Prepping the new ones for life...

[anthonyjames]

I am sure a lot of you out there are in the same boat as me either with limited space or don't have electric where you need it. I am trying to create a brooder that is not electric if possible. I have been poking around trying to find images and plans for brooders and have not been having very good luck.

What I was thinking of doing is either building this out of plywood 4 x 8 x 1/2" and making 30 inch walls around it. Then in the middle making something that was roughly 4 x 4 that they could run under. Then if they wanted to run out they would have about 2' on 2 of the sides. I read or saw something about a Hova Brooder??? or something like that. Used with Electric or Not.

The brooder would be in my detached garage which is about 35 ft from the closest electrical outlet and running a generator for chickens in my opinion is out of the question.

Does anyone have any clue what I am talking about? And if so does anyone have directions or images on these?

I don't want purchase anymore books. I have purchased many.

My thought is I could use this to start my meat birds and laying hens before I get them out in their tractors.

Thanks

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I think Frugal has posted some pictures of the brooder set-ups he uses, I think it's like what you're describing, a hanging cover with heat lamps that the chicks can freely move closer to/further away from as they wish. And I think you could just use a good heavy-duty outdoor extension cord to supply the power 35 feet away. I wish you success!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Electric cords are one of my best friends here.... I would invest in a $15.00 50 ft outdoor cord.

I make mine with half sheets of plywood for the walls.... put a couple of two by fours on the top to lay my top on... poke a whole for lights... and your done. Keeps the whole brooder at 90-100 degrees for the first week, lower the temp as you go by turning off a light or venting the top.


I use the bubble insulation that looks like tin foil bubble wrap. It's reflective and man does it hold in the heat. I don't have any pics but when I get around too it I will take some for you.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I found the info I suggested, go to https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=109583&p=1 and look at page 19 post #190 and page 20 post #195 especially.

 

[anthonyjames]

Sunnyside...

Wow.. That is nice and easy. I wonder if I wrapped the entire inside in tekfoil or foil bubble wrap if you would really need the lights in there for them?

And it looks like he is or was using red heat lamps. Do you think that thing will keep heat with a regular bulb? Maybe a little cheaper to run.

Thanks for finding it. I will also have to look into the electrical piece. Electric scares me as I have been zapped badly before and I don't mess with it. I wonder how easy it is to hook up the cords to those light outlets.

Jeff,

I am guessing from what you said yours is similar. Can't wait to see photos of yours.

And man the snow is piling in on here along lake michigan. Got 14 inches and supposed to snow til 6am.

 

[petrelline]

Those freestanding boxes with the heat lamps inside them are called "hovers." Robert Plamondon talks about them in this book ("Success with Baby Chicks") and reprints a 1942 article about them here:
http://www.plamondon.com/brooder.shtml

 

[jaku]

I'd get an extension cord- otherwise, I think Strombergs has a brooder heater that runs on propane.