DIY 0$ outdoor brooder. Any critiques?

[Velmas]

Hello! Today i am here not to ask questions, but finally present something to this community! I have put together an outdoor brooder setup for my pair of Pekins today, which are approximately 4.5 and 3.5 weeks old. I have been stuck with the problem of needing a larger brooder setup in my household, and i have very little extra space and could not feasibly create an environment for the ducks that was indoors, but also comfortable and large enough for them without being an issue for all 7 humans that live here. So, i settled on an outdoor brooder on my patio.

I essentially just repurposed an old dog house i had built some 7 odd years ago, which actually ended up never being used by any animal other than creepie crawlies like black widows. Its made from 1/2 inch plywood, a 2x4 frame and deck screws. I took then screws out of the top piece of plywood in order to have a removable ceiling, but just kept the waterproofing tarp in place ontop. The inside never gets wet(tons of spiders were living in the old blanket i had stuffed in there for the dog that was meant to use it 7 years ago) and it stays at a nice and toasty 85 degrees on the hot end and 70 degrees by the opening. I used an old piece of plywood to block most of the doorway then placed a grate from a small patio firepit we never used since i built an inground yardpit and fire barrel. The grate also keeps any neighborhood cats out, which will really be the only predator that can get them.

So, what do you guys think of this? How can it be improved, and what age will i need to move on to something bigger, or can this be used throughout their lifetime? (with water and foodbowl relocated of course) I plan on creating an actual door for the front and hinging the top here soon to make it a little less makeshift. Im really hoping that this setup will be adequate for them at this age, and im willing to do anything to make it suitable as an indoor setup will be intense to get together

Thank you for reading and any advice given!

 

[Ratchnick]

Looks good to me, your temp might be a little high. Here is what holderreads recomends.

The correct brooding temperature is 90-92° F the first 3 days and 85-90° F for days 4 to 7. Thereafter, drop the brooding temperature approximately 5° F per week.

 

[Velmas]

Looks good to me, your temp might be a little high. Here is what holderreads recomends.

The correct brooding temperature is 90-92° F the first 3 days and 85-90° F for days 4 to 7. Thereafter, drop the brooding temperature approximately 5° F per week.

I have a lower wattage bulb i can put on tomorrow to help remedy that. The wind picked up a bit and its blowing pretty mucj straight into the house so its a bit cooler at the door at about 65 degrees and directly under the lamp it is 78 at the moment. Ive got a 200w on now and in the morning ill throw on the 100w to see what its like for them.

 

[Dougdilman]

Only issue ide worry about is raccoons. Baby animal sounds are attractive to predators

ive had raccoons pull chickens through wire fence peice by peice

 

[Velmas]

Only issue ide worry about is raccoons. Baby animal sounds are attractive to predators

ive had raccoons pull chickens through wire fence peice by peice

I thought about this being an issue, but i have never seen a raccoon in my neighborhood and have been told many people that live in my community shoot them if they catch them on the porch/in the garbage. Hopefully one doesn't come and get my babies but i think chances are fairly slim considering we also have a pitbull in the yard at all times. This will be a complete non issue when i get the door solution set up.

 

[Dougdilman]

 

[Velmas]

Having a pitbull really helps with yard pest issues lol. She loves cats for the most part but keeps a couple cats that bully our cats away from our yard. She sees this one cat with a blue collar that likes to fight our male off of his food and bolts right after him. Up and over the fence he goes lol

 

[Isaac 0]

I thought about this being an issue, but i have never seen a raccoon in my neighborhood and have been told many people that live in my community shoot them if they catch them on the porch/in the garbage. Hopefully one doesn't come and get my babies but i think chances are fairly slim considering we also have a pitbull in the yard at all times. This will be a complete non issue when i get the door solution set up.

Raccoons are everywhere, I wouldn't trust on a dog to keep my ducklings safe, he could easily get in there and snatch one out

 

[Ratchnick]

I can vouch for the effectiveness of having a dog for predator control.

 

[Velmas]

Raccoons are everywhere, I wouldn't trust on a dog to keep my ducklings safe, he could easily get in there and snatch one out

The dog is trained to assist in hunting hogs. Coons are sneaky little guys, but they would have to make noise to move the grate which would alert the dog. I do appreciate the concern though. I'm hoping that if a raccoon does come up the dog will do her job but if she can't hopefully any noise will wake me and ill deal with it. The brooder is under a foot away from me while sleeping through a window.

Honestly the only predator I'm worried about is hawks and cats. Especially the cats. We have quite a few feral strays but they generally don't come near our cove because everyone has barking dogs. However some people nearby have outdoor pet cats that are kind of assholes and i wouldn't put it past them to disturb the babies.