Do you think this will be ok as a brooder?

[Catalina]

I started with a plastic bin that size.

It worked for about 2 weeks. Then it was way too cramped. Chicks have a lot of energy as they grow, like small children. They run, jump, try to fly, ect.

I ended up taking 2 big cardboard boxes and taping them together to make a huge box. It worked really well until they were 8 weeks old....

They just keep growing and growing!

 

[Orpington Poultry]

You are in for a ton of fun. Chicks are adorable. I am with everyone else and would say go bigger.

Good luck with the babies.

K.

 

[NancyDz]

How many chicks do you have coming? If it's only a couple that will be fine, especially if you put marbles or something in the waterer. I read on here somewhere that someone used a
water bottle like for guinea pigs or rats for their chicks and it worked really well, they have them to put on aquariums, maybe
you could try one of those for awhile until they are bigger?


Nancy

 

[amarook]

I do have spare water bottles.
I just wonder how they would figure out to drink from them.

 

[amarook]

Is this better?

I'm getting 10 babies.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCJL1xaT29JKlgAE&feat=directlink

 

[amarook]

I'd be worried about cardboard becoming a huge mess...
wouldn't it?

 

[Catalina]

Quote:
I had shavings on the bottom and cleaned it once a week. It stayed clean and dry.

 

[Indiana hens]

The 1st bin was perfect size! They are kidding you! The top was great ; I use chicken wire, so yours is a cadilac. The waterer is too big, or you can put rocks in the trough so the can walk on them and drink between the rocks. Light on top of the wire. Make sure the chicks don't get wet or they can get cold almost instantly.

 

[NancyDz]

Quote:
Let me see if I can find the link where someone on here said they used one. I think they said they showed them with their beak and that the curious nature of the chick made them peck the silver tip and they learned quick. Maybe try it with both and see if they use it.


Either of those would work for awhile.. I would definitely go bigger in a couple weeks though. I used cardboard for awhile, it was fine with a plastic bag lining the bottom with layers of newspaper on top of that, then shavings . Then I went to a small plastic children's pool ( hard plastic/not blowup) that had a ring of cardboard to make it taller. You can get them at Walmart or Kmart... probably now since they are getting spring stuff in. Or some are using watermelon boxes from grocery stores.

Nancy

 

[NancyDz]

Okay here's a couple links with waterer ideas:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=140826

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=140587


Nancy