TOMORROW I get baby chicks!! Is my brooder ready? (with pics)

[ChickenCanoe]

Here's one thing I do, because I'm fastidious.
If day old chicks, they have never had food or water. Chicks will peck at whatever is at their feet. I always start them on paper towels for the first day or two so I can sprinkle food on the towels till they can differentiate feed from shavings. I sometimes even take it a step further and cover the shavings with burlap for a few days. Then when they seem to be doing well with feed and water, I throw all the coverings away or compost them. By that time you will be able to determine the correct height for food and water. You want those at the height of the chicks' backs. You can raise the water to that height and put the feed on a couple bricks or a piece of plywood - whatever gets it to the correct height.
There are two products I put in chicks' first water.
A probiotic formulated specifically for chickens.
https://gro2max.com/
Nutri-Drench is a vitamin, mineral and amino acid supplement that does wonders. The instructions/dosage is on the bottle.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutri-drench-poultry-4-oz

 

[Eri_Oak]

Looks good for now though I'm betting that waterer is going to become a splash zone, with the way the cup is angled (which I'm sure is deliberate, but it just looks wonky). If it causes too much spillage in the brooder you can always raise it by an inch and see if that helps.

I think the angle looks wonky (angled upward) because there's no water in it yet. Once it's filled it will be horizontal to the floor. But I think you're right that it will probably make a mess; that's definitely been a concern. I'll try to raise it up a bit so it's a little farther off the floor.

Fermented feed may not work great in that style of feeder (mostly the mess factor, since it tends to stick to things), though with very young chicks I also wouldn't want them stomping around in it, so if you're going to use that for fermented feed, I would NOT open it up.

What would be a better feeder for them? I am at a loss for what to use that they can't stomp around in, so I just figured I would clean that one out a few times a day, which certainly isn't my preferred option!

 

[Eri_Oak]

Your brooder looks good to me. They will outgrow it fast though.

HOPING they'll be okay in there until four weeks or so. We won't have electricity in the coop and our nights can be cool, so I don't think we'll be able to get them outside before that point. (It's also not built yet, which is a major faux pas I realize! Stupid COVID-related shipping delays...)

Any suggestions on what size brooder we might need for five birds, and when they might outgrow this one?

 

[Eri_Oak]

Looks good. Put a shallow dish under the water cup - or even an upturned square lid from a piece of tupperware. They WILL make a mess of things, and you may have to train them to it if its one of the "push to dispense" models. I can't tell from the photo, and don't own a similar product. Well, I do, but they are horizontal watering cups, and I had to train my birds to it. A few still haven't figured it out, but I have three different water sources, sometimes 4, in the run, so its not critical.

Your babies look well and truly pampered. All the best to you and yours.

It is a gravity-fed cup, so if there is water in the reservoir then it fills up. I did buy a horizontal nipple that I can replace it with if it's making too much of a mess. I was worried that they wouldn't be able to figure out the horizontal one right off the bat, though. So I thought maybe the gravity up would be better. Your idea of putting something underneath to catch the drips/slosh is brilliant, though! Thank you!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

What would be a better feeder for them? I am at a loss for what to use that they can't stomp around in, so I just figured I would clean that one out a few times a day, which certainly isn't my preferred option!

I'd try it out for now and see how it works - as I don't have that style of feeder I can't really test for pros/cons.

Once they get a bit older (and less likely to just stand or poop in their food), I prefer using cat/small dog bowls for fermented feed. They're small enough to discourage birds from standing in them, easy to clean (dishwasher safe) and heavy enough that they shouldn't tip over on baby birds.

 

[Stefrrr]

Wow, this looks like a really well set-up brooder! Great idea to put the box inside a crate. When they start flying after 2-ish weeks, I’d keep an eye out that they don’t get stuck between the box and crate wall.

I have one of those brooder plates and it’s fantastic.

I used one of those cup feeders - it leaked constantly and the chicks still managed to poop in it. I stuck a nipple on the bottom of a water bottle for my batch of five instead.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

The day is finally here that I get to go pick up my first little chickies! TOMORROW can't come soon enough!
The brooder seems so simple...and then I start getting nervous about a million little things

Are there any tweaks I should make before the babies go in it? There will be five of them - four various colored egg layers, and one Welsummer.

The outside is a 42x28 in wire dog kennel. Inside is a cardboard box that's just a little smaller than the kennel. I'm using the box so they can't get their little heads stuck while they're tiny, and also because I have a prey-driven dog and need to teach her that chicks are not toys I plan to remove the box as soon as it seems safe to do so, which will give them a little more room.

The floor is hemp bedding. I have a brick to raise the food up, and a branch for playing as soon as they're big enough - or should these just go in now? I have the heating plate a little lower in the back than in the front.

Feeding fermented food, if that matters for anything. Was thinking that I would just open up the little plastic feeder so it's more like a trough, if needed.
Am I ready??? Any changes I should make?? Give me all your brooder wisdom!

View attachment 2322919View attachment 2322920

Your brooder is perfect!
Your chicks will be happy and healthy! ,

 

[Jeanw]

Wow, this looks like a really well set-up brooder! Great idea to put the box inside a crate. When they start flying after 2-ish weeks, I’d keep an eye out that they don’t get stuck between the box and crate wall.

yes! I ended up cutting a piece of deer netting and clothespinning it to the top of the cardboard box. This prevented the chicks from escape and keep my kitty out of there! and it didn’t cost me anything....

 

[Eri_Oak]

Wow, this looks like a really well set-up brooder! Great idea to put the box inside a crate. When they start flying after 2-ish weeks, I’d keep an eye out that they don’t get stuck between the box and crate wall.

I have one of those brooder plates and it’s fantastic.

I used one of those cup feeders - it leaked constantly and the chicks still managed to poop in it. I stuck a nipple on the bottom of a water bottle for my batch of five instead.

Thank you for the tip about them flying up and getting stuck!! I will keep an eye on that, and have a goal of training my pup to be calm so we can remove the box by then

 

[Eri_Oak]

yes! I ended up cutting a piece of deer netting and clothespinning it to the top of the cardboard box. This prevented the chicks from escape and keep my kitty out of there! and it didn’t cost me anything....

Brilliant!!