Pine shavings? Handling?

[wesandsam]

NP anything to save a buck

 

[SteamChick]

Ok, I made a modification to the small brooder with a separator for the food, and pine shavings covered by paper towels in the other half. They love perching on the divider. Maybe this will help keep the food out of their water as well. 6 days old today!

I can see I am going to have to build a mid-size brooder for the interim - bigger than this one - until they are old enough to go outside.

 

[Hypertay]

Ok, I made a modification to the small brooder with a separator for the food, and pine shavings covered by paper towels in the other half. They love perching on the divider. Maybe this will help keep the food out of their water as well. 6 days old today!

I can see I am going to have to build a mid-size brooder for the interim - bigger than this one - until they are old enough to go outside.

That's adorable! But those babies will outgrow that box by tomorrow, lol!

 

[SteamChick]

That's adorable! But those babies will outgrow that box by tomorrow, lol!

LOL Precisely why I need to build a bigger one today!

 

[Quailsong]

I would definitely build a bigger brooder. Not only will they outgrow that one within days, but you want to make sure they have room to move towards or away from a heat lamp. Looks like you've no space for them to do so, which might make them overheat.

 

[SteamChick]

I would definitely build a bigger brooder. Not only will they outgrow that one within days, but you want to make sure they have room to move towards or away from a heat lamp. Looks like you've no space for them to do so, which might make them overheat.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. It was a last minute thing we put together to pick up our chicks in. I have enough materials in the garage to build a much bigger one, and someone gave us a coop for the back yard, which I'm fixing up!

 

[Quailsong]

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. It was a last minute thing we put together to pick up our chicks in. I have enough materials in the garage to build a much bigger one, and someone gave us a coop for the back yard, which I'm fixing up!

Definitely. We all need a holding/moving pen. And I like yours as it's sturdy, functional & has a bit of that old-time feel. When I move this summer my first days brooder will be a big plastic tote bin. I'll only have under 10 quail that batch but I know that won't be enough to keep them more than a week. Chickens are much more rambunctious (at least, I think so), & a bigger brooder is def needed!

 

[SteamChick]

Definitely. We all need a holding/moving pen. And I like yours as it's sturdy, functional & has a bit of that old-time feel. When I move this summer my first days brooder will be a big plastic tote bin. I'll only have under 10 quail that batch but I know that won't be enough to keep them more than a week. Chickens are much more rambunctious (at least, I think so), & a bigger brooder is def needed!

Indeed! I'm building the bigger brooder today, and then when they are old enough to be outside, they'll go to the coop. Once they are grown, however, I'll be transforming the brooder coop we were given into a regular coop, all sided in with a ramp to a run. I love the look of the coop and want to keep that look, but much of the siding wood is rotted and won't last another season.

 

[Quailsong]

Sounds like you got a good plan. If just the siding is rotted then that's not so bad, can replace those & paint over.

I'll tease & say you're spoiling them w/ a brooder till they're adults. I'd probably acclimatize mine a few days outside then toss 'em in the coop (if no larger birds there) so long as the temps outside were well above freezing (50F+).

 

[SteamChick]

Sounds like you got a good plan. If just the siding is rotted then that's not so bad, can replace those & paint over.

I'll tease & say you're spoiling them w/ a brooder till they're adults. I'd probably acclimatize mine a few days outside then toss 'em in the coop (if no larger birds there) so long as the temps outside were well above freezing (50F+).

We're well onto summer here,. whew! I don't know if we'll have any more below 50 deg nights here or not until Fall. But, I'll wait til they are a bit older. I can't wait to turn the big brooder into a coop! And build the run! In between classes!

I was very dubious about having chickens but I am glad we took this step. It's a great learning experience for Ash and they are cute little beggers!