Brooder set up questions, I've forgotten

[Justicedog]

It's new chick time, but it's been 6 years, so I've forgotten.

I'm getting 3-5 chicks soon.

Here's my brooder - It will have a red heat lamp hanging in it. It will be in the garage.

Do you think this is too big for the beginning? I'm thinking I should use a plastic bin for the first couple weeks and keep them inside until they grow out of it, then move them.

I've also forgotten about what to use as bedding. I think I'd always used the fine pine shavings, but is there a reason to not just use the regular sized shavings?

or

And finally, how much medicated chick crumbles do I need? How long are they supposed to be on the medicated feed until you switch over to non-medicated.

5, 25 or 50 pounds

Thanks in advance.

 

[Cecisflock]

It's new chick time, but it's been 6 years, so I've forgotten.

I'm getting 3-5 chicks soon.

Here's my brooder - It will have a red heat lamp hanging in it. It will be in the garage.
View attachment 2569265View attachment 2569263


Do you think this is too big for the beginning? I'm thinking I should use a plastic bin for the first couple weeks and keep them inside until they grow out of it, then move them.

I've also forgotten about what to use as bedding. I think I'd always used the fine pine shavings, but is there a reason to not just use the regular sized shavings?


View attachment 2569284 or View attachment 2569290


And finally, how much medicated chick crumbles do I need? How long are they supposed to be on the medicated feed until you switch over to non-medicated.

5, 25 or 50 pounds

Thanks in advance.

You always wanna use regular shavings, they’re on medicated feed until they start laying, and that doesn’t seem too big

 

[Cecisflock]

You always wanna use regular shavings, they’re on medicated feed until they start laying, and that doesn’t seem too big

but I don’t like medicated feed so I just never gave it to them I just use unmedicated chick starter in the very very beginning

 

[pozees2]

I have always started them on paper towels in a plastic brooder in the house so I can keep an eye on them, make sure everyone is eating and drinking, check for pasty butt. After a week or two they go out to a pen in the shed with fine shavings and a heat plate, I don't like using the heat lamp anywhere but in the house where I can keep a close eye on it. I keep them on starter or some other 20% protein formulation until right before they start laying, which of course is a guess but you can pick up clues from their behavior or just know, these are 6 months old, they are going to start laying any time now. I still alternate between a 20% and a layer feed, offer oyster shell on the size free choice.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The brooder size should be fine, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't bring chicks into the house any longer but it's up to you if it makes you feel nervous to have them in the garage from the start.

Use the large flake shavings, as they're more likely to eat small flakes.

I don't use medicated feed so I'd do whatever the package instructions say. I also handle starter differently... for a small group of chicks like this I'd get 10-15 lbs of starter and when it's gone, they're on grower from that point on.