New Brooder

[rittert3]

I'm excited, just got my new brooder done yesterday.

Its a 35 gal tote with 1"x1/2" wire over the 1'x1' hole, has latchs on the ends of the lid and using galv. fruit jar feeders & waterers and pine shaving bedding. My heat bulb is a 125 watt clear infrared with a feed store type heat lamp. I do need to find a way to lift the lamp just a little so that the bulb isn't on the wire but I have at least 2 1/2 more weeks before I have any chicks. I figure the cap. at 6 std/10 bantys/18 quail. It's 34" long x 19" wide x 19" tall the biggest one I could fit in the car lol.

 

[whytedragon]

Very cool! Not sure if this matters, but with mine, I decided to cut out the entire top and put mesh in, and the light goes on one end, and the other end is cooler. I think with just one side open it might get too warm all over...but that's just what I thought.

 

[rittert3]

I might go ahead and maybe drill some vent holes along the top of the "cool side" not sure if I want to yet or not because there is a drafty window at the "cool end". That is a really good point though being that I don't have anyway to adjust my lamp height/ brooder temp and this will be home for 4-6 weeks after hatch when chicks will go to farm or auction.

 

[bigdawg]

make sure you check the temp in there. the heat lamp may get to hot on the chickies.

 

[rittert3]

I'm going to put my incubator thermo. in the brooder after hatch, not so sure how well I will beable to control the temp though. I had an Idea of making squares out of 2x2 that I could add and remove to adjust the temp but I'm not sure if the lumber would cause a fire hazard as the heat lamp shade would set directly on them.

 

[sksmass]

How many chicks can you brood in a 35 gallon tote?

 

[catdaddy66]

I LOVE how nearly anything can make a decent brooder! Mine is better than I could have hoped for, and should suffice for 3-4 weeks time

Here is a pic of mine in action. It is a TV box halved and secured end to end w/ a popdoor between the two halves.

Not too bad for a first attempt. Thanks to all who posted pics and replies to the brooder threads!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I have a plastic box with a lid that opens and closes, and I'm gonna cut a hole in it and put wire on it! But I just haven't go around to doing it yet! lol

 

[cook_kaka_ook]

What is your lamp's wattage?
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[rittert3]

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Well I just made it but I'm thinking about 6 std.s 10 or 12 bantys or pheasant or 18 quail we'll see how it works I have some Heinz 57 farm eggs going in the bator so we'll see how it works. (free tester eggs that will go back to the same farm if and when the chicks get to about 6 wks old)