Easy clean brooders?

[mrsmaonaigh]

Is there a such thing as an easy to clean brooder? Right now we are using the big plastic tubs with a feeder and waterer inside and paper towels on the bottom. I know these critters are messy but dang! As soon as I put fresh paper towels down they are tracking the water everywhere. Maybe that is part of the problem. Is there a better watering system to use? Right now they are residing in our bedroom to keep them away from cold, cats and kids. I need to build something more permanent and I want to build something that is easy to clean out and helps keep the babies dry.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

I put my feeder and waterer up on some scrap pieces of hardi board. I didn't have them elevated before I took the paper towels out, because I never really had a problem with them tracking a bunch of water around the coop. Maybe it will help to elevate them just so it will be more difficult for them to step in the water?

How old are your chicks? Mine turned a week old on Wednesday, and I just took the paper towels out of the brooder this weekend.

 

[Judy]

Yes, elevate the food and water, and then add a small piece of "floor" (scrap of wood, etc.) if needed. I only used paper towels for a day or two til they were eating well, then switch3ed to pine shavings. If your brooder is big enough you may never have to clean it. I think I changed out the shavings twice.

If you're going to build something, I would strongly recommend making it an outdoor brooder. Wiring isn't that difficult, really. If you have a roofed porch, carport or garage, it's even easier. I hatch under broodies now (no heat lamps even in winter) but would never brood in the house again, in any case.

 

[mrsmaonaigh]

I didn't even think about elevating it. Thanks! Yeah I think this is the first and last time we will be keeping them in the house.

My chicks were hatched this past Wed so they are 5 days old. And so far they all seem to be doing great!

 

[gryeyes]

Oh, by all means, change over to pine shavings! You won't have to clean it during the brooding period, just add more shavings periodically. (And then raise the waterer and feeder some more to get 'em above the level of the shavings.)

You could also change to a nipple waterer, which never gets dirty, there's no spillage, and they're wonderful. (Do a search on BYC for nipple waterers to read a ton about 'em.)

 

[mrsmaonaigh]

I've had my eye on the nipple waterers for a couple of days. The water getting dirty has been a huge problem. Babies are getting a home make over tomorrow.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

I bought a hamster waterer thinking I'd put it in the brooder this time around and get the chicks used to drinking out of it. (I'm considering switching to an nipple watering system for my older birds, so I want the chicks to get the hang of it now.) Haven't put it in the brooder yet though. Procrastination is my worst enemy.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

You could use wire, half could be a wire brooder and half wood with shavings. You could put the food and water over on the wire side.