Do you have a Rubbermaid Brooder? PICS wanted

[wsdareme]

Ours isn't Rubbermaid, but a Sterilite (cheaper) tote from Walmart.

The mesh insert in the cover is a replacement screen for bbqs from Home Depot and it adds strength to the lid (when you cut out a large section of the lid it gets pretty flexible).

We mounted a thermometer on the inside by drilling a hole and using a couple of nuts, washers, and a bolt, then hanging the thermometer on the head of the bolt.

Find a couple of scrap 2x6s and set your water and feeder up on them. The chicks can reach them, but the raised height keeps them from pooping in them and lessens the number of shavings that get in.

Set the brooder on a card table and you won't have to bend over to take care of your chicks.

Here is a pic:

 

[downstownlady]

We have 13 chicks and we took the sterilite containers and cut out 1 side of each and ducktaped them together. (gotta love the handy man's best friend...LOL). We originally intended to use just one and then when they got a bit bigger move half of them until they were ready to go into the coop. So the top that has the light on it was made to fit on just 1 container. We took the top of the other container and vented it with hardcloth drilling holes into the top around the cut out portion. I am using a 1 gallon waterer which has been a real chore to keep cleaned out...I wish I had gone with the smaller ones, but at this point...why switch. I had a wine holder that you could add these little wooden dowels and expand...but it seemed to make a much better temporary roost system. But as much as those pretty little fuzzy's are growing so fast I don't even think this is going to be big enough! Hope this helps though.

 

[HenPen]

Quote:
This is the same type I make,they work great I have sold about 40 at swaps here in NH....guess we had same idea, even looks like same color zip ties...

 

[NevadaRon]

I used a Rubbermaid for my 10 chicks - 4 Rhode Island Reds, 4 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Black Sex-Links. I didn't use a top. At first my cat was interested only because she heard scratching sounds from the container. But she lost interest right away so I never covered it with anything. Here's a pic:

They outgrew that box rather quickly (it looked like they were going to try to fly right out of it

) so I decided to get them larger quarters - a 100 gallon galvanized water trough. It's 4' long by 2' wide by 2' tall. Here they are in their new home. The cat still isn't interested...

 

[write2caroline]

I started with a smaller brooder and switched them at 2 weeks to a larger one and out they went to the coop at 4 weeks.

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The stick allowed the heat lamp to be raised or lowered for the correct temperature. I used some chicken wire at the top because my cats did want to eat them.
Caroline

 

[ourlittleflock]

Quote:
I have 3 and they are just like #3's post (I don't have any photos of them) - they are just clear so I can see the chicks thru the sides...
heat lamp is clamped on to something outside the wire, but the wire is also heavy enough I wasn't worried about the light falling in by accident.

 

[lilchik]

On the left is brooder with the lid on, on the right the lid is off propped up against wall. I used an old broom handle attached to the side of plastic container to hang my heat lamps, allows for raising light as the chicks get older. I like the clear containers because you can see the chicks. I cut the center of the lid out and drilled holes around the edges, attached the wire with zip ties. I attached the broom stick with clear packing tape, duct tape would work too. Simple, inexpensive, and easy to clean. I prefer using puppy pads or paper towels in the bottom. I clean them twice daily to cut down on the smell, since they are in the spare room in the house. Wood shavings are too smelly for me.

The bigger chick was injured and the brooder worked well for recovery away from other chicks in the outside brooder pen.