Dog cage, fish tank, or plastic bin for brooder?

[Tofuchicken]

I’m incubating chicks and they’re going to hatch within a week or less. I’ve been debating on whether to get a dog cage/crate, a fish tank, or a plastic bin to set up a brooder.

I was leaning more towards a large fish tank, but apparently it has poor circulation and air flow due to the glass and enclosed walls. Is there a way to fix that? For example, keeping a small fan running on one side with the heating plate on the opposite side?

On the other hand a dog cage will be more drafty (I will need to modify it somehow, like cardboard walls) but probably better circulation. Will it be harder to clean the crate and the surrounding area though, because it’s not fully enclosed? I also have 2 cats, and I’m afraid they might get to them through the bars (still, I’m going to put cardboard walls if I choose a cage).

A plastic tote is cheaper and I could poke holes in them for better circulation. I would want to get a clear bin to see the chicks. Only concern is that I’ve heard they’re harder to clean if there are scratches as bacteria can grow in crevices.

I plan on setting the cage/tank on a tall stand so that the cats can’t jump up to it.

It seems dog cages and plastic bins are generally bigger and less inexpensive.
The chicks will be indoors for 4-6 weeks before they’re moved outside. I’m also concerned on how fast they will outgrow those brooder options.

**I would want a brooder setup for long term, as I plan on raising more chicks in the future.

 

[nuthatched]

I have a pop up mesh sided hamper for my brooder.

 

[Tofuchicken]

I have a pop up mesh sided hamper for my brooder.

Interesting! I have not heard of that idea so far. How big is it? I have a spare pop up hamper too, but it’s cylindrical. Do the shavings/dust fall out of the mesh?

 

[nuthatched]

Interesting! I have not heard of that idea so far. How big is it? I have a spare pop up hamper too, but it’s cylindrical. Do the shavings/dust fall out of the mesh?

Mine is 18x30ish, I use puppy pads for bedding for a few days. After a week, I move them to my coop brooder which is a 2x4 box with wooden walls exceot for the front and side, which is chicken wire.

 

[Tofuchicken]

Mine is 18x30ish, I use puppy pads for bedding for a few days. After a week, I move them to my coop brooder which is a 2x4 box with wooden walls exceot for the front and side, which is chicken wire.
View attachment 4163307View attachment 4163309

Oh wow, thank you for the pics! I don’t think it will work for me since I don’t have wood and planks lying around, but I think a modified dog cage could work. Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Of the listed options, due to space and ventilation the dog crate is the best but the gaps are too big so it does need to be covered up with smaller wire mesh very securely attached to the sides and/or cardboard.

Figure on a minimum of 1 sq ft per chick up to 4 weeks of age, 2 sq ft up to 8 weeks. I do smaller batches of chicks so they get 2 sq ft from the start but they really do outgrow it fast, so by roughly 2 weeks I give them access to the entire coop and run. My brooder set up and integration plans: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

A better option (temporary) would be a very large cardboard box, like a melon crate, with some sort of wire or mesh secured to the top as a "lid".

If you're thinking long term then yes you should consider building something and having it outdoors both for ease of use and for easier integration with the adult flock, if that's something you're doing (not sure if you're brooding to sell or as meat bird growouts or what). Brooding indoors over and over isn't something I'd recommend.

 

[Tofuchicken]

Of the listed options, due to space and ventilation the dog crate is the best but the gaps are too big so it does need to be covered up with smaller wire mesh very securely attached to the sides and/or cardboard.

Figure on a minimum of 1 sq ft per chick up to 4 weeks of age, 2 sq ft up to 8 weeks. I do smaller batches of chicks so they get 2 sq ft from the start but they really do outgrow it fast, so by roughly 2 weeks I give them access to the entire coop and run. My brooder set up and integration plans: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

A better option (temporary) would be a very large cardboard box, like a melon crate, with some sort of wire or mesh secured to the top as a "lid".

If you're thinking long term then yes you should consider building something and having it outdoors both for ease of use and for easier integration with the adult flock, if that's something you're doing (not sure if you're brooding to sell or as meat bird growouts or what). Brooding indoors over and over isn't something I'd recommend.

Thanks so much for your input. I will most likely choose a dog cage as it seems to be the best option and can be modified more easily. However, now that you mentioned a cardboard box, that also seems viable. I don’t plan on regularly brooding chicks, but I do have family who would be interested in raising chickens in the future hence why I said long term. I also took a look at the link, it’s very well thought out! The mama pad is very intriguing and clever.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

We use the dog crate, DW has 3, SM, MED and LRG. We run a card board draft break around the perimeter 'tll they're fully feathered and move to larger crates as they grow.

 

[AinaWGSD]

With cats, the dog crate is your best option. I have 4 cats and I can't tell you how many times I've found one on the upstairs windowsill that's above my head. I brood in a large plastic bin, but it's in the basement where we can just keep the door shut to exclude the cats  and I built a chickenwire frame to go over it (which also doubles as a convenient chicken tractor). They only stay in my basement for about 4 weeks or so, usually less, before I move them out to the garage brooder.

 

[sals_chicks]

there are a ton of options, but I want to add a plug for an animal playpen. I got mine for about $40 on Amazon, it is a good amount of space, zips closed, tent & mesh material - I add hemp to the bottom and just change it out every couple weeks. I use a radiant heat panel for my heat source, and the plug can easily be fed through a zipper side. And you can get different sizes of the playpens depending on how many chicks you will have.

after brooding, hose it out and let it fully dry, it folds right up into a handy little bag and is easily stored for next time!