Is this set up ok?

[Kidwantschickens]

So, I'm getting 10 chicks, this is about a 20" by 30" tote... I was planning to keep them in it (with the addition of pine bedding and feeder) until they're a week or so old, then move them to a wire dog crate with cardboard around the outer edge. The dog crate is about double the size.

Does this work or is it too small? I could probably move them out to the coop at 4 weeks but would still need a heat lamp.

 

[azygous]

Plastic totes are loathed by those of us with many years experience brooding chicks. There is no law that says you can't brood chicks in a large space, the larger the better. Plastic totes are ovens, retaining and concentrating heat with little extra space for chicks to shed excess body heat. Chicks can literally cook in such a contraption.

The drawbacks of plastic totes are aggravated by using a heat lamp. Totes and heat lamps are relics of times past. Well past. Free up your imagination. There are a wealth of other options.

Here is an article chronicling my evolution of brooders. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/ Today, I dispense with indoor brooders altogether, and I have been brooding in a dedicated pen in my run for years. No space issues, no heat issues, no safety issues, and best of all, no integration required as the chicks are flock members from day one.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

So the chicks were kinda piling up and just under the heat lamp. I dropped the lamp down a bit and added a cover to 2/3rds of it. Will watch to make sure they aren't overheating. My kiddos are enamored. I will be trying to figure out how to add a 4' extension instead of a 3' because we have too many. I'm counting on at least 1 roo and at least 1 death but that is still too many. My chicken math took over and I couldn't help myself

We have:
2 buff Orpingtons
2 silver laced wyandottes
2 Easter eggers
2 marans
2 mystery "rare pullets" (both have feathered legs so brahma?)
1 speckled Sussex
1 sapphire gem
2 white crested black Polish

 

[Iluveggers]

So the chicks were kinda piling up and just under the heat lamp. I dropped the lamp down a bit and added a cover to 2/3rds of it. Will watch to make sure they aren't overheating. My kiddos are enamored. I will be trying to figure out how to add a 4' extension instead of a 3' because we have too many. I'm counting on at least 1 roo and at least 1 death but that is still too many. My chicken math took over and I couldn't help myself
View attachment 3043675

We have:
2 buff Orpingtons
2 silver laced wyandottes
2 Easter eggers
2 marans
2 mystery "rare pullets" (both have feathered legs so brahma?)
1 speckled Sussex
1 sapphire gem
2 white crested black Polish

I would be VERY CAREFUL adding a solid top to any part of thr tub. If you can put an open screen over it, it would provide much needed air flow for your babies.

Just a suggestion, line the bottom half of your dog crate with cardboard so they can’t sneak through the holes, and move them right in there. Lots of ventilation and a stable top to protect them from the lamp falling.

Great choice of breeds! Enjoy & have lots of fun with thrm!

 

[Kidwantschickens]

So I have it half covered. They're in the garage which is about 45-50 degrees and on cement under the tub. I'm just worried about them getting too cold. They were all huddled up together looking chilled. With the covered they are still a little close together but not like they were. No one is panting yet. Maybe the brooder just needed more time to heat up? I will keep a close watch.

 

[springvalley123]

If you have it, you could mitigate the chill from the floor by putting a folded up cardboard box or old blanket or towels under wire crate along with what everyone else said. If you've ever slept on a waterbed that wasn't quite up to temperature, that's similar to why the chicks are huddled, even in the plastic tub. FWIW, right now I'm brooding almost as many birds as you have in a 10 sq ft wire crate and I can't wait to get them outside! They'd have been out already if it weren't for a problem I discovered while making a brooding space in my run. My batch is very active, and I think because I must have a decent number of cockerels where I usually get pullets, I'll be relieved when I can finally get them outside safely into much more space.
Your babies are adorable btw!

 

[Kidwantschickens]

Thanks everyone! I will see about adding cardboard under it. These Montana temps are cold at night I was wanting to wait to move them to the crate next week but it might be earlier. They're cute little suckers for sure! The Sussex is really friendly but all of them seem to not mind is reaching over.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

They look cold to me but are they just sleeping? They don't huddle like this during the day... But our temps drop 20-30 degrees at night so my garage drops by about 10 degrees.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Can you put a thermometer in there to check the temperature?

 

[638858]

Watch the temperature in that tub.. have a place they can self regulate body temp by moving to a cooler spot when needed..