no vents in a plastic tub brooder?

[chickwatcher1]

I'm setting up a brooder for new quail chicks in about 3 weeks. I've seen people with their homemade brooders, usually it's a big tub with a light on top. Don't you need a hole in the bottom to allow the built up carbon dioxide to drain out, or draw fresh air in so they don't suffocate? And does the light being on 24 hrs a day make the birds go phycho? I bet it incourages them to eat non-stop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

24 hour light is ok for the first couple days. After that, one is better off with a non-light producing heat element like a ceramic heat emitter.

As for ventilation, it can't be completely enclosed. The top, if you have one, needs to be wire mesh. Fresh air is more important than water and food.

 

[chickwatcher1]

The 40 watt heater and thermostat on the incubator seems like something useful.

 

[Chicken-Farmer]

You will definitely need a cover. Your chicks will be flying within 1 1/2 weeks. Red heat lamp bulbs work fine for brooding. I have mine hooked up to a 300 watt light dimmer that I purchased from Home Depot for a few bucks. That way I don't have to raise the lamp I just dim the light as they progressively get more feathers.

Chicken-Farmer

 

[dc3085]

Here are 264 pages of brooder pictures and instructions via the Brooder sticky.