Pics of my new brooder

[Gypsy07]

I thought I'd post up pics of the brooder I built for my four chicks, just cause I'm quite proud of it.

I'd be interested in suggestions for improvements, or potential problems anyone can see with it.

Please feel free to make as many criticisms or suggestions as you can think of! I'd like to know what you all think.

It's approximately 4' x 2' and 20" deep. I had to make a good lid for it, cause I'm keeping it indoors and my dogs are very interested in all the peeping and scratching going on in there. The lid is in two sections so I can lift one side without disturbing the heat lamp that's sitting on the other side, and it's wire mesh on a wooden frame so that there'll be enough ventilation in there. I made the sides of it solid though, so that I can eventually put it in an unheated shed without worrying about draughts. There's a ladder going up to a raised platform, where I wanted to put their feeder and drinker so they couldn't kick wood shavings into their water ten times an hour like they were doing in their cardboard box! But so far they haven't really got the idea and their drinker is still down on the floor. There's two full width perches(18mm dowel) in under the raised platform, and they like hopping on and off them.

They've got a red 60W light bulb hanging inside just now, cause the heat lamp was too hot for them! I thought that was far more energy efficient than raising the lamp up 3' and wasting most of the heat. It's the same bulb as they had in their cardboard box for the first two and a half weeks and its far enough above their heads that they can't reach it just by stretching their necks! They seem happy with it anyway...

 

[Mahonri]

Very nice but the light looks a tad too close to the upper level.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I like it! I would not use newspaper on the top level though. From what I've read here, it can cause leg problems in chicks. If you don't want them kicking shavings into their feeder/waterers, elevate them either on bricks or 2X4's wide side down. Just make sure they are stable and can't topple over and squish the chicks.

 

[M To The Maxx]

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
You're completely right! The two sections of the lid can be swapped around. They're not fixed on, they just slot over the edges.
And when I was using the big heat lamp, I put the small section of lid - and the heat lamp - over the other end of the box.
I've not switched it on for the last few days but I left it there in case the night time temperature dropped - and for the photos!

 

[Baymen Moe]

Looks good. I'd make sure there's enough room under your dowels so that a chick can't get it's head caught under it. I had a close call with one of my hens getting caught in a hazard I didn't recognize and the chicken didn't know enough to turn it's head to free itself. She was just pulling straight back when she could have just lifted her head and got out. Luckily I was there. Hazard removed.

Your brooder by the way, is similar to mine.

 

[Mahonri]

OK... now it makes sense!

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
So where's the smiley for a lightbulb going on over your head? LOL! I never thought about putting the feeder on a bit of 2x4. Nice one! Thanks.

I thought the newspaper and leg problems thing was only till the chicks were a week or so old?
Maybe I'll give them a bit of old cloth instead though. If they ever figure out how to go upstairs that is! Ha ha.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
So where's the smiley for a lightbulb going on over your head? LOL! I never thought about putting the feeder on a bit of 2x4. Nice one! Thanks.

I thought the newspaper and leg problems thing was only till the chicks were a week or so old?
Maybe I'll give them a bit of old cloth instead though. If they ever figure out how to go upstairs that is! Ha ha.

Here you go:

And the newspaper would be bound to get wet, thus making a slippery mess. I'd use an old towel, puppy training pads, etc. (I even saw someone using an old crib mattress pad)

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
Yikes! Sounds like your hen had a close call. Lucky you were there. I've noticed with all of my animals over the years, if there's any possible chance they might be able to injure themselves, no matter how completely ridiculously unlikely it might be, they'll manage to do it. Usually on a Saturday or Sunday night, when the vets' out-of-hours emergency call out fees are the highest...

But how much room is enough here? The bottom of the dowelling is 2" off the floor, but of course there's a thick layer of wood shavings on top of that.
I think if they wanted to, they could probably limbo dance right under those perches! Maybe not in a week or two when they've grown a bit more though!
I'll keep an eye on that. Thanks for the warning.