How well does the brooder has to be insulated?

[Hope119]

I am going to copy my post here from the "incubating" forum.

How well does the brooder has to be insulated?
Here is the "sketch" of the early brooder I plan to use (there are few pics there - before and after this one). When they are bigger, I plan to build something larger out of large cardboard boxes. I plan to put paper grocery bags on the bottom (+ pine shavings and maybe paper towels on top of shavings). I do understand that I have to cover the sides with more cardboard so they don't pick their heads through. But do I have to cover the top where the heat lamp is and cover the upper parts of the sides, like where the blue ribbon is now?

And second question: how early can they receive some green grass? How do I know that they are ready? I plan to grow some wheatgrass and we also have some clover outside.

36 eggs in the incubator right now, put them in am of April 3rd.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[debilorrah]

They dont need insulation, they need heat, so your set up is fine!!!! As far as grass goes, if it is warm enough outside, I would take them out right away. You will get comedy from them out there though! Chicks are too stinkin funny when it comes to new stuff.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Your set up is fine as far as when to know when they are ready is up to the weather if it is warm at night then as sson as one week with a heat lamp but if it is still cold at night I would say when they are feathered out meaning they have a good bit of feathers still need a heat lamp till fully feathered out or the nights are in the 60's and 70's I put mine out in the coop at four weeks old in a grow out area where they stayed till they had all their feathers then off went the heat lamp and out they came to the big roost and they are now loving it.

Second answer:
As soon as they have some feathering and are able weather wise of being outside any time they wanna be out there eating and playing in the grass they will love it besure to give them starter grit before hand though mine were outside at a week old knowing how to scratch and did very well at it and now are wanting back outside lol (it's been raining so no outside for them yet)

I hope this helped you out Good luck with you new Chicks and besure to ask any thing else someone is always here to help

 

[Hope119]

Thank you, debiraymond and Backyard_Chicken_rancher! I am so glad to know that my set up is fine. And yes, I am sure I will ask more questions later.