First time chicken owner brooder advice.

[Canadianhobbyfarmer1994]

So, I’m planning on getting my first batch of chicks ever this week, and just finished setting up my brooder. Was just curious if anyone has any thoughts or advice as to my setup before the chicks arrive? Thanks!

 

[room onthebroom]

So, I’m planning on getting my first batch of chicks ever this week, and just finished setting up my brooder. Was just curious if anyone has any thoughts or advice as to my setup before the chicks arrive? Thanks!

They might be able to stick their heads thru those slats. I would tie some cheap plastic garden fencing or chicken wire or whatever you’ve got on hand to
help block the gaps & keep them from getting stuck.

Do you have a thermometer in there?

Will you be getting a heat lamp?

My favorite thing to do with baby chicks is hang a clean, old fashioned feather duster from the ceiling of their brooder. They love to snuggle & hide & play in those.

Good luck! Let us know what you got & how it’s going.

 

[room onthebroom]

 

[Carson213]

View attachment 2654363

do you have a coop? if you don’t already have birds, just put the heater in the coop...you don’t need a separate brooder if you don’t already have full sized birds.

 

[Canadianhobbyfarmer1994]

They might be able to stick their heads thru those slats. I would tie some cheap plastic garden fencing or chicken wire or whatever you’ve got on hand to
help block the gaps & keep them from getting stuck.

Do you have a thermometer in there?

Will you be getting a heat lamp?

My favorite thing to do with baby chicks is hang a clean, old fashioned feather duster from the ceiling of their brooder. They love to snuggle & hide & play in those.

Good luck! Let us know what you got & how it’s going.

I do have that cardboard up, and I’m going to zip tie that to the bars to hold it in place. I do have a heat lamp, but I’m not a fan of those because of the fire risk. I do have the brooder plate, and they are indoors so it’s about 75 degrees anyway. That’s a cool idea about the feather duster, I’ll try and find one.

 

[Carson213]

do you have a coop? if you don’t already have birds, just put the heater in the coop...you don’t need a separate brooder if you don’t already have full sized birds.

the brooder is to protect the chicks from temp and big birds...but if you have no other birds...just put the heater in the coop

 

[Carson213]

the brooder is to protect the chicks from temp and big birds...but if you have no other birds...just put the heater in the coop

you only need a separate brooder if you already have chickens...otherwise you just need heat

 

[Carson213]

This has never been my experience. The feather dusters have been a great addition to our brooders.

i have never heard of this. does it require no heat?

 

[Sally PB]

I had a large dog crate for a brooder too. I had cardboard on the inside up to the top about 3/4 of the way around, and then about 1/3 of the way up the rest. I duct taped it to the crate and taped the seams too. I used a heat lamp inside, raising it up as the temp needed to go down.

What I learned:

The dust still goes Every. Where. Ev.Er.Y Where. Oh well. Clean up later.

The heat lamp cost about $30 in electricity, and I worried a lot about fire danger, even with it secured as securely as possible. Got a brooder heat plate to use instead.

I want to spend more time handling my chicks this go around. My current flock are not lap chickens, though they will eat treats out of my hand. To make it easier, I'm putting the brooder out in the mud room. (I'm getting chicks in June.) Then I can shut the door, play with the chicks, and not have to close my dog in her crate.

 

[Henriettta]

The only problem I can foresee happening, is that the cardboard might get soiled over time, and then it will be a total pain to replace when they're trying to flipflap everywhere . They could also lodge themselves between the cardboard and the cage if you are not vigilant. Chicks are fine and dandy for about a week, then WATCH OUT. They are rambunctious terrors if you're not adequately prepared for everything haha.