Ended Contest #2 Creative Brooder- 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[pinusresinosa]

Finally made our brooder out of an old shower stall that was left here in the basement when we bought this house. Working great!













We were going to save the bottom of the shower stall as a wall, but we couldn't get that part to come apart, the screws holding it together were so corroded that they wouldn't budge (and we had to take the shower stall apart to get it upstairs). So, we got out the reciprocating saw and cut off the base, and my husband had to refashion a super simple way to attach the end on that side with wood, but the other side he just screwed the side wood into the existing shower topper plastic. The side wood is just white laminated wood panel. I cleaned it out, took a whole bag of litter from TSC to fill the bottom. We might need bigger and better waterer/feeders. I did tape over some holes where the shower nobs were and stuff so chicks couldn't get their whole heads through and stuck in those.

After it's done brooding for the season, the whole thing will easily move outside as it's super light. The shavings will get composted, and this will get hosed out/disinfected, then stored in the shed.

This is now a couple weeks into using this brooder and it's still working wonderfully for our growing chicks. One of the best re-purposes we've ever done!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Finally made our brooder out of an old shower stall that was left here in the basement when we bought this house. Working great!





We were going to save the bottom of the shower stall as a wall, but we couldn't get that part to come apart, the screws holding it together were so corroded that they wouldn't budge (and we had to take the shower stall apart to get it upstairs). So, we got out the reciprocating saw and cut off the base, and my husband had to refashion a super simple way to attach the end on that side with wood, but the other side he just screwed the side wood into the existing shower topper plastic. The side wood is just white laminated wood panel. I cleaned it out, took a whole bag of litter from TSC to fill the bottom. We might need bigger and better waterer/feeders. I did tape over some holes where the shower nobs were and stuff so chicks couldn't get their whole heads through and stuck in those.

I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS IMAGE!! Smart Girl! Fire prevention is always first and foremost! very good use of something trashed!!

 

[lsmith]

Finally made our brooder out of an old shower stall that was left here in the basement when we bought this house. Working great! We were going to save the bottom of the shower stall as a wall, but we couldn't get that part to come apart, the screws holding it together were so corroded that they wouldn't budge (and we had to take the shower stall apart to get it upstairs). So, we got out the reciprocating saw and cut off the base, and my husband had to refashion a super simple way to attach the end on that side with wood, but the other side he just screwed the side wood into the existing shower topper plastic. The side wood is just white laminated wood panel. I cleaned it out, took a whole bag of litter from TSC to fill the bottom. We might need bigger and better waterer/feeders. I did tape over some holes where the shower nobs were and stuff so chicks couldn't get their whole heads through and stuck in those.

Hi-I'm new here and I just wondered what the greenery was in with the chicks and how old they are? I want to add some for mine.

 

[lsmith]

These are my first chickens- but here is my little set up. I'm totally jealous of your gorgeous brooders.

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[cindynkidsd]

These are my first chickens- but here is my little set up. I'm totally jealous of your gorgeous brooders.

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As long as the chicks are healthy and happy, it doesn't matter what it looks like!!

 

[Penny Hen]

These are my first chickens- but here is my little set up. I'm totally jealous of your gorgeous brooders.

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Not a criticism but a word of caution. Your light looks like it is precarious. Like a small bump would knock it over. I used one of these 3 years ago to create a warm zone for he barn cats on my front porch. Came out one morning to find that they had knocked it down and the hot bulb despite the safety cage (it had been knocked askew) had BURNED A 9 INCH HOLE through the inch thick boards on my porch. It is a wonder that the whole house didn't go up!

 

[lsmith]

Oh my! Thanks for the advice. I made the hubby move it and secure it to the bed next to it.

 

[chicken pickin]

Oh my! Thanks for the advice. I made the hubby move it and secure it to the bed next to it.

Im not too sure I dont think I would want it that close to my bed(comforter) either. Those bulbs generate a lot of heat. That would make me nervous.

look at what my bulb did the other day to the plastic tote I have some chicks in currently.



Also another tip, they will be able to fly out of that box at about 1.5-2weeks old. You might need to get a bigger higher sided box or you can buy a screen from home depot fur under $10 at homedepot to place over the top like this one that I use. It slides to adjust size

 

[alliejean]

I made our brooder out of an old bathroom vanity that we removed when we bought our house. The chicks seem very happy in
there It doesnt really show in the photos, but there is a hinged chick door on the right side. When they are a bit bigger I plan to push it up against our large wire dog crate and open that door to give them more room.

 

[lsmith]

Im not too sure I dont think I would want it that close to my bed(comforter) either. Those bulbs generate a lot of heat. That would make me nervous.

look at what my bulb did the other day to the plastic tote I have some chicks in currently.



Also another tip, they will be able to fly out of that box at about 1.5-2weeks old. You might need to get a bigger higher sided box or you can buy a screen from home depot fur under $10 at homedepot to place over the top like this one that I use. It slides to adjust size