paper towel flooring

[felidaet]

It is best to setup your brooder several days in advance of getting the chicks. Turn the heat lamp on for several hours and keep checking the temperature. You will likely find that you need to adjust the position/height of the heat lamp several times before the temperature is right. You might even find that you need a different size heat lamp.

Then it is best to hurt on the heat lamp a couple of hours before the chicks arrive (if possible) to get the brooder warmed up and the temperature stable.

 

[newchicksnducks]

An inexpensive feeder and waterer from the feed store is really your best bet. The fish tank will work fine for the first few days or week, but it is amazing how quickly they grow! You might want to keep an eye out for a large cardboard box or large rubbermaid container to use as a brooder. I've even used a deck box made to keep lawn chair cushions in for a brooder. Have fun!

 

[CoffeeCow]

I am using the biggest plastic tub that wal-mart sells (it even has wheels) I have 10 little ones that are currently 4 days old. They have plenty of room for now, but as everyone is saying, they grow really fast. I plan on moving them in a few weeks to either the coop if I finish getting it wired up, or a large plastic kiddie pool.
Depending on the size of your fishtank, and number of chicks, you may want to look at the tubs at wal-mart.

As for feeding/watering, I got the little quart size feeders and waterers from TSC, they work great, and are pretty cheap. I put the waterer on a scrap piece of 2x4 to get it off the pine shavings and it also helps the chicks from climbing in the water and spilling it out. just make sure that it is pretty level.

I didn't put paper towels down, just pine shavings... the chicks pecked at the shavings a bit, but they found out they weren't food really fast.

Hope that helps you a little
~moo!~

 

[Mervin]

Your chicks will let you know when it's time to take the paper towel out. After a couple of days they'll understand what "food" is and will be eating well. They'll also start to scratch and you want be able to keep paper towels in there. They'll tear them up to get to the bedding. Also, the marbles in the feeder are a good idea. I remember when I first started, I was absolutely horrified when one of them fell asleep standing up and just plopped over. I really thought something was wrong until I woke her up and she was fine. That were all the time passing out near or on the feeder and waterer.

 

[downstownlady]

Congrats!!! I have had my chicks for 3 days today and it has been an adventure from the get go! If you have the gallon size waterer...you will need to put it up on a wooden block or similiar because the chicks can get underneath and suffocate once the get there. My chicks have already grown since I put them in the brooder. Originally I was going to put them in a single plastic see thru box I got at Walmart (I bought 2 just in case...). The day before when I was setting it up I put the waterer in one end and realized that this was too small and the chicks weren't even here yet. So I had the hubby cut the side out of both of them and duct taped them together to make a big square brooder. It worked great, there was plenty of room for the feeder, waterer and the 13 chicks that I had coming. Now it looks like they may outgrow it before a month is up. I will keep ya'll posted. I was so nervous before they came but day 3 and I have already rescued 1 of the fuzzy little rascals. I started out with the wood chips covered by several layers of paper towels...sprinkled their feed over it (which they promptly took to then poo'd on...it looked like a battle field)...PHEW! When I removed the papertowels they seemed so much happier. I also placed rocks I got from the family dollar store for a $1 a bag in the waterer all the way around as a precaution. They are so cute when they drink. Also, last night I put some of their feed in my hand and let them eat out of it. It was such a cooll experience. What I am trying to say is...it's gonna be a great experience!!!