First timers!!

[kelleyranch]

We went and got our first chicks today. 4 RIR's, 2 barred rocks, and 2 amerucana (I think i spelled those right!!) I ahve a 2 year old and 14 year old who both argued the whole way home about who got to keep the box of chickens on their lap!! they are 2 days old and soo cute. I didn't think my daughter was going to go to bed tonight!

So my first questions is . . . It sounds to me like you can use just about anything for a brooder box so we decided to use a kennel that we had and put wire so they can't sneak out the sides. this should be work just fine right?? I would add pics if I knew how but I have used a forum before. any other random tips that might not be so obvious would be great

 

[fluffmom]

We are first-timers as well--our chicks will be 2 weeks old soon. The woman we bought our chicks from suggested a large 56gal tote from Home Depot to keep them in (we have 8). We put a clip on light inside along with pine chips, their water and feeder. The pine chips stay in the tote instead of getting flung all over. We used a dremel drill to make cut outs all over the top of the lid to give some air circulation. So far it is working well and is easy to clean--if it gets really messy, we can easily wash it out outside with the hose.

 

[Kittymomma]

I think the tote or something else along those lines works better then the dog kennel for chicks, though I use a kennel for my hospital cage. Chicks make a huge mess with the shavings, water, food, etc. so it's nice to have something easy to clean and that will contain the mess. I use a big 140 gallon stock tank, but that would be total overkill for just a few chicks. I've read of people using an extra oven rack for a tote lid so that they can get more ventelation, and I think you might find that to be a good idea. Be careful if you have other animals though because it won't stay on as well as your modified tote lid.

both of you and enjoy your new little fuzzy butts!

I also take my chicks off of shavings and put them on pine pellets after the first week, it helps with the smell and the dust.

 

[sgtmck1]

I am a first timer as well. We hatched last week. My kids are 17 14 & 13. They are the same way.(lol) I was even told this was the best idea I have ever had. Thanks I think? As far a brooder we used a gerble cage. Its in closed at the bottom cut down on the mess, The cage part comes off for eazy cleaning, and it the right hight for the warming light.

 

[garye5007]

hi! first timer here too. I used a plastic tote about 3-1/2' x 2" X 20" high. have them in the basement so hung heat light from the floor joists
by a chain so i could raise it up a little each week to lower temp. i didn't have a top on it until this week (they are now 2 weeks old 3 RR and 3 rocks). i just used hardware cloth.
learned quickly to get food and water off the bottom i use pine shavings and put them on a brick. still get some shavings in but not near as bad.
wow you can almost watch the grow before your eyes!
Good luck with your chicks!
Gary

 

[bakerjw]

lol... I picked up our chicks about 3 weeks ago I had them in a box in the car with me as I went to pick up my son from work. He is 26 and sometimes in a sulky mood without much to say. He got in the car and I handed him the box of peeping sound sand told him to be careful opening it. Once he got it open his whole demeanor changed... "Aw, they're so cute!" It was real funny.

 

[wildorchid053]

you can pretty much use anything we have 22 babies and they are in a box that a refrigerator came in.. it is way big but we have 2 heat lamps so they can get into the middle of the box if they want.. after a week or so give them a little something to try to roost on.. a couple of inches off the ground.. they love it

 

[kysilkies]

We also use a dog crate with mesh around it so they don't stick something out a dog could grab(we have 6 dogs that think the babies are squeaky toys or mice)...

 

[MareeZoCool]

I used a big 40 gallon plastic tote with my new hatchlings last year. it worked fine, was easy to clean & carry outside for their daily day-time recreation & exploring. After two weeks I switched to a dog crate. I had newspaper underneath to catch the poo. Sure seemed too fast when they were big enough to move outside permanantly.

 

[kysilkies]

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