Lots of Brooder Questions!!!

[Flockincrazy]

Question for everyone: how much of the space around it does a heating plate actually warm up/heat? Will having a lid similar to that of @FuzzyCritters help keep it warmer?

Yes having a cover will keep heat in

 

[black_cat]

I'm thinking that I"ll go to a setup quite similar to what @FuzzyCritters has. Another question: Medicated or Non Medicated chick starter?

 

[Flockincrazy]

I'm thinking that I"ll go to a setup quite similar to what @FuzzyCritters has. Another question: Medicated or Non Medicated chick starter?

That is a personal preference I myself do medicated feed mixed in with my homemade feed the only feed I buy

 

[FuzzyCritters]

I'm thinking that I"ll go to a setup quite similar to what @FuzzyCritters has. Another question: Medicated or Non Medicated chick starter?

If your chicks are vaccinated for coccidiosis, do not use medicated feed. It will nullify the vaccination. Most hatcheries don't vaccinate for cocci because it's very traumatic for the chicks, so you probably don't have to worry about that. I use medicated feed just as a safety measure. Keeping your brooder clean and dry is the best way to prevent cocci, because cocci bacteria thrive in wet, dirty conditions.

 

[black_cat]

If your chicks are vaccinated for coccidiosis, do not use medicated feed. It will nullify the vaccination. Most hatcheries don't vaccinate for cocci because it's very traumatic for the chicks, so you probably don't have to worry about that. I use medicated feed just as a safety measure. Keeping your brooder clean and dry is the best way to prevent cocci, because cocci bacteria thrive in wet, dirty conditions.

Sounds good. I think that I will go with medicated feed, just to be on the safe side. I'm using MyPetChicken, and I turned on the option to have them vaccinated for Marek's. I'm really worried that I'll run out of space in my plastic cat proof brooder. Anyone have ideas on how to cat proof cardboard boxes?

 

[Flockincrazy]

my inside brooder is a horse trough with a lid I made

 

[NatJ]

Question for everyone: how much of the space around it does a heating plate actually warm up/heat? Will having a lid similar to that of @FuzzyCritters help keep it warmer?

If the brooder is in the house, and they have a heat plate: the rest of the space does not need to be "heated" at all. House temperature is just fine.

Think about how a hen raises chicks: they get warm under her, then run out to eat and drink and explore, then run under the hen to warm up again. As they get older, they spend more time out and less time in the warm place. The heat plate substitutes for the mother hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

First off, I really recommend you consider brooding outdoors instead. Makes for less work for you, easier integration, and is more "natural" to being a chicken except for the fact that there's no hen. Enrichment isn't an issue for me.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/

I"m wondering how brooder sizing works? Do you have something big enough for them their entire time as chicks, and wall off part until they grow bigger? How much space does a 6 week old chicken need? Is there such a thing as too much space in a brooder? Too little? Do chicks need roosts in the brooder? starting at what age? Can you use shavings for bedding? Is it better to have a hanging feeder and waterer? Are heating plates or heat lamps better?Is there any enrichment you can give chicks? I am planning for some chicks in the spring and have never raised chicks before.

1/2 sq ft to start is fine but by 6 weeks-ish, I'd say 1.5-2 sq ft at a minimum.

Yes you can have too much space in a brooder, when they're very young (i.e. less than 1 week) chicks could potentially get lost in a large space and be unable to get to heat or water. But too little space can cause behavioral issues, such as chicks pecking each other. I give them over 2 sq ft from the start... by 2-3 weeks they're already insane and want to be outside.

No chicks don't need roosts in the brooder. You can put them in for enrichment, but it doesn't necessarily mean they'll learn to roost faster.

Shavings are fine.

I have no way of hanging a feeder or waterer so no opinion on that.

I prefer a mama heating pad over the options you listed but that's because I could make it for $2, and heat lamps make me worry about fires.

Question for everyone: how much of the space around it does a heating plate actually warm up/heat? Will having a lid similar to that of @FuzzyCritters help keep it warmer?

That's not how a heat plate/pad works. It does NOT warm the air, it works by direct contact. Chicks press against it to warm up, and then leave when they don't want it.

I personally feel the lid you're referring too is inadequate in ventilation. If you must use a bin (I recommend against it) then I'd cut open the majority of the center of the lid and securely attaching hardware cloth to cover the hole. More "windows" can be cut into the side of the bin if you want.

 

[black_cat]

my inside brooder is a horse trough with a lid I made

Lucky! I'd love to do something like that but I have no idea what I could repurpose.

 

[black_cat]

If the brooder is in the house, and they have a heat plate: the rest of the space does not need to be "heated" at all. House temperature is just fine.

Think about how a hen raises chicks: they get warm under her, then run out to eat and drink and explore, then run under the hen to warm up again. As they get older, they spend more time out and less time in the warm place. The heat plate substitutes for the mother hen.

Ok, thank you! That makes more sense. I was under the impression that the heating plate radiated heat out, which is evidently not true.