My homemade Brooder

[aussiechicken]

Hi all and thanks for the welcome over in the Intro's section!

I'm so very excited to say that we are about to get our feathered babies! I was hoping to have been able to put them straight into the coop with a heat lamp but alas, I haven't finished my coop yet so I needed a brooder in the meantime. I was given a rather antique looking timber one however it was SOOOOO huge (think >50 chicks I think easy!) and wouldn't fit in my laundry! So, I decided to make one. Here's my very complex brooder and DIY instructions for anyone who might be interested!

You will need:
2 x under bed plastic tubs
1 x jigsaw or similar (for cutting plastic tub up)
masking tape
Lamp
feeder/waterer/shavings etc

Ok, so it was as simple as cutting the bottom out of one of the tubs, attaching the top tub to the bottom tub using some masking tape (went round a few times) and simply adding your accessories. I've made up a lid covering out of leftover aviary mesh which I've used outside on the coop.

Well, off to get our chicks now - will post an update when we get them home!

 

[hokankai]

That'll work great for the first couple weeks until they start flying

Looks great! How many chicks are you getting?

 

[aussiechicken]

hehehe very true - I do have a mesh "roof" to go on top but they only have to stay in there for a week or two as I put the final touches onto the coop and then i'll transfer them (and of course the heat lamp) out there.

We are getting 8 chicks - 4 x plymouth rocks and 4 x gold laced wyandottes

praying that we dont get 8 roosters

 

[credmond]

That is a great idea you had..i may try that for my next order..
For 8 birds that should be fine. good luck with your new birds and enjoy!
(and good luck not getting a rooster!)

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

What a cute/nifty set-up!

Did you get your chicks yet????

~ Aspen

 

[Arielle]

Nice setup--thanks for sharing!

 

[Cetawin]

Ah yes....plastic totes are a miracle LOL I have 2 silkies in one right now. When you move them out to the coop...make very very sure that heat lamp is secured and it cannot fall and touch shavings...also beware of a bulb breaking and starting a fire so if possible have it high enough they cannot hit it.

Good luck and don't forget to post pics of that coop when it is done.

 

[kevlar]

Looks great!

 

[aussiechicken]

Well we are home and our feathered babies are in their brooder. Had to go and get a more powerful lightbulb as it wasn't warm enough. They seem happy enough, they have a sleep and then they get up and trash their food and water. We ended up with 4 x gold laced wyandottes, 1 x plymouth rock and 3 x bantam australorps. So why the difference??? Well, the breeder has "sexed" them - feather method, and she didn't actually have 4 plymouths... She's obviously not giving me any guarantees about what we get but she thinks she's given us 8 girls... Time will tell LOL!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Would love to know what that breeder says is feather sexing. At that age, unless DNA or vent sexing (even vent isn't 100% all the time) you just don't know roo or hen. Very cute littles though.