My dog cage brooder. Hope this is okay

[ThinkingChickens]

Let's see. Today it was 65 during the day and our evening low is 46. We are in California but in the mountains at 4500 feet. The feed store was using two red bulbs, same size setup and they had about 30 chicks in there. Right now they are asleep off to the side of the light.

 

[Brandon97]

YES THATS GREAT!!! I have 3, but i would say change the cage size, its too small, it will get waaaay to hot for the chicks to relax, they wont eat or drink. My 3 are all 40 by 25 inch, and are those with bar ones, a cage rather than crate, with plastic lining half way up the bars for drafts but keep in heat....AND CHICKS. I use wood shavings, its not to slippery for them, newspaper is to slippy and can cause curl toe, trust me, i now have two hens with it, i learnt from my mistake.

 

[chicksntexas]

I like it! The chicks will let you know if they are too hot or too cold! Too cold and you will hear them! Too hot and they will stay away from the heat lamp!

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:
The behaviors are panting and lethargy when they become too hot. Also if they spend all their time at the opposite end and never utilize the other halp it's too hot. At that point you want to raise it up a bit. May not be as hot as I thought if it is in a garage, but my garage is in the sun and gets hot during the heat of the day so just be aware of things like that also.

Good Luck and have with all your new babies

 

[stcroixusvi]

This is what we did with a large dog crate - plenty of space for the rapidly growing chick(en)s. We clamped the two halves together, and the screen rolls back. The boards give them some introductory roosting experience.

 

[spotstealer]

I think they may out grow this brooder in a couple weeks. In the mean time, I'd secure the lamp (it appears that it could be easily bumped) and move the towels even at 60w, the lamp could be trouble. I had mine chickies in a similar type brooder until I built a larger one (3'wX4'lX2'h). I kept them in that until they were 7 wks then moved them to their permant coop.

 

[cmom]

Looks good to me. Since the brooder lamp is to one side the chicks will find their comfort zone.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

At what age can I start giving them outside time? They are two weeks now. I have an x pen that I can cover and sit outside with them. Of course I want the temp to heat up a bit first but it should be low 70's here next week.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Low 70's are fine for 4 week olds. Just keep the pen covered and watch them and you could probably put them out next week. If they are huddling tightly together they are too cold and you'll need to bring them in and try it another time.

 

[GiddyMoon]

I hope you don't mind...I have to ask..which mountains are you in?