit your needs well, yes rats can fit through 1" chicken wire. My suggestion would be to secure the lids with hinges and a simple locking devise, then just cover or replace the chicken wire with 1/4" hardware cloth. BAM!!!! problem solved.

AL

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

YEP -

I'd replace or just cover with hardware cloth as well if you have a chance of rats or other preditors.

Keep both lights. You never know when one will burn out. I had a HUGE stock tank with two lights. On one end I kept it a little warmer and the chicks could deside where they liked it most but still had room to get away if they wanted. I did have one light go out one night and I was so happy I had the backup.

Best of luck with your little ones.

Be sure to share lots of pics.

 

[switters]

Thanks everyone. Just to clarify, the middle part is on a hinge and opens so it will be easy for us to access. It's very heavy though, so it's raccoon proof!