Exercise Pen on deck?

[KittieChick]

I'm in the Piedmont area of NC. We're moving into our 85-90 degree days with lows in the 60's or so. I'm ready for my chickies, but I'm figuring they'll need access to the heat lamp during the night time.

My idea is to use a small exersice pen for the dogs and line it with cardboard to keep breezes out, put linoleum or something washable on the floor of it. I can use hardware cloth on top to close. The only issue would be protecting the heat lamp from moisture if it rains. My husband is adamant about no chicks in the house, so that is not an option and we have no garage.

He "might" let me overnight them in his tool shed where there's electricity, but I really want to figure out how to house them on the deck and build the brooder myself.

Any thoughts for a half-crippled old woman with some scrap lumber and tools?

Thanks.

Oh, I'm looking at 5-9 chicks. Will probably order a few, and purchase a few locally.

Kittie

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

A dog exercise pen won't be predator-proof, is the only thing. Also, your heat lamp bulb will explode if a water droplet gets on it (happened to me). I had a tarp over it and it wasn't enough.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/6233/brooder-thread-post-pics-of-your-brooders
You simply have to check out this thread!!

Also BYC has a brooder section in the coops section (click coops on top bar above).

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Oh and make sure you hang your light two ways not including the clamp (I use metal wire) as you don't want that coming down. Also make sure it isn't too close to flammables. You want everything to be fireproof.

Get the heat lamp with the ceramic socket and not the plastic socket. You can also decrease the wattage of the bulb to get the correct temps under the light- here is a very good chick care page:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chickcare.html

 

[KittieChick]

A dog exercise pen won't be predator-proof, is the only thing. Also, your heat lamp bulb will explode if a water droplet gets on it (happened to me). I had a tarp over it and it wasn't enough.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/6233/brooder-thread-post-pics-of-your-brooders
You simply have to check out this thread!!

Also BYC has a brooder section in the coops section (click coops on top bar above).

Oh, I've been lurking there. Getting seriously excited to get my chickies! Have to manage the brooder question and get a partial knee replacement out of the way.

Oh and make sure you hang your light two ways not including the clamp (I use metal wire) as you don't want that coming down. Also make sure it isn't too close to flammables. You want everything to be fireproof.

Get the heat lamp with the ceramic socket and not the plastic socket. You can also decrease the wattage of the bulb to get the correct temps under the light- here is a very good chick care page:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chickcare.html

Yes. I'm leaning towards "borrowing" space in my husbands' shed for the evening time.