Picked up my babies yesterday!

[theoldchick]

They sure do know how to sleep, don't they?

 

[fowl farm]

I love the mason jar water container!

 

[PeepsCA]

I've been using that style of brooder for 3 seasons now (I ended up making 9 of them total so far, and they've gotten a LOT of use, lol). Prior to that I used cardboard boxes with hardware cloth tops, which work well too and you can just toss them out after each use. I like the sterilite bins better tho, (with hardware cloth attached over the cutouts in the lids) because all of it can be washed/sanitized in between hatches and used again and again and again. A jigsaw, a drill, a few zip ties and some electrical tape was all I needed, pretty simple!

 

[deek]

Such cuties! Love the grass in there too. Didn't know about the mirror though. For what is it used?

 

[JLeigh]

About how long do they stay in a Sterilite bin? I'm going to use one, but will have to have something bigger sooner rather than later it seems. Any suggestions on what to use for "Phase 2" of brooding? I want an interim brooder (to use between the Sterilite box and the outdoor, heated coop) that will give them plenty of space, but prevent them from escaping.

For my chicks, I used a plastic kiddie pool with chicken wire around the circumference and it worked beautifully. Perhaps it wasn't very attractive, but the chicks didn't seem to mind

(and my grandkids enjoy it, too.) I used an infrared heat lamp above it, and could control the temperature very well, but chickens don't fly as early as guineas (?) and at five weeks, I put them in the coop with an infrared heat lamp. They did just fine, and are now typical yard chickens.

Thanks AGAIN everyone. This is my first hatch, and I want to get it right.

 

[allidew2]

Such cuties! Love the grass in there too. Didn't know about the mirror though. For what is it used?

They LOVE looking at themselves in a mirror! Several of mine have stood on the thermometer right in front of the mirror, stretch up as tall as they can, and raise their tiny little wings..... kinda like they are showing off how 'big' they are.

Some of the others will peck at the keets in the mirror. I think I also read somewhere that it makes them feel more secure since there is (the illusion of, anyway!) a larger group of them.

 

[PeepsCA]

Depending on how big the hatch is up to about 18-20 keets can stay in the bin for a week, or smaller number of keets can stay in them for up to 2-3 weeks if I have enough empty bins to be able to divide the hatch up with just 8-9 keets in each bin. I also have several cages that I can put the keets in outside on the grass on nice warm days, which they love.

For my intermediate brooder... it's sounds silly but I converted a 2 horse straight pull trailer into a nice roomy brooder with a couple perches and a heat lamp and large flake shavings for bedding, plus a big rock and some milk crates for exercise/stimulation. The sides are closed in at the top with louvered sheet metal and I've used hardware cloth over the back doors and manger doors so I can open it up for lots of fresh air and sunshine during the day, and close it up enough to be nicely sheltered and warm at night. The manger areas are a big hit, I've bedded them with straw and once the keets figure out they can get up there they love to hang out up there and get a great view of the driveway area and the other flocks running around. (And the tack compartment is handy for storing feed!). It's nothing special to look at, but completely rodent and predator proof and it's served me well for several years now.

I also built a 4' wide x 8' long x 2' tall brooder from linseed oil treated OSB and hardware cloth, then painted it white to reflect the summer heat better... and that I use as well (also serves as a good hospital cage on the off season if I need it). I wish I would have built it 4 feet tall instead tho... so I may modify it here in the next few weeks. I have not needed it yet this season because I'm selling so many keets so fast this time tho. I will try to dig up pics of later and post them.

 

[deek]

They LOVE looking at themselves in a mirror! Several of mine have stood on the thermometer right in front of the mirror, stretch up as tall as they can, and raise their tiny little wings..... kinda like they are showing off how 'big' they are.

Some of the others will peck at the keets in the mirror. I think I also read somewhere that it makes them feel more secure since there is (the illusion of, anyway!) a larger group of them.

Oh too funny! I am picking up my chicks this Tues and will try it and see.

 

[Joycats]

Awww...those are my babies! They look great, I'm so glad you're enjoying them. I don't know if you noticed it or not but I have mirrors in different places scattered throughout my yard. The guineas love to look at themselves. Even as adults. It's so funny to watch them pace back and forth and chatter to that mirror. Congrats!

 

[allidew2]

Awww...those are my babies! They look great, I'm so glad you're enjoying them. I don't know if you noticed it or not but I have mirrors in different places scattered throughout my yard. The guineas love to look at themselves. Even as adults. It's so funny to watch them pace back and forth and chatter to that mirror. Congrats!

HI JOY!!!!!

Yes, they are doing great. Thanks to your starting them off so well they are truly strong, active and healthy. This morning they are actually 1 week old and I saw several of them fluttering the length of the brooder/bin, practicing their take-off skills! Unbelievable! They are changing so fast. And I LOVE hearing their peeps all day!

I'll have to look for the mirrors in your yard when we come back to visit..... I was SO busy looking at all your beautiful birds I don't know if I saw mirrors or not! LOL I have a mirror already mounted on one wall in their coop, but now I think I'll find one to put in their pen, and maybe even another somewhere in our yard, too. Thanks for that idea!

Lovin' my little bebes!