BROODER thread! Post pics of your brooders!

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Others who have made their own brooders inspired me to do the same for my banties.

I started them in a small rabbit cage, then used a galvanized waterer but wanted to provide more room.

I had free pallets I had gotten last year off Craigslist, so used one as the base then cut left over 1/2" plywood to fit the pallet. Used 2 x 3's in the corners to screw the plywood sides to.

Added wood pellets for bedding and I've got myself a banty brooder and still have all my fingers. (that big saw scares me).

Still need to make a top with hardware cloth maybe. Baby gate is working fine.

My new homemade banty brooder - love the wood pellets as bedding. Smells good and dries out the poo within minutes. Doesn't get in the food or water.

Old brooder - it was ok but wanted more room. Hated the peat moss as bedding. Gets kicked up in the food and water. Chicks LOVE to take dust baths in it though

 

[sloallie10]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

Others who have made their own brooders inspired me to do the same for my banties.

I started them in a small rabbit cage, then used a galvanized waterer but wanted to provide more room.

I had free pallets I had gotten last year off Craigslist, so used one as the base then cut left over 1/2" plywood to fit the pallet. Used 2 x 3's in the corners to screw the plywood sides to.

Added wood pellets for bedding and I've got myself a banty brooder and still have all my fingers. (that big saw scares me).

Still need to make a top with hardware cloth maybe. Baby gate is working fine.

My new homemade banty brooder - love the wood pellets as bedding. Smells good and dries out the poo within minutes. Doesn't get in the food or water.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_banty_brooder.jpg

Old brooder - it was ok but wanted more room. Hated the peat moss as bedding. Gets kicked up in the food and water. Chicks LOVE to take dust baths in it though
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_brooder_006.jpg

what are wood pellets?​

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

Good job on your brooder, bet your chicks like it!!!

 

[Settler'sDreamFarm]

Here is my brooder, I have three of them actually...., they are all the same:

 

[SportTees]

Quote:
Nice brooder

 

[Im4dabirds]

Nice brooder SettlersDream.

 

[mediazeal]

I started the chicks out in a big tupperware bin that was 20" wide by 36" long and 18" high. I soon had to split the 12 chicks up between 2 big bins as they outgrew it and this weekend I had to make them a bigger one yet til they can go out to their new coop in 3 more weeks.

This one is made of 2 uhaul wardrobe boxes slide together (82" long 25" wide, 24" high) and taped, the 'top' section as it is lying on its side. Then I took some scrap lumber and screwed together two quick frames and staple gunned hardware cloth to it to be the tops (and since it is hardware cloth I can put the warming lamp right on ie (have a 100 watt bulb in now)

Put plastic trash bags inside along the bottom and then sandwiched that in with a layer of cardboard that I cut out from the top, then the bedding/shavings on top fo the cardboard.

They squawked a ton when I put them in (oh no, new space, will we die from it?). I had been using wood pellets as bedding in their first brooder. This was so big I used the wood shavings, but it is really dusty with those and they started digging like crazy so I added a layer of the wood pellets on top to keep it down. I'll get more on my next feedstore trip.

Since they were in separate brooders for awhile I have a 'window' of hardware cloth between them right now and will try them together in a few days.

They now love this space with all the new room. They can even fly a little in it.

 

[Garden Gal]

I'm not sure if this will work or not, but if so, this is our new brooder! My DH helped me yesterday and I'm thrilled with the results! It is 2' x 5' (inside dimensions) and hopefully will house my first incubation attempt which is due on 5/15.

(YEAH!! It worked!!)

I had to laugh when looking back at the photo and seeing the leaf blower hanging on the wall... I should have said "blower ready for if they get too warm or too loug"!! LOL!

 

[SimplyForties]

That's a nice one, Garden Gal. I just got mine ready tonight (chicks should be here next week). I decided to go with big cardboard boxes as I don't think I'll be doing this again (famous last words!) so don't really need anything more permanent.

Your's looks just like a guinea pig pen we had (was an old rabbit home) years ago, which I'd forgotten all about and which would work perfectly. I just texted my son to ask his dad whatever became of it. It's probably long gone but you never know. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Momtomtse]

Oh, I am so excited! All these brooders are so great and the chicks are so adorable! We're getting our first 6 girls June 5, so I'm getting everything ready at last.

I'll post 'em when I get 'em! Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful ideas.... my brain is swimming!