- Jul 15, 2010
- 27
- 0
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Hello fellow chicken fanciers!
I'm getting back into chickens and found this wonderful site....
I'm getting 25 RIR day-old chicks (all hens) in 2 or 3 weeks and can't wait to get started.
I made a brooder a few years ago and will be digging it out and cleaning it up and getting it ready for the babies.
I used it before and it worked great. It's 3 feet wide x 8 feet long and about 20 inches high. I made the frame out of 2x2s and old scrap paneling for the sides and an old screen door for the top. It has a wire base built about 3 inches up from the bottom. I have a slot cut down the side at the very bottom and have paneling boards slid in there that I can slide out to remove the poop. I also put some old lawnmover wheels on one end and a strap on the other - so I can roll it out of the garage (where I raise the chicks) on nice days to give them some fresh air and sun.
I put a divider up about midway in the interior so the baby chicks only have about a 3' x 4' area to roam. As they get bigger, I slide the divider towards the other end to gradually give them more room. After they get about the size of banties, I move them to their chicken house.
Anyway, thanks for a great board, and I hope to be talking to you all soon and sharing ideas and info on our chickens
- Dennis
P.S. You all have probably already discussed this - but if you haven't - here's a tip an old pig farmer told me years ago, and which I've used for all my previous flocks:
I keep a small radio in the chicken house and leave it on 24x7, usually tuned to country music
It really seems to calm the chickens and I believe it may also help keep predators away.
I'm getting back into chickens and found this wonderful site....
I'm getting 25 RIR day-old chicks (all hens) in 2 or 3 weeks and can't wait to get started.
I made a brooder a few years ago and will be digging it out and cleaning it up and getting it ready for the babies.
I used it before and it worked great. It's 3 feet wide x 8 feet long and about 20 inches high. I made the frame out of 2x2s and old scrap paneling for the sides and an old screen door for the top. It has a wire base built about 3 inches up from the bottom. I have a slot cut down the side at the very bottom and have paneling boards slid in there that I can slide out to remove the poop. I also put some old lawnmover wheels on one end and a strap on the other - so I can roll it out of the garage (where I raise the chicks) on nice days to give them some fresh air and sun.
I put a divider up about midway in the interior so the baby chicks only have about a 3' x 4' area to roam. As they get bigger, I slide the divider towards the other end to gradually give them more room. After they get about the size of banties, I move them to their chicken house.
Anyway, thanks for a great board, and I hope to be talking to you all soon and sharing ideas and info on our chickens
P.S. You all have probably already discussed this - but if you haven't - here's a tip an old pig farmer told me years ago, and which I've used for all my previous flocks:
I keep a small radio in the chicken house and leave it on 24x7, usually tuned to country music
