brooder set up question

[HSerChickLady]

This year i was planning to use a stock tank for my brooder container. Plastic one's are cheaper than galvanized (not to mention lighter) but i wasn't sure if the plastic would let off fumes that could be bad for the chicks? I won't be using a heat lamp, but an EcoGlow brooder instead.

 

[Happy Chooks]

The plastic ones will be fine. I don't use them, but I have read of several here that have. And you'll LOVE that Eco Glow! It's fantastic!

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you are concerned, just set it out in the sun, wind and rain, NOW in anticipation of the chick's arrival. That'd age it a bit, I should think. Sometimes new plastic can be stinky. But then, the chicks will be too, so I guess they'll get the last laugh.

 

[HSerChickLady]

Good! I'll get them as soon as i can and let them air out in the barn for now. If we get some decent days i'll set them outside to get some sun.

 

[Nslangton]

The plastic will be fine, and they are virtually indestructible. They will not dent and last forever!!!

 

[HSerChickLady]

Great!

 

[felidaet]

I used one of the galvanized tanks the first time I had chicks. I did not like it and will never use one again. It was hard to regulate the temperature. Under the heat lamp the metal got hot. Away from the heat lamp the metal was cold.

I built a wood brooder the next year. It was much easier to control the temperature. Another advantage with wood is that I put it together with screws. After I was done with it I took all of the screws out and was able to lean all of the pieces of wood against a wall in the garage and so it took very little space for storage. It has been siting there for two years. I will be put it back together the last day of March this year for a new batch of chicks.

If you build it out of good remember that some wood such as OSB and particle board let off pretty strong fumes for awhile. If you are going to use eiher of these make sure to allow it some time to air out before placing chicks in the brooder. I do not recommend using particle board because it does not hold up well if it gets wet and you WILL have some water spills. I used OSB. Plywood would also work fine. Use inexpensive 2x4 or 2x2 for the corner boards. Don't use pressure treat or ceder - bad fumes for the chicks.

 

[cva34]

I had same problem with Metal tank.Wife had a Carpet runner that would wrap around outside the tank.Wrapped it around outside and used 1 ratchet strap to secure.Picked up a couple foam pads at garage sale ,that are used camping under sleeping bags..Secured on the inside with double sided tape.Thick layer of pine shavings in bottom and your in business...cva34

 

[Debbiedodo]

I have a 100 gallon black rubbber stock tank that I used last year and it worked great. I had 15 chicks in it for 4 weeks. I have had the tub for about 10 years. We use it in the summer for our Autistic son. We fill it with water in a sunny spot, put a cut to fit piece of solor pool cover on the water and it gets nice and warm. Poor man's hot tub. He loves it. I even throw a small clorine tablet in it so he can use it longer before we have to dump and refill. With a good cleaning in between chicks and son I have a duel purpose tub. My husband made a wooden frame with chicken wire and a support for the light to go on top to keep the chickies in and safely support the light. Sorry no pictures.

 

[HSerChickLady]

My brooders will be in my dining room and i'm using EcoGlow Brooders rather than heat lamps. So i'm not too worried about hot and cold spots. Our house is 68-70 degrees so it's not cold in here.

Last year i used a folding pet exercise pen and a heat lamp and it was such a pain to regulate the temp and clean. We couldn't handle the chicks at all either because it was round and they'd just run to the other side where we couldn't reach them the way it was set up. I think the stock tanks will work much better and we can reuse them as pools for the kids this summer and for watering the horse and when we get our cows we can use them then as well. I'm planning on having a plastic baby gate over the top of the tanks to keep the cats out.