Brooder Review: does this look ok?

[InvertGang]

Hello everyone!

My chick order came in (Cornish cross) and they're so cute! I've got their brooder set up and I wanted to see if there's any feedback. Here's what the brooder looks like top down:

There are 20 chicks in there! The two squares on the brood plate are waterers with the nipples they can peck to drink. The red and white item at the bottom right is another waterer.

The surface temperature of the bottom of the brood plate is around 110f and there's a space heater in the room to keep it at 85f.

The substrate is paper towel for now and we're going to change it out every day.

Underneath the plate looks like this:

It's tough to tell but it's at a sloping angle with the near side lower than the far side.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

looks good. would you recommend using brooder plates? asking because one of my lightbulbs seems to have melted, and I hear brooder plates are safer.

 

[InvertGang]

looks good. would you recommend using brooder plates? asking because one of my lightbulbs seems to have melted, and I hear brooder plates are safer.

I'm liking it so far, but this is my first time brooding chicks so I can't compare too much. I like that it has height adjustable legs for different heights, and a dial on the power cord so you can choose to cool it down as they get older. I also like that they sleep at night under it and aren't kept awake by a light on.

Our one worry was making sure it was warm enough around the food for them to be out eating and drinking. That's why we have the space heater.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Looks great for now, but the 20 chicks will outgrow that within a couple weeks. Also, I personally keep my brooder plate a tad higher so that if they want to push their backs against it, they need to push up a bit. You'll know it's too high if they start complaining.

Super cute chicks!

 

[InvertGang]

Looks great for now, but the 20 chicks will outgrow that within a couple weeks. Also, I personally keep my brooder plate a tad higher so that if they want to push their backs against it, they need to push up a bit. You'll know it's too high if they start complaining.

Super cute chicks!

Thanks! They're insanely cute and fluffy. I can't handle it.

Good idea, I raised mine up a little bit, especially now that it's a couple days later and they're bigger!

I put apple cider vinegar and a vitamin mix in their water and we've had no losses yet. We have a spot set up for them in the basement when they get bigger that's twice as big as their current brooder, but the heat plate is the same one. I got a really big one hoping they will be able to use it until they go outside.

 

[DowntownWings]

If you are putting stuff in their water make sure they also have plain water. I usually put some electrolytes in (or molasses) for the first day then switch to plain water after that.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

looks good. would you recommend using brooder plates? asking because one of my lightbulbs seems to have melted, and I hear brooder plates are safer.

I have a little brooder plate, 10in x 10in and like it so much more than a light or even a CHE. Bought a second one. The smaller size easily fits in corners and smaller spaces. And two means I can have two areas lol. (No idea why link isn't working will fix later at home)

I definitely like angling mine so there's a slight difference.

Hello everyone!

My chick order came in (Cornish cross) and they're so cute! I've got their brooder set up and I wanted to see if there's any feedback. Here's what the brooder looks like top down:

View attachment 4088987

There are 20 chicks in there! The two squares on the brood plate are waterers with the nipples they can peck to drink. The red and white item at the bottom right is another waterer.

The surface temperature of the bottom of the brood plate is around 110f and there's a space heater in the room to keep it at 85f.

The substrate is paper towel for now and we're going to change it out every day.

Underneath the plate looks like this:
View attachment 4088989
It's tough to tell but it's at a sloping angle with the near side lower than the far side.

Thanks everyone!

They look good. Thinking ahead, do you have a cover when they start hopping? Or will CX hop and fly like others? I've never had them and it just crossed my mind.

 

[InvertGang]

I have a little brooder plate, 10in x 10in and like it so much more than a light or even a CHE. Bought a second one. The smaller size easily fits in corners and smaller spaces. And two means I can have two areas lol. (No idea why link isn't working will fix later at home)

I definitely like angling mine so there's a slight difference.


They look good. Thinking ahead, do you have a cover when they start hopping? Or will CX hop and fly like others? I've never had them and it just crossed my mind.

That's a great point... I have some hardware cloth I can put on top maybe? They're not really jumping quite yet so we have some time. We could also put a third raised bed on it to raise the walls up higher.

 

[Sic]

and there's a space heater in the room to keep it at 85f.

Speaking from experience, I would advise against this for many reasons, but it can be very detrimental to chicks, causing dehydration. The brooder plate is enough.

 

[thecatumbrella]

We have a spot set up for them in the basement when they get bigger that's twice as big as their current brooder, but the heat plate is the same one. I got a really big one hoping they will be able to use it until they go outside.

Same plan over here! Mine are heading down to the basement brooder tomorrow (at 11 days old, but they're also bantams and seem to chill easier). My previous chicks only used the heat plate for about 4-5 weeks.