Please show me your brooders

[jm93030]

As you guys may know , I have lot of babys coming soon in about 2 weeks, and need to get ready with brooders for all

I have 250 eggs in 3 incubators
can you please share some pictures of your brooders so I can get an idea of what to do ?


thank you

 

[JJMR794]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=450679&p=2

POST #14 BY RAINWOLF. I USE THE SAME TYPE SET UP WITH A FEW DIFFERENCES... 1. LARGER TOTES... I GET THE 34? GALLON STERILITE TOTES FROM BIG LOTS OR DOLLAR GENERAL, (30 SOMETHING GALLON???) I CUT THE MIDDLE 2/3'S OUT OF THE LIDS AS RAINWOLF HAS DONE THEN STRING WIRE ACROSS THE OPENING. INSTEAD OF PLACING THE LIGHT INSIDE I SIT IT ON TOP OF THE WIRE IN THE LID.I USE OLD TOWELS FOR THE 1ST WEEK AS FLOORING SUBSTRATE, THEN ONCE SPRADDLE LEG IS NO LONGER A POTENTIAL COMPLICATION ( ABOUT 7 DAYS OLD) I START USING PLAIN GOOD OLD FASHIONED NEWSPAPER FOR FLOORING. CLEAN UP IS SIMPLE--- BUY 2X'S THE NUMBER OF TOTES AND THEN SIMPLY CHANGE THEM OUT ON CLEANING DAY... TAKE THE DIRTY TOTES AND UTENSILS SUCH AS WATER FONTS AND FEED DISHES ALL OUTSIDE AND LET THEM HAVE A NICE LONG BLEACH WATER BATH.... AFTER THAT AIR DRY THEM AND STORE FOR USE THE NEXT TIME YOU NEED CLEAN BROODERS.... I HAVE A STACK OF ROUGHLY 45 OR SO TOTES AND AT LEAST 30 LIDS AND LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR USE. THIS METHOD ALOS ALLOWS FOR "THINNING THE HERD" OR PLACING FEWER CHICKS IN MORE BROODERS AS THEY GROW TO HELP WITH AGRESSION PROBLEMS- A TIP YOU WILL BE NEEDING WITH YOUR BOBS SOON ENOUGH

 

[Sweetjelly]

I'm just being nosey...what are you going to do with 250 quail??

 

[jm93030]

Quote:
I will keep the best and sell the rest

 

[Robo]

Works like a charm.

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
btw the light I had inside that tote was a 20W bulb to wean them off heat (buttons in that brooder)... but it got cold the night i took the pic so I had it inside the brooder.... normally its on top the wire with a solid shade to direct heat in the brooder.

With 250 eggs lets say 150 hatched (based on if shipped etc) you will need BIG totes! I hatch small batches hence my smaller totes but I hatch a lot of batches and they only stay inside that brooder for 2 weeks. I have a large solid enclosed brooder outside then a large wire bottom transition cage then my adult pen... (and my breeder cages but that's another thread

)

 

[Valley quail breeder]

 

[Rainwolf]

I like the clears if you can get them... it makes it easy to check on them at anytime with out having to open the brooder.
This would be what you need I think
http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProd...=Specifications&ProductCategory=252&section=1

its 34 5/8" L x 18 3/4" W x 12 5/8" H
so you should have room for a few chicks

I like the lock down lids as well since they can not be bumped off by anyone or any critter.

 

[mrslb333]

Quote:
What wattage bulb would you use and where would you place it?

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
What wattage bulb would you use and where would you place it?

With any new brooder you need to test the heating to check what wattage is need.
I would not use anything higher the a 100W but my little brooders only need 60-40W to keep temp at 95F. A bigger tote might need a high wattage to maintain a spot of 95F.

You want the light on top of the lid where you put the wire. the light should be on one end of the brooder so that they can go to the "cool" side for food/water and if they get to hot. Make sure the light/heat is entirely on the wire! if any part touches the tote plastic you have a chance of fire.

Watch the chicks they will tell you if cold (piling up in a pig pile) or hot (far from the light wings spread out and panting) and adjust either the wattage of the bulb or invest in a dimmer switch to adjust the strength.