Outdoor Brooder for Meaties - Pics

[j.luetkemeyer]

If you were to use the same spot you could place this brooder on a sand box. Sand is one of the best flooring materials and is easily cleaned with a rake or similar tool. It stays dry and dries out their droppings fast enough to help prevent parasite problems. Just another idea. I love the brooder.


Jacob Luetkemeyer

 

[anthonyjames]

Jacob,

From everything I have read it is actually better to use the deep liter method and never clean it out. It helps the chicks and their immune systems. Not only that if you run chicks early or late in the year when the weather is much cooler the pine add 6 - 8 inches of insulation to keep the chick warm and off of the cool damp ground.

And as Jeff said early you can start your chicks day 1 on this.

 

[j.luetkemeyer]

The deep litter method works; however, you should clean it out between batches. Sand is a more sustainable approach since you don't have to replace it or find a place to put the old litter. I usually don't raise meat birds in the late fall or over winter due to a higher amount of feed being necessary so I do not worry about colder temps. Just another option I found to work well.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
That would be REALLY tough to do with meaties!

The deep litter method works; however, you should clean it out between batches. Sand is a more sustainable approach since you don't have to replace it or find a place to put the old litter. I usually don't raise meat birds in the late fall or over winter due to a higher amount of feed being necessary so I do not worry about colder temps. Just another option I found to work well.

I like the sand idea- it would certainly be cheaper!​

 

[anthonyjames]

I remember reading in Pastured Poultry that Joel Salatin never cleans out his brooders. And of course all he raises is Cornish X.

The whole idea behind it is as stated earlier in this post. Creating a micro-climate inside the brooder where bugs will come in from underneath and create the natural feed and scratching.

That is the way I have set my brooder up and I have not cleaned it in 2 years. I have just added layer of pine shavings as the do decompose after time. Know I am not running Cornish X. But I have run over 300 hens, 150 meat birds and come July turkeys and another batch of 50 meat birds. I have had no issues other than the chicks that like to eat to much pine.

And I normally have 45 - 60 days between my batches so anything that is in there dies before I get back to using it again.

 

[blueskylen]

I have always used the deep litter on my meaties, as I have them in a coop with a wood floor. use straw and DE to cut the smell. it can get about a foot deep for 50 meaties over the time they are in there. i use about a thick layer of newspaper to start with under the straw, and that makes it very easy to clean out and keeps the floor clean - all it takes is a hosing after shoveling it out.

i like the fact that you have a sort of triangle shape with the big raising doors, as sometime you may need to go inside for something, and have ample room after the door is raised to stand up. nice set up!

 

[Sundown_Farmer]

Quote:
I think he said he cleans them annually. He goes on to say the first few batches don't do as well as the later ones that benefit from the living organisms and the warmth in the bedding. And he sometimes uses a tiller to stir them up between batches. That part cracked me up.

Excellent work, Danschicks. Can't wait to build one.

 

[j.luetkemeyer]

I could easily see never cleaning it out if you are only using it to brood. There is not as much excrement during that process because of how small they are. I am mainly talking about the remainder of the grow out. I apologize for not mentioning this fact.