Large brooder ideas

[Timmy59]

I'm a man of means, If I needed something of that nature I'd build it..
How big does it need to be ? Does not need to be tall, Sheet metal from the local mfg is 3 foot wide, 10 feet long, 20 maybe.. Add legs, skirting heat bulbs and presto, custom brooder..

 

[RoosterML]

I'm a man of means, If I needed something of that nature I'd build it..
How big does it need to be ? Does not need to be tall, Sheet metal from the local mfg is 3 foot wide, 10 feet long, 20 maybe.. Add legs, skirting heat bulbs and presto, custom brooder..

The issue is you can’t see inside to see what’s going on. Or if a bird has died. Which is why I suggested the plexiglass

 

[Timmy59]

The issue is you can’t see inside to see what’s going on. Or if a bird has died. Which is why I suggested the plexiglass

Plexiglass is heavy and as stated someone in this line of production should have such a brooder on a cable for ease of Maintenance ,get it out of the way, etc etc..

 

[iwltfum]

Excuse my naivete but, cant you just lift the brooder up to check while you are doing daily work in the brooder? @Welllaidacres A plexiglass top or one or two sides of plexi is an interesting idea. or even just a window on the top to cut down on the size you would need. 2x2 plexi is like 20 bucks.

 

[RoosterML]

Plexiglass is heavy and as stated someone in this line of production should have such a brooder on a cable for ease of Maintenance ,get it out of the way, etc etc..
Plexiglass is not heavy

 

[RoosterML]

Plexiglass is heavy and as stated someone in this line of production should have such a brooder on a cable for ease of Maintenance ,get it out of the way, etc etc..

Plexiglass weights less than plywood

 

[iwltfum]

Plexiglass is not heavy

No, definitely not. Alot lighter than plywood of the same size.

Edit: lol same thought - same time

 

[Welllaidacres]

I do lift it up. That’s what I’m currently doing I was just trying to see if anyone else was brooding large batches like this and had better ideas than what I’m currently doing. I’m always trying to learn, adapt, an do better. The plexi glass definitely intrigues me. Certainly light and provides transparency. With it being transparent would it hold the infrared heat as well as plywood? I would think it would almost allow a reverse greenhouse effect and lower the brooder temp while light/heat escapes or am I just thinking wrong. Wouldn’t be shocked if that was the case haha.

 

[iwltfum]

I do lift it up. That’s what I’m currently doing I was just trying to see if anyone else was brooding large batches like this and had better ideas than what I’m currently doing. I’m always trying to learn, adapt, an do better. The plexi glass definitely intrigues me. Certainly light and provides transparency. With it being transparent would it hold the infrared heat as well as plywood? I would think it would almost allow a reverse greenhouse effect and lower the brooder temp while light/heat escapes or am I just thinking wrong. Wouldn’t be shocked if that was the case haha.

I'm not sure about that that. 3/4" plywood has an R rating of about 1

1/2" plywood is about 0.5.

I can't find any definitive info on plexiglass but if a 6mil poly film has an R rating of .75ish (that's what my hoop house plastic is rated as) then plexi has got to be at least as good of an insulator as the plywood.

An R value of 1 is not negligible, but it's already pretty dang close to zero to begin with.

 

[B-Goock]

Maybe have them hinged to the wall and a cable to a pulley on the wall? Be able to pivot it up to do any maintenance on bulbs. Clean under it easy. Check for chick issues.

I like the plexi idea too.