INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CRSelvey]

I kicked my babies out into a larger frankenbrooder in my garage yesterday evening.  Their room had been in the 55 - 60 degree range and it was 45 degrees when i put them in the garage.  They were fine for several hours, but as soon as I turned the light off (I put a nightlight over the top so there is still a little light) they began chirping loudly. Logically I knew it was just that they were in a new place, but illogically I couldn't talk myself out of them being cold.  So I moved a space heater into the garage (which then sent my worry stricken brain into thoughts of fire).  I checked on them several times last night and they had quieted down and were fine.  When the lights went back on this morning they were stretching and moving around acting fine.  Woo hoo!  My office can get a couple weeks break before the new batch of littles arrive!  The marans really needed more space, so I had to get them out and I think they will be fine

Your frankenbrooder cracks me up! We started with a 48" crate, then created an extension that was 3x6 using some old picket fencing and some hardware cloth. It was NOT pretty especially when we wrapped it all in cardboard, but it did the job for 4 months while the coop was being built..just ugly.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Your frankenbrooder cracks me up! We started with a 48" crate, then created an extension that was 3x6 using some old picket fencing and some hardware cloth. It was NOT pretty especially when we wrapped it all in cardboard, but it did the job for 4 months while the coop was being built..just ugly.

Ha ha yes, it is basically about 8 medium boxes cut and rigged together (I already had them so I decided to make them work) to make a 4 ft x 6 ft area, then covered by bird netting. It is not pretty and if I bump it too hard it would probably fall apart. The chooks are too light to do any damage to it now but I will have to keep an eye on it so the inmates don't plot a successful escape

A refrigerator box would have been great, but my truck is still snowed in and it wouldn't have fit in my car.

 

[raisinemright]

After work I'm heading to sears, they saved me a few diff size box's from there truck today. I'll pick out the best size and that will be my new brooder. Hopefully it is fairly thick cardboard and will hold up for awhile.

 

[Kiniska]

After work I'm heading to sears, they saved me a few diff size box's from there truck today. I'll pick out the best size and that will be my new brooder. Hopefully it is fairly thick cardboard and will hold up for awhile.

Don't you worry about fire with the cardboard?

 

[raisinemright]

I worry about fire whenever I use a heat lamp, but I don't think there is going to be to big of an issue. It will constantly be whatched over by my family. The lamp will not be any closer to the edges as it will be to the woodchips or bottom of the brooder.

 

[CRSelvey]

Ha ha yes, it is basically about 8 medium boxes cut and rigged together (I already had them so I decided to make them work) to make a 4 ft x 6 ft area, then covered by bird netting. It is not pretty and if I bump it too hard it would probably fall apart. The chooks are too light to do any damage to it now but I will have to keep an eye on it so the inmates don't plot a successful escape

A refrigerator box would have been great, but my truck is still snowed in and it wouldn't have fit in my car.

I understand! It felt like we were constantly trying to come up with a "better mousetrap" all summer for our babies. After working out the details on the crate, it was awesome. Now that the coop is done, we shouldn't have to worry about expanding from there. I have a small tractor for the yard (and of course hoping for another) so I hope that is all enough. Good luck with all of your babies. You can't post enough pics.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

cardboard boxes are being used here too. We line them with plastic though for an easier clean up. We could toss and get new boxes. But brooding in the basement means trying to get large boxes down the stairs and back up to toss. We have a fancy metal brooder and I think I prefer the cheap / free boxes. We have a home made plywood brooder for the older chicks. It is nice but as long as these boxes are free and available, I'm not taking the time or money to make another wooden one. The one positive of the metal brooder is that the chicks are on a grated floor so the mess goes right to the tray for easier cleanup. Still that floor gets hard to clean too and tossing a plastic bag of chips is easier and less time consuming. Of course newspaper to line the tray is free and DRY pine chips cost money at the feed stores. Come dry weather wood chips will be free again but for now they add up.

 

[minmin1258]

I

After work I'm heading to sears, they saved me a few diff size box's from there truck today. I'll pick out the best size and that will be my new brooder. Hopefully it is fairly thick cardboard and will hold up for awhile.

If one box isn't thick enough to be secure another box cut to fit and some Elmer's glue can thicken and support better. Always get extra boxes when they are offered you never know when you will need an emergency box to house an ill birdie. Or some cardboard to insulate a windy coop.

 

[minmin1258]

You all make me wish I was living in Indiana!! I would sooo love to be involved in the work co-op. Helping and feeling needed is such a privilege! I could even help with some supplies... Lol lots of old barn wood around here, a little paint and you'd never know it's 20 yrs old. That's one thing I still haven't gotten used to around here - When old folks pass the majority of the time their homes are left sitting mt until they rot and fall down. Its so sad! All those memories and the history all falling down and going to pieces, seems like it means nothing to the younger generations.
Oh well off my rant now. Since I can't come help build and fix, I'll just go sew up some Aprons for our babies! I'll post pics later... Let me know if you are interested in buying one or a dozen... Lol. Later Gators!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I
Quote: get extra boxes to line to bottom too, if you are not using a plastic liner. Nothing like trying to lift up a box of wet dirty wood chips and having the bottom fall out / stay on your floor.