DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[Beekissed]

Someone suggested I post this here, so here it goes:

This is the frame/guts of my chick brooder formed out of 2x2 welded wire, Gorilla tape edges to hide/cover sharp edges, a heating pad and a few bungee cords. This will likely be covered by a thin, stretchy fleece pillow case of mine that fits over it nicely to protect the pad from getting soiled and the any heat in the wires from getting too hot on a chick. It can be adjusted to any height just by bending it differently, it's sturdy and will not collapse under the weight of chicks and it can be bent into any shape one needs. The heating pad is from Walmart, Sunbeam brand, and stays on continuously if needed and has 6 settings. The number 3 setting keeps the mat at a steady 98-100 degrees. This heating pad is fully machine washable but I plan to protect it with the pillow case just so the bedding and poop won't get ingrained into it and to also cover the wire.





This is a cushioned pillow with a sleeve in it that I had sewn to slip over the frame but I'll only use it if the temps get really gritty out there in the open air coop brooder. It's fleece and has a quilted layer of feathers inside of it. It's velcros closed so the heating pad can't slip out.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Someone suggested I post this here, so here it goes: This is the frame/guts of my chick brooder formed out of 2x2 welded wire, Gorilla tape edges to hide/cover sharp edges, a heating pad and a few bungee cords. This will likely be covered by a thin, stretchy fleece pillow case of mine that fits over it nicely to protect the pad from getting soiled and the any heat in the wires from getting too hot on a chick. It can be adjusted to any height just by bending it differently, it's sturdy and will not collapse under the weight of chicks and it can be bent into any shape one needs. The heating pad is from Walmart, Sunbeam brand, and stays on continuously if needed and has 6 settings. The number 3 setting keeps the mat at a steady 98-100 degrees. This heating pad is fully machine washable but I plan to protect it with the pillow case just so the bedding and poop won't get ingrained into it and to also cover the wire. This is a cushioned pillow with a sleeve in it that I had sewn to slip over the frame but I'll only use it if the temps get really gritty out there in the open air coop brooder. It's fleece and has a quilted layer of feathers inside of it. It's velcros closed so the heating pad can't slip out.

The first thought that comes to mind is that the chicks can't gat away from the heat. With a brooder lamp they can huddle under it or move away from it. The lamps are not expensive. You said the brooder is outside. Where do you live? Usually brooders are inside or enclosed area. Mine was on the back porch. Drafts are fatal to chicks. Mine was a corregated box with a lamp above it and a towel over a part of it away from the lamp allowing the chicks to be under the lamp or not. Why did you do it this way? I'm not an expert and you may know more than I do about why this is good.

 

[kmollyhughes]

The first thought that comes to mind is that the chicks can't gat away from the heat. With a brooder lamp they can huddle under it or move away from it. The lamps are not expensive. You said the brooder is outside. Where do you live? Usually brooders are inside or enclosed area. Mine was on the back porch. Drafts are fatal to chicks. Mine was a corregated box with a lamp above it and a towel over a part of it away from the lamp allowing the chicks to be under the lamp or not. Why did you do it this way? I'm not an expert and you may know more than I do about why this is good.

You would put this in the brooder box on one side and the chicks could come and go from underneath as they needed. Just like a real broody. Very good design, and MUCH cheaper than a name brand brooder heater. These heaters are actually a lot better for chicks then lights because its more natural and simulates a real hen. Chicks grow and feather out faster with hens and brooder heaters than with heat lamps.

 

[kmollyhughes]

Someone suggested I post this here, so here it goes: This is the frame/guts of my chick brooder formed out of 2x2 welded wire, Gorilla tape edges to hide/cover sharp edges, a heating pad and a few bungee cords. This will likely be covered by a thin, stretchy fleece pillow case of mine that fits over it nicely to protect the pad from getting soiled and the any heat in the wires from getting too hot on a chick. It can be adjusted to any height just by bending it differently, it's sturdy and will not collapse under the weight of chicks and it can be bent into any shape one needs. The heating pad is from Walmart, Sunbeam brand, and stays on continuously if needed and has 6 settings. The number 3 setting keeps the mat at a steady 98-100 degrees. This heating pad is fully machine washable but I plan to protect it with the pillow case just so the bedding and poop won't get ingrained into it and to also cover the wire. This is a cushioned pillow with a sleeve in it that I had sewn to slip over the frame but I'll only use it if the temps get really gritty out there in the open air coop brooder. It's fleece and has a quilted layer of feathers inside of it. It's velcros closed so the heating pad can't slip out.

Great idea! I really didn't want to have to buy another brinsea heater. Pocket gouger.

 

[Trefoil]

Does the spice really work?

