First time building a brooder.

[crystal195655]

AWESOME

 

[CupOJoe42]

Very nice job! It is important to be able to reach all areas of the inside of the brooder if necessary (for cleaning, gathering chicks, eggs, etc.) Also think about how comfortable you will be bending over it to clean it (why I raised mine off the ground) and keeping the lid open while doing so (I have hooks suspended above the lids that attach to the handle on the door as needed.) They will want to fly up to the edge when you open the top. Mine do it all the time and want to be petted or to sit on my shoulders. I divided the top into 2 doors so that I can manage the area when open.



My chickens are 21 weeks old today and STILL in the brooder, as we have not finished building the coop yet (hopefully soon - hubby is out there today trimming out the rest of the windows.) Did I expect them to still be in there at this stage and laying eggs - nope, but things happen. I now have two 26-week old D'Anvers in a cage, sixteen 21-week old assorted chickens in the brooder, 7 newly hatched chicks in a makeshift brooder (bottom of dog crate), and 12 more eggs in the incubator that are due to hatch any day. I use a Brinsea EcoGlow in my brooders for the first 5-8 weeks, and don't have to worry about anything catching fire, raising or lowering heat lamps, or higher electricity bills.

 

[Tnchickennewbie]

We are working on our coop now. Still got a month before we get our babies so hope to be done with it by the time we get them. It's only three feet tall it looks taller in the pics. I wonder has anyone tried to put hardware cloth on either end in the bottom and put something below to catch the mess so you can just push the shavings to the end and they will fall out? Just a thought.

 

[CupOJoe42]

As a personal preference, I don't like my babies standing on hardware cloth. I tend to look at any openings as a potential spot for pests or predators or drafts to get in. I also have some large hens and I don't think it would be good for their feet. They love to dust bathe in the shavings, and it's pretty easy to shovel up everything when I clean the brooder once a week. I also add some Sweet PDZ to the shavings to keep the ammonia levels down between cleanings. My brooder is 6' x 3.5'.

You can put in a clean-out door on the side that you can push the shavings through and into a bin. The door can at least be locked when not in use.

 

[Hawgon]

I love the steps also, as I have a 4 and 5 year old grand-daughters and those look sturdy and safe....I also like your roost bars you put in and I might have to still that idea..lol Very nice...Following is a pic of my finished brooder and am awaiting chicks around Feb. 21st.

 

[Tnchickennewbie]

Hawgon-Nice...I like the plexiglass front and sides.

Dobieslady- What is sweet pdz? I've seen that posted elsewhere and have been wondering about it and where to get it?

 

[CupOJoe42]

Sweet PDZ is the leading stall freshener on the market and is the odor control and deodorizer of choice for thousands of horse, pet and livestock owners. Sweet PDZ is an all-natural, non-hazardous and non-toxic mineral. It captures, neutralizes and eliminates harmful levels of ammonia and odors. Sweet PDZ is a far superior alternative to lime products for ammonia removal and moisture absorption.

http://www.sweetpdz.com/index.html

 

[missydcpc]

I think I'm going to put peel and stick lino tiles in the bottom of mine. I've got the basic wood brooder with hardware cloth top. I bought it from someone who can't have chicks where they're moving.

My carpenter is in the garage right now building my coop....thought it would take him like a week..I think he may be done today! AGGHH! Guess BF will have to stop at the bank on the way home! LOL

 

[CupOJoe42]

If you use peel and stick tiles, heat each tile's adhesive side up with a heat gun or blow dryer until they just start to flex, THEN set them down. They will stick better if the adhesive is warmed. Many people don't do this and have the tiles pop up on them.

 

[missydcpc]

If you use peel and stick tiles, heat each tile's adhesive side up with a heat gun or blow dryer until they just start to flex, THEN set them down. They will stick better if the adhesive is warmed. Many people don't do this and have the tiles pop up on them.

Thanks!