Need bigger brooder

[Ccort]

I need a big brooder but just for a couple of weeks. I'm currently using a large dog crate. Any ideas? The catch is that it must have a lid! I've tried thinning of ways to expand the current dog crate but can't think of something that wouldn't be very costly and would have a lid.

 

[Mvan42]

Can u separate them and do a plastic tote. Cut the lid and put wire over it

 

[Ccort]

I need a big brooder but just for a couple of weeks. I'm currently using a large dog crate. Any ideas? The catch is that it must have a lid! I've tried thinning of ways to expand the current dog crate but can't think of something that wouldn't be very costly and would have a lid.

I just had an idea. What about putting them in a four to five person human tent indoors? Its as hillbilly as can be but would there be any harm in that?

 

[Ccort]

Can u separate them and do a plastic tote. Cut the lid and put wire over it

I thought of this but whenever I seperate them they freak out and I dont have another heater, water bowl, feeder.

 

[NatJ]

Big cardboard box?
Combine pieces of cardboard for a bigger box?

Cover with window screen, chicken wire, sections of wire dog crate, metal grate borrowed from a grill, mesh child-gate or dog-gate, etc. Possibly even cover part of it with an old sheet, although that's not nearly as good for ventilation.

I just had an idea. What about putting them in a four to five person human tent indoors? Its as hillbilly as can be but would there be any harm in that?

Yes, that might work. Of course the tent will get dirty, and it is not very strong (against a determined dog or cat), but as long as you don't have housepets that will try to get in, it will probably work fine.

I've also made a big brooder in a garage:
Tarp on the floor (to protect the floor), with cardboard on top of that, and bedding on top of the cardboard.
Surrounded by a combination of dog kennel pieces, child-gates, and pieces of cardboard.
Covered by more such things, including some chicken wire.

It worked well enough for as long as I needed it, and then I took it all apart again. Some things went back to their original uses after a cleaning, and I disposed of the other parts.

 

[Justso]

Can u separate them and do a plastic tote. Cut the lid and put wire over it

This is what I do. It works out great and is very economical.
You just cut a large section out of the center of the lid. You can either use zip ties or duct tape to hold down the hardware cloth. If you using zip ties you have to pierce little holes in the lid.

 

[samanthaoverton]

I do storage containers myself..

 

[Arelwood]

I just had an idea. What about putting them in a four to five person human tent indoors? Its as hillbilly as can be but would there be any harm in that?

I use a 2-3 man tent. It's a little large for my 6 chicks, but otherwise was great!

 

[samanthaoverton]

I see you live in Kentucky? Does the bottom come out of your dog crate? Is it the wire kind with a solid removable bottom? I'm brewing something in my mind..and are you northern or southern KY? I'm north east TN..it is gonna be 70s today most of my guys will be outside..
Edit..all the little jerks will be outside..lol

 

[3KillerBs]

I brood outdoors, but if I had to have them inside I'd make something like this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-chicken-tv-brooder.76033/