Please show me your brooders

[Peach2u]

Ok, I have 11 Americanas and 5 Black Copper Maran{ FS} chicks. They out grew the rubbermaid tote in less than a week. So last night I moved them to the kiddie pool with a slide. Not my first choice but it is working. I will need to put a fence of some type around it very soon.
In my scanning for how too's on brooders. I came across a few I thought where funny. Which made me think in a new way when looking at items. I am on a mission now to find an old TV console or record player console. After gutted they could make Chick O Vison. The record player consoles already have a flip top. If you take the front cloth off the front and replace with plexi-glass you could see them from the side. Most of them have scrolling wood work in front of the cloth. After gutted I think all that is needed to replace maybe the back panel. Add the light and vents on the back. Also would need to paint the inside or insert some kind of washable surface inside. When not in use it could just be a storage cabinet. That is my idea for my next brooder. What do you think?

 

[matefrio]

I put 20 quail in this comfortably. They are almost 4 weeks old now and will be ready to go outside soon.

Cost:
Plastic Tub: $14.00 Maccourt 36x24x8 Plas Utility Tub ST3608 I found a Lowes by the cement.
Peg Board : $6.00
10' of 1\\4 caging $13.00
Existing Heat Lamp keeping it at 90 degrees. 1 week olds are all over the place so they're comfy.

Only bad thing is wood chips in the food\\water.

 

[calihawker]

Hey Randall, if your still floating around this thread, I noticed there are not any vent holes in your brooder and the top
is sealed up pretty good. Any problems with air circulation? I built mine very much like yours but put holes around the side
about 7 inches from the floor. Love the thermostat idea btw. Also designed it with 1/2x1/2 hardware cloth with paper for the first
few weeks as well. Sometimes I guess right!

Steve

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Well Steve, Thanks! for the compliments.

Actually, there's no "air vent holes" in the sides anywhere. But, the opening I cut in the 3/4" plywood lid is 17" x 24". I attached 1/2" hardware wire from underside this plywood top, and snipped an opening in the wire so the 250 watt heat lamp (bulb) could protrude on through the little bit it needed to to allow the lamp "fixture" to set flat on the wire. Now, the lamp "fixture" diameter is maybe 10" (don't know exactly off-hand), but there is much "opening" around that lamp fixture for what little "exhaust" is needed for fresh air flow. The "fresh air flow" is allowed by having a 1/2" wire floor. Remember, heat rises, and in this case, as long as you've got some opening underneath (the wire floor in this case).....and an opening up above (around the lamp), the flow will be natural.....("flow" meaning good air in thru the bottom.........warm "used" air out the top. Even though the bottom is covered with towels the first week or so, there is sufficient "good" air passing throught that cloth.

Hope I explained it simple enough. If not, I'll try in a different way.

Just remember, even though it's possible to construct something like this to rob fresh air from the chicks, odds are they're gonna be just fine. Fresh air is the least of your problems in the scenario. Ample heat (not too much / but yet enough) is key. The luxuary of a brooder this size is they can "come to the heat" ........ or ........... "get away from the heat" as needed. They'll let you know how comfortable by the distance they keep from the heat.

I've got one coming along that's gonna be bigger than this one. I'm not changing the concept other than the size (as in floor space).

 

[Fat Daddy]

Are you over run with all the eggs them Georgia Giants are crankin out yet Randall? I'd guess you got a bator full by now... Bill

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Actually, not yet, Bill. They're gradually starting to get the production line at full throttle, but even though I've had the heat lamp / light time on them, these dedgum cold fronts are not letting them go full blast yet. I'm just collecting what few is coming in to pickle ......... (so I can send folks like JJMR some that have daily cravings for them.....

)

Kinda waiting for the major portion of the "ladies of the flock" to show me some initiative, I guess.

Have you got a repetetive flow of Butler eggs started yet?