I need brooder ideas ....

[Coopa Cabana]

Amy, have you checked out the BYC Brooder section? Maybe it has something that might work for you, or that you can adapt to a larger scale. (Be sure to keep scrolling down to the bottom - lots of ads in between.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-brooder.html

~Gail

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Love the cardboard boxes. They last here until mine are 4 weeks old and then they are over the sides and running out the brooder room door every time I open it. Freedom!

I love the size of the plywood one and the hinged door on top but again, cleaning up wet shavings and having the wood underneath wet and growing stuff is not for me. Too many chicks have died from inhaling the bacteria and molds.
Great if you have one set of 30-50 chicks but not so good when you have 30-60 chicks every week. Even if I had 6 of those I would have a constant wet floor. No time to dry between babies.

I love all your ideas, people!

Just still too small for me. I did not realize how darned picky I am or frustrated I have become with growing up chicks in an easy to care for environment.


My brooder room right now is 10x14, plywood floor and insulated but with only one window. The one we are wanting to move them out to at 3 weeks old and up to 8 weeks old is an open front, dirt floor area that is also 10x14. Chicks will be on the floor at 6-8 weeks old depending on breed.

Please forgive me for stealing this photo from someone here on BYC but this is what we are looking for to work with, only modifying it to suit our needs. This is much too flimsy for our rambunctious birds. Maybe the pegboard on the ends and as a divider in the middle of one?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Thanks, Gail!
I will look into it! I think I may have already but will again.

So many nice people are sending me emails and PMs, too. I will certainly post when we ever come up with our solution. I totally understand that what works for one does not always work for another but I really appreciate all the advice, photos and ideas.

BYC people rock!

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Is the plywood getting so wet from the poo or from the water in the waterers? Maybe rather than focusing on an entire different brooder setup, you just need to think about different flooring options?

 

[Coopa Cabana]

I know a lot of people (including myself) lay down mesh shelf liner on the bottom of the brooders. I put down several layers at a time, and when the top one gets dirty, I just roll it up to expose the next clean layer.

But, for a set-up such as yours with lots more chicks, you might want to check out a restaurant or bar supply company for rolls of plastic mesh shelf liner. It is much thicker than what is sold for home use - as its intended for wet glasses to be set on to drain. And a lot cheaper buying from a restaurant supply - comes in very long rolls.

 

[MissJenny]

Mine is 4'x2'x2', 1/4 plywood with a plexi-glass front. I like to see them from across the room:

How I built it can be seen on "My BYC Page".

Jenny

 

[Coopa Cabana]

I bought this antique "Kiddie Koop" off CL last year for $50!! It is 54" x 28", and totally enclosed in screen mesh (it was used back then to keep mosquitos out). It is on wheels, and folds up for storage when not it use. In addition to the top opening, the top half of the front also folds down. The floor can be placed at two different levels (so they could use it as a crib or playpen).

As the bottom is a heavy metal mesh (to hold the mattress), I cut plywood to cover the bottom. That's as far as I've gotten with it. This spring, I'll see if I can find a piece of non-slip scrap vinyl to cover the plywood, and then put either shavings or shelf liner on top of that.

Obviously not big enough for your needs, but maybe can give you some more ideas.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
The shavings and plywood get wet from water play and poop. I have tried making it deep enough that I just scoop it out but I wound up leaving clean wet shavings or practically cleaning the whole thing. They are little piggies when there are so many.
Yes, I am thinking a hardware cloth bottom will work for me once they are 3 weeks old up to 6-8 weeks, depending on breed. I can get all sizes at the feed store and they sell by the foot so I have been eying that for the bottom of the brooders.

I love that little deal you found! I have looked around for something since you first showed us but I can't find something so neat!

You know I hatch like crazy! I try to cut back but I keep seeing my MFC project grow and the babies mature out so nicely that i just keep gathering eggs and hatching them! Not to mention all the other breeds I try to force myself not to hatch! LOL

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

Quote:
I have a barn but having little ones when we had those freezing temps would not have helped. It was just to cold, My son offered to put a ceiling in one of the stalls and put up insulation. I'm thinking about taking him up on it lol.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Mine are down in the barn. I turned my tack room into a brooder room and now am about to kick the ducks out of the end stall to turn into a grower/brooder area. That is why I want ideas.
My brooder room now is insulated and even with 6 brooder lights going I have seen it get down to 35 in there this winter. The chicks are covered for the night though in their brooder but I still have holes in the plastic tubs on the sides for ventilation and leave a few cracks between the plywood or cardboard covering the 6' water trough. they stay cozy but it has been hard to deal with growing chicks in there and little roos starting to crow means I have left them too long in the brooder room. they need to move out to another grower area.