I tried brewer's yeast with my dog and it didn't work for fleas. It did give her a gorgeous shiny coat though so I still give it to her. She loves the pills too.

Cayenne pepper is supposed to help, but will not keep or get them worm free. I also tried brewers yeast on my dog and it didn't work, but its very good for ducks,geese,& even chickens.

 

[ozexpat]

Cayenne pepper is supposed to help, but will not keep or get them worm free. I also tried brewers yeast on my dog and it didn't work, but its very good for ducks,geese,& even chickens.

a couple of drops of ivermectin pour on will do the job, guaranteed

 

[perchie.girl]

Someone suggested I post this here, so here it goes:

This is the frame/guts of my chick brooder formed out of 2x2 welded wire, Gorilla tape edges to hide/cover sharp edges, a heating pad and a few bungee cords. This will likely be covered by a thin, stretchy fleece pillow case of mine that fits over it nicely to protect the pad from getting soiled and the any heat in the wires from getting too hot on a chick. It can be adjusted to any height just by bending it differently, it's sturdy and will not collapse under the weight of chicks and it can be bent into any shape one needs. The heating pad is from Walmart, Sunbeam brand, and stays on continuously if needed and has 6 settings. The number 3 setting keeps the mat at a steady 98-100 degrees. This heating pad is fully machine washable but I plan to protect it with the pillow case just so the bedding and poop won't get ingrained into it and to also cover the wire.





This is a cushioned pillow with a sleeve in it that I had sewn to slip over the frame but I'll only use it if the temps get really gritty out there in the open air coop brooder. It's fleece and has a quilted layer of feathers inside of it. It's velcros closed so the heating pad can't slip out.

excellent idea Bee. Though bending it higher later will mean the width will get narrower. Probably wont matter because as they grow height wise they will need less heat.

Also heat rises so you will need to lay a thermometer on the brooder floor to see how warm it actually gets.

deb

 

[Penny Hen]

I was at work today and had a brilliant brainstorm. I am working at a grocery chain in the produce department and was putting up apples. The loose apples come in boxes and have shaped trays that the apples rest in. Some of them are foam and other brands use paper pulp like paper eggcartons are made from. I had the vision of using a foam one in my Chestobator and putting a paper one on top of it when it came to lockdown. This way (if I wasn't filling the box to the gills) the little cups would hold the chicks/eggs and the paperpulp would soak up the wetness and the foam tray would protect the incubator from getting dirty.

 

[Penny Hen]

Someone suggested I post this here, so here it goes:

This is the frame/guts of my chick brooder formed out of 2x2 welded wire, Gorilla tape edges to hide/cover sharp edges, a heating pad and a few bungee cords. This will likely be covered by a thin, stretchy fleece pillow case of mine that fits over it nicely to protect the pad from getting soiled and the any heat in the wires from getting too hot on a chick. It can be adjusted to any height just by bending it differently, it's sturdy and will not collapse under the weight of chicks and it can be bent into any shape one needs. The heating pad is from Walmart, Sunbeam brand, and stays on continuously if needed and has 6 settings. The number 3 setting keeps the mat at a steady 98-100 degrees. This heating pad is fully machine washable but I plan to protect it with the pillow case just so the bedding and poop won't get ingrained into it and to also cover the wire.





This is a cushioned pillow with a sleeve in it that I had sewn to slip over the frame but I'll only use it if the temps get really gritty out there in the open air coop brooder. It's fleece and has a quilted layer of feathers inside of it. It's velcros closed so the heating pad can't slip out.

Very cool. I have been thinking about something similar to put in a nest box in the winter so the eggs won't chill until I collect them.

 

[Beekissed]

The first thought that comes to mind is that the chicks can't gat away from the heat. With a brooder lamp they can huddle under it or move away from it. The lamps are not expensive. You said the brooder is outside. Where do you live? Usually brooders are inside or enclosed area. Mine was on the back porch. Drafts are fatal to chicks. Mine was a corregated box with a lamp above it and a towel over a part of it away from the lamp allowing the chicks to be under the lamp or not. Why did you do it this way? I'm not an expert and you may know more than I do about why this is good.

You would put this in the brooder box on one side and the chicks could come and go from underneath as they needed. Just like a real broody. Very good design, and MUCH cheaper than a name brand brooder heater. These heaters are actually a lot better for chicks then lights because its more natural and simulates a real hen. Chicks grow and feather out faster with hens and brooder heaters than with heat lamps.

What SHE said.

This video may help folks understand how this heating pad will be utilized and just how many "drafts" they can stand. I usually put mine out on free range by 2 wks...

This lady does her chicks much like I do: