My learning experience with Brooders and what makes raising chicks way easier!

[Ariel188]

I remember seeing these before, I like all of them.
Understand the triple stack small footprint, but do you have any trouble integrating all the chicks later, or do you sell chicks or have multiple coops??

I do have 2 coops. Here is a link to the outside set up
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/955387/my-coop-and-run-area-for-my-girls

they just re-establish pecking order but nothing ever serious has happened. I sell many of them. I keep 1 girl from each breed I hatch!

 

[Ariel188]

Those are fantastic brooder set-ups! I am totally jealous! I'd be in big trouble if I was handy at building that type of thing.

Your chicks are so pretty…what type of chicks are they?

You can look at this link for the breed and the adult photos!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...raising-them-in-brooders-and-outside-in-coops

 

[lynnehd]

Ariel188, I am interested in your substrate choices for brooders.
"I use doggie potty pads for the first 5 days then use the pellets for next 2 weeks, then pine shavings after that"

What kind of pellets do you use? Why do you switch out from the pellets to the pine shavings (I know a lot of people use the pine shavings).

TIA!

 

[Ariel188]

Ariel188, I am interested in your substrate choices for brooders.
"I use doggie potty pads for the first 5 days then use the pellets for next 2 weeks, then pine shavings after that"

What kind of pellets do you use? Why do you switch out from the pellets to the pine shavings (I know a lot of people use the pine shavings).

TIA!

I forgot the name of the pellet but they are for horse bedding, non toxic and NOT ceder. I switch out to pin shavings when I move them to the larger brooder 6 by 2.5 ft. The pine shavings are much cheaper so I dont want to use them in the large brooders would cost too much. Please they are HEAVY so more work to buy and lug home and to clean out the brooders the pine shavings are much easier, cheaper, and lighter. But I like the pellets in the small 4 by 2 ft brooder because they dont create as much dust and they are in the house until they go in the larger brooder.

 

[lynnehd]

OK, that makes sense, and I found the ones you mean. They have a bit of Zeolite in them, are made of fir, which is great.
Thanks!

 

[PapaChaz]

one quick question, do you cut the bottoms out of the coke bottles or poke an air hole in it? I made two of these today and they don't seem to allow the water to come through, the nipples worked fine on the bucket before I took them out of it......

 

[redfordchick]

Lovely photos, thanks for sharing. I use those pine pellets for cat litter too, but the shavings seemed like a better deal so that's what I've used. I wondered if the chicks would try to eat the pellets.

 

[Ariel188]

one quick question, do you cut the bottoms out of the coke bottles or poke an air hole in it? I made two of these today and they don't seem to allow the water to come through, the nipples worked fine on the bucket before I took them out of it......

Yes you need to make an air hole on the bottom. For my set up it doesnt work but some people cut the whole bottom off and just refill it like that. I also dont like that idea because chicks could fly or jump into it and drown, plus dander and feathers could get in so I dont think it is as sanitary as just poking a hole. I use a drill bit to drill one hole in the top. When you are filling the bottles you have to use your finger to cover the hole, but its fine!

 

[Ariel188]

Lovely photos, thanks for sharing. I use those pine pellets for cat litter too, but the shavings seemed like a better deal so that's what I've used. I wondered if the chicks would try to eat the pellets.

Mine have not eaten the pellets, or if they do eat some they are fine and grow up great. I maybe lost 5 in 200 chicks last year. I am guessing that is not from pellet eating but nature.

 

[TripMomma]

Very nice!

I will have to check out the chickfountain nipples. I got one at my feed store and it leaks like crazy, so I had to go buy the dish type of waterer.