Brooder

[mml373]

Hi. I am a newbie to all this, just becoming familiar with the site, and figured I'd ask since I have a box of sixteen day old chicks coming in a couple weeks.

Unfortunately, my chicken supplier is out of stock for brooder kits that have everything one needs to start baby chicks. What do I really need, bare minimum, to start these gals and guy off right? My list, I think:

1. a large box or large feed bin
2. bedding (what do you recommend?)
3. a heat lamp, which I plan to mount in a way that it cannot fall into the box and create a fire hazard

What do I need to feed them?
Are there any pre-built coop kits that are affordable? I'd rather not build from scratch, but will if I need to.


Thanks in advance for helpful replies.

 

[Bre_tree]

Hi, pine shavings are what we use for our chicks and it seems to work great, we add a little twice a day and then clean it out when it gets about 4-6” deep. There should be a variety of different chick starters at a local feed store, choose one that suits your preferences. Also it may be wise to buy several different sized waterers, and upgrade as they get bigger and start perching/knocking things over. Also you might want to be mindful of the feeders you choose as some encourage more waste than others/can be knocked over as the chicks get older.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You need food and water. The recommended feed is a Chick Starter, maybe 18% to 20% protein. The calcium content needs to be closer to 1% than 4%, the 4% is for laying hens. It doesn't mater that much what the feed is called as long as the protein and calcium is right. And you want crumbles or mash instead of pellets. Pellets are too big for day old chicks to eat unless you chop them up in a blender.

I use fresh clean water. Other people add different things but those are typically a personal preference instead of a requirement. The caveat to that is that if your chicks are late or weak, a booster in the first water can be a big benefit. They sell stuff at the feed store for that but when needed I just mix in a little sugar with the water.

Your brooder needs to provide weather protection. If it is in your house, you don't need much. If you are brooding out of doors you mainly want to keep them dry and out of a direct wind.

Your brooder needs to provide predator protection. Could be any predator outside. In your house that might be a dog, cat, or kid.

You need heat. I also use a really secure heat lamp. The idea is not to warm up the entire brooder. The idea is have one spot warm enough for then in the coldest conditions and a spot cool enough in the warmest conditions. That's pretty easy to manage in the house if it is climate controlled. Outside with the wild temperature swings that can be more challenging. My brooder is in the coop. Some mornings I might find ice in the far end but the area with the heat is toasty. And when it really warms up the chicks go to the cool side.

The brooder needs to stay dry. A wet brooder is a disease waiting to happen plus it can stink. It can get wet from water spilling or if their poop builds up so thick it never dries out. My brooder in the coop has a wire bottom, it is easy to keep dry and clean. That probably would not work really well in your house.

I think that is the basics. Others will tell you that you NEED other things. I don't have those other things or use them so I don't necessarily consider them a need. More of a personal preference.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Absolute basics are:
- the brooder, which can be anything from a large cardboard box, a bathtub, a wood bin, etc. Needs to have adequate ventilation and a lid, to prevent escapes.
- chick appropriate feed (usually labeled starter) and water, plus containers for them. I use a basic mason jar waterer and a mason jar feeder, without the jar (yes I'm that cheap).
- a heat source, which can be a heat lamp, a purchased heat plate, or a DIY heating pad.
- litter, which can be anything such as wood shavings, paper towels, dog pee pads. Avoid cedar and avoid anything slippery such as newspaper.

 

[mml373]

Thanks, all, for your replies. Gives me a good idea of what I need. Hopefully will find everything at my local farm store...

 

[The Inspired Mom]

You need food and water. The recommended feed is a Chick Starter, maybe 18% to 20% protein. The calcium content needs to be closer to 1% than 4%, the 4% is for laying hens. It doesn't mater that much what the feed is called as long as the protein and calcium is right. And you want crumbles or mash instead of pellets. Pellets are too big for day old chicks to eat unless you chop them up in a blender.

I use fresh clean water. Other people add different things but those are typically a personal preference instead of a requirement. The caveat to that is that if your chicks are late or weak, a booster in the first water can be a big benefit. They sell stuff at the feed store for that but when needed I just mix in a little sugar with the water.

Your brooder needs to provide weather protection. If it is in your house, you don't need much. If you are brooding out of doors you mainly want to keep them dry and out of a direct wind.

Your brooder needs to provide predator protection. Could be any predator outside. In your house that might be a dog, cat, or kid.

You need heat. I also use a really secure heat lamp. The idea is not to warm up the entire brooder. The idea is have one spot warm enough for then in the coldest conditions and a spot cool enough in the warmest conditions. That's pretty easy to manage in the house if it is climate controlled. Outside with the wild temperature swings that can be more challenging. My brooder is in the coop. Some mornings I might find ice in the far end but the area with the heat is toasty. And when it really warms up the chicks go to the cool side.

The brooder needs to stay dry. A wet brooder is a disease waiting to happen plus it can stink. It can get wet from water spilling or if their poop builds up so thick it never dries out. My brooder in the coop has a wire bottom, it is easy to keep dry and clean. That probably would not work really well in your house.

I think that is the basics. Others will tell you that you NEED other things. I don't have those other things or use them so I don't necessarily consider them a need. More of a personal preference.

Thanks for taking time to post all of this I love the idea of how you use your coop as a brooder!!

 

[The Inspired Mom]

Hi. I am a newbie to all this, just becoming familiar with the site, and figured I'd ask since I have a box of sixteen day old chicks coming in a couple weeks.

Unfortunately, my chicken supplier is out of stock for brooder kits that have everything one needs to start baby chicks. What do I really need, bare minimum, to start these gals and guy off right? My list, I think:

1. a large box or large feed bin
2. bedding (what do you recommend?)
3. a heat lamp, which I plan to mount in a way that it cannot fall into the box and create a fire hazard

What do I need to feed them?
Are there any pre-built coop kits that are affordable? I'd rather not build from scratch, but will if I need to.


Thanks in advance for helpful replies.

Hi there, Im a newbie too and actually we just finished building the hen house of our coop (took 10 days) I posted pics under my name not sure how to find it at moment but it’s been a crazy couple weeks but loving our 19 baby chicks!

Keeping the brooder simple but like others stated water, starter feed & a couple little chick feeders &. Waterer container, “Sav a chick “ to put in their water is a good idea but my local Tractor supply was all sold out so I added chicken probiotic to their water the first couple times bc they are thirsty and can be weak from being Day old chicks traveling to your home.

One thing to watch for is pasty butt, sadly I had one baby chick that died but she came a little wobbly & weak to begin with and then she got the pasty bum issue....I tried to clean it but it was too late she died a bit later. So I had 2 other baby chicks that had it and thankfully when I cleaned them up they actually fluffed their feathers and have been fine since.

Dip each baby chick beak in water quickly and very gently, I did this with each and they immediately drank up

My baby chicks love their necks rubbed . I talk to them & say “chick chick” and they coming running to me. It’s SO cute!!! My chicks are 1 week old & 2 week olds.

They love to play. We put a tiny roost bar my teens made and they absolutely love it.


Keep your food and water up on a piece of wood like 2x4 cut small so that they don’t soil it as easily. Our baby chicks love playing with plastic Easter eggs. Lol. My daughter is 9 almost 10 and she puts some food in in it and they peck at it and it breaks open.

Let me peck your hand with feed or Just place your hand in brooder often and talk to them. When they sleep that first week they look dead , it’s normal and cute now that I know they aren’t dying . Tonight one had its head just hanging over the roost bar we made (tiny one) and we woke her up and she was fine. They crack me up!!!!
Have fun on your new journey