BROODER thread! Post pics of your brooders!

[chickadoodles]

When I went to tsc to look at the chicks I did not think I would bring them home that day! But they were so darn cute I had to!
So we got a rabbit cage and all the stuff to use for the baby chicks till we get the coop built. I will have to think of something else to do for the next go around.
I draped some fabric around three sides of the cage to keep the heat in from the heat lamp. And I added a water bottle for rabbits and they are using it very nicely.



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[Brenasun]

wondering if I could use this as a brooder (top) and grow out pen (lower)

opinions please!

http://www.cconlystore.com/RH-58-RH-58.htm

There would be a lot of ifs to making it work. It would work if it was warm enough outside that a draft wouldn't get to the babies out that window on the side. It would work if you make sure the babies couldn't get out the window. And it would work if you could wire it so you could get a heat lamp to them. It's a pretty cool coop design, but I think for a brooder getting a rubbermaid tub with a heat lamp hooked to the top might be safer.

 

[debid]

wondering if I could use this as a brooder (top) and grow out pen (lower)

opinions please!

http://www.cconlystore.com/RH-58-RH-58.htm

It seems expensive to me! Our "almost finished" brooder hut and run was less than $100 to build, hardware cloth included. I'm also not seeing any measurements -- is the ceiling high enough to put in a heat lamp?

 

[silkielover5]

My dad got sick of having chicks in the house so he made me these outdoor brooders, insulated with a plexiglass cover that slides on and a dimmer switch to control the temp. It's been about 30 degrees here and it keeps it at around 80. Each one is 4ft long and 2.5 ft wide

I also use them as breeding pens

 

[MainePoultry]

This is the brooder I whipped together for my 11 Plymouth Rocks and 4 Buffs...

It's 6.5x2.5.... Should be enough room eh? It's under my workbench inside the coop. Just need to cut the rounds above the brooder and net it off for the heat lamp. After they outgrow it I'm planning on rabbits!

 

[KBG204]

Updated brooder

 

[jhyslop]

We used a plastic tote. I cut a portion of the lid and attached wire! Works great and is easy to clean!

 

[imzadi]

Hi there

Thinking of getting 6 less than a week old chicks this weekend, all full sized birds-no bantums...wondering how much ROOM. I have, currently, a SMALL reptile tank (cleaned out and disinfected) with mesh cover that will work...but, for how LONG?

I then have a large trunk (daughter got from military college when she went...prob...3 feet by...18 inches by...18 or so high...that can put them in as they get bigger. BUT...will this trunk last till they can go outside?

I live in Maine...so, it's cold here they will need be inside for a while. Also...we are building a bigger coop for the entire flock (already have 11 birds) in April to May...so, until this new coop is ready...there isn't a place outside to PUT these chickies when they outgrow their inside home. I am thinking of purchasing a small coop (like they have a tractor supply right now) to put them in if need be until the big coop is ready.

So...guess I got a few questions:

1. How long will they be ok in the small tank?
2. Will the big trunk (it's black...does that matter?) be sufficient for them until mid May or so?

Thanks.

 

[HazelCMAS]

Hi there

Thinking of getting 6 less than a week old chicks this weekend, all full sized birds-no bantums...wondering how much ROOM. I have, currently, a SMALL reptile tank (cleaned out and disinfected) with mesh cover that will work...but, for how LONG?

I then have a large trunk (daughter got from military college when she went...prob...3 feet by...18 inches by...18 or so high...that can put them in as they get bigger. BUT...will this trunk last till they can go outside?

I live in Maine...so, it's cold here they will need be inside for a while. Also...we are building a bigger coop for the entire flock (already have 11 birds) in April to May...so, until this new coop is ready...there isn't a place outside to PUT these chickies when they outgrow their inside home. I am thinking of purchasing a small coop (like they have a tractor supply right now) to put them in if need be until the big coop is ready.

So...guess I got a few questions:

1. How long will they be ok in the small tank?
2. Will the big trunk (it's black...does that matter?) be sufficient for them until mid May or so?

Thanks.

1. No
2. 3 feet by 18 inches might last you til they are about 6 weeks or so, so the trunk might work. You'd definitely have to fashion a cover for the top so they don't escape. I recently had eleven(11), 6 week old chicks in a 2x4 foot brooder that is 30" tall with a 2' roost attached to the wall of it. They outgrew it by about week 4 but we made do for the 2 weeks it took to finish up the coop.
Good Luck! I hope the trunk works for you.

 

[KBHatchery]

The large tub brooder is temp. for the white leghorns and
rhode island reds. they cant jump out yet but they are getting
close.wood top acts as a door to look inside, it can be removed
because its not bolted down.


The small tub is for the silkie chicks. because they are smaller
than your average chicken we didnt have to worry about them
getting out of their brooder for a while. now they are starting
to learn to flap their little wings n jump. haha

The large tub had a brooding lamp with a blue light to reduce
pecking among the chicks. An orange light on the back of
the lamp cuts on and off to show when its currently heating up
or if its off and at the right temperature. Small tub is heated by
a basic brooding lamp with red bulb. helps the little silkies stay
very warm and cozy.