homemade brooder

[miguel2299]

I need help making a brooder it needs to be fast,cheap and easy?

 

[SobbaChickens]

Well I started my chicks in a large tote that you can buy at Walmart. I put the tote in my bathtub so they were easy to access but I was able to keep them away from my eager child and interested cat. The first few days I gave them shredded paper as a bedding but soon they started viciously attacking any red piece of paper and since I didn't want to give them any reason to hurt each other I took the paper out and gave them cedar or pine shavings (pet supplies from Walmart). Since my bathroom stays fairly warm I just gave them a regular lamp with a 50-60 watt light that has a bendable neck so I was able to get it close to them. But then one night it burnt out and my poor chicks got really cold. After that I gave them a real heat lamp (125 watt) because they last longer (at least I think they do).

I was only able to keep them in the tote for 2 weeks because they were starting to fly and growing so fast that it seemed too crowded. I had an extra dog crate so I decided to turn it into a chicken brooder. I wrapped the crate in chicken wire and I put cardboard in between the dog crate wire and chicken wire. I hung the heat lamp from the top and hung their feeder as well. I put down pine or cedar shavings (I really don't remember what I bought) and raised their water container by putting tupperware under it. I looked at these for ideas:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-brooder-designs-pictures

-Katie

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Hello and

So glad you joined

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, miguel2299, and

! Great to have you with us! I agree with SobbaChicks....lots of cheap choices....my first batch went into an old card board box from a washing machine. Good luck to you!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

A large wire dog crate is what I'm using. I attached cardboard on the inside walls from the bottom to about half way up to keep the bedding in and drafts out. I attached the cardboard with zip ties. Works like a charm!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad to have you aboard!!

 

[miguel2299]

Thanks for the ideas