Brooder too small

[RebelChief]

I think you'll be just fine. Be sure to post pics of your chicks!

I will....my husband is ready to choke me. At first I was only going to have 2, then 4 and now 8. LOL He acts like he's the one home all day taking care of them.

 

[ValerieJ]

so I could set up the panels to give them a bigger space as they grow.

This is what I do. Start small and move them to larger spaces as needed. I don't move them out until they are about 6 weeks. We all have a different level of comfort with that timing. It rains a lot here, so I want to be sure they have all their feathers first.

 

[RebelChief]

This is what I do. Start small and move them to larger spaces as needed. I don't move them out until they are about 6 weeks. We all have a different level of comfort with that timing. It rains a lot here, so I want to be sure they have all their feathers first.

I'm in south south Texas and the weather goes from 80+ down to 30's at any given time depending on if there's a cold front. There can be rain...so far we've had a few torrential rainfalls...but for the most part our winter seems to be pretty moderate. I am prepared for all occasions.

 

[RoosterML]

Looks like a pretty nice setup to me.
As far as your husband goes tell him he can have 6 dinners and then you’ll be down to your original 2. See a positive to every negative.

 

[RebelChief]

He would have to butcher and that's not happening (this is a guy that will take a mouse caught in a trap a mile from the house to let it go). He's loving giving me a hard time. Since I'm home all day (now retired) he doesn't care....as long as he doesn't have to come home from work and do anything other than relax. Yep...he's spoiled.

Looks like a pretty nice setup to me.
As far as your husband goes tell him he can have 6 dinners and then you’ll be down to your original 2. See a positive to every negative.

 

[RebelChief]

Ok so I have the warmer plate suspended from a garden hook that is attached into a stud with very long wood screws. I plan to get some braces to put across the top just to be safe. I am testing it now to see if it's in the right place to get the right temp. For newborn chicks is there a minimum number of inches that I should have it from the bottom so they can get under there without getting hurt? Also, I am assuming it's ok to put the paper towels under the warmer as well for the first week?

 

[ValerieJ]

I don't think the heater you have gets hot to the touch, does it? If not, paper towels should be fine. The chicks will let you know if they have the right amount of heat. If they are too hot they'll be quite noisy complaining about it. They'll be holding their wings out to the side a bit, and may be panting. If they are too cold, they will be huddled up in the corner together trying to stay warm. But they do sleep a lot, and they pile up under the heat lamp for that too. But if you were to disturb them they would be up and running around in an instant.

 

[SueT]

View attachment 1962350 View attachment 1962351

Ok so I have the warmer plate suspended from a garden hook that is attached into a stud with very long wood screws. I plan to get some braces to put across the top just to be safe. I am testing it now to see if it's in the right place to get the right temp. For newborn chicks is there a minimum number of inches that I should have it from the bottom so they can get under there without getting hurt? Also, I am assuming it's ok to put the paper towels under the warmer as well for the first week?

As long as they can get under AND the temp is right. This is the ceramic heat emitter, and the height I needed at first. I keep the thermometer right there to monitor it for the first week or so. If they move away from it, they are too warm. If they won't come out, they may be too cold.
I'd say paper towel just for a couple of days. I actually don't use paper towels, just put them on shavings....

 

[RebelChief]

I don't think the heater you have gets hot to the touch, does it? If not, paper towels should be fine. The chicks will let you know if they have the right amount of heat. If they are too hot they'll be quite noisy complaining about it. They'll be holding their wings out to the side a bit, and may be panting. If they are too cold, they will be huddled up in the corner together trying to stay warm. But they do sleep a lot, and they pile up under the heat lamp for that too. But if you were to disturb them they would be up and running around in an instant.

It's on now and I touched it...it gets warm but not burning hot to my hand.

 

[RebelChief]

As long as they can get under AND the temp is right. This is the ceramic heat emitter, and the height I needed at first. I keep the thermometer right there to monitor it for the first week or so. If they move away from it, they are too warm. If they won't come out, they may be too cold.
I'd say paper towel just for a couple of days. I actually don't use paper towels, just put them on shavings....
View attachment 1962359

I think I need to move it up a bit. I stuck an outdoor thermometer under it (all I have at the moment) and it was over 100.