Homemade Brooder

[Caleb x49]

it only holds like 3 chicks max.

img]http://www.bac[kyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30502_img_4102.jpg[/img]

http:

[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/30502_img_0570.jpg

Heres a video of it. I havent put any chicks in it yet but i am going to tomorow

any suggestions about the lid prob pm me

 

[Davaroo]

I applaud your inventiveness; Grandmas, stuff came in handy.
I do have a list of concerns, though. Do you want to hear them?

 

[Teresaann24]

great job! Nice idea...

 

[Caleb x49]

Quote:
i thought about that so now i put them in the closet when i sleep

 

[Sillystunt]

I like the fan set up! I am looking to some how vent mine with solar. Lord knows it's hot here in FL

 

[Davaroo]

Caleb emailed me and subsequently agreed to posting my "list of concerns," so that all may take something from them.
Here they are:

Size
It appears a too small, depending on how long you will keep them in there. They double their size each WEEK, so it won't be long before even one chick outgrows it. Plus you need room for feed and water in there, somewhere. If it is to serve as a hatching brooder, before moving to a larger rearing brooder, then it will serve for 8-10.
(I see now he intends to only house 3 chicks in it, but again 'dem some tight quarters....)


Fan
The last things chicks need is a hurricane force fan blowing on them. When you turned it on in the video, I could hear the air rushing from it! That looks like a commercial cooling fan of some sort.
Seriously, I'm not trying to hassle you here; this is the truth.
Drafts are to be avoided with hatchlings, at all costs.
A small, diffuse fan blowing indirectly into the chamber to keep air circulating would be much better.

Lamp
The bright white light is hardly soothing and they need soothing for a week or so. I use the red heat lamps to make things warm and soothing. White lamps will work and many people use them, but the difference to the chicks is pretty stark. If you've ever seen a large scale brood house and heater arrangement, you'll note the one thing about it is that it uses few bright lights.

Lack of Ventilation
There needs to be air, air, air. Chicks have very high metabolisms and you would do better for them by having 3, half inch vents holes top and bottom of both sides.

I'm probably over working myself, here, so bear with me, okay?
But these are things to think about
All in all, it'll probably work fine.

 

[Caleb x49]

NEW PICTURES

the garbage bag is so i can pick up they hay and all the poop easy

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
SO its working well? that is cool!

 

[Caleb x49]

so i had to make a new brooder cause as Davaroo suggested my other one got too smal too quick so i threw it out and stripped it for parts.
heres some pics

I reused the fan. soon my dad is gunna help me rig it so it has a high med and low... hes an electrician so he knows how to do that stuff

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Go man, go! Chicken dad to the rescue.