"Too Many birds for my Brooder" Dilemma

Maybe a big plastic tub with a mechanic's light over it? That's what I did with my babies.

 

LOL , I have 3 brooders because I didn't plan well, well actually cuz I'm a hatchaholic and can't stop
My biggest brooder is my old dog whelping pen (used once, and she only had one pup, so it's new), my next one is an x-lg dog kennel (wire type) and my third one is a rubbermaid tote that dh fashioned a lid(to keep kids and cats out) for. I am rotating today cuz I have 1 day olds that need out of the hatcher, I also have another batch that started pipping, so hopefully I can put them with the now day olds. Talk about crazy. I feel your pain

Krista

edited to say my point was you can make one out of just about anything I have also heard about people getting the empty watermelon boxes from the store

 

If you have the room..... get more boxes and tape them together to make a large area.

We used a 6' round kiddie wading pool for our brooder in our laundry/mud room. We surrounded the pool with 18" high cardboard wall and then a 4' high chicken wire fence. I had to put a "gate" in the fence so I could access the pool for cleaning and feed and water. But it worked and none of the little darlings flew out.... though our White Face Black Spanish pullet sure did try.

 

I can't relate... I actually had 4 potential brooders planned out with all but the smallest being about twice as big as I planned on needing. So far I've only got 2 half full.

I dunno what your using in the garage but the kiddie pool would have been my suggestion. It's about the biggest premade thing you can get. Another would be to just use brooder rings but they have no bottom. Just a strip of cardboard or cheap wood in a circle.

 

I heard someone used their bathtub in a spare bathroom.. I thought it was a great last minute idea or in times of need. So far the only idea I have that I haven't used is to net in the underneath of the dining room table! LOL seemed like a good idea in a time of need.

But seriously.. 3.5 week olds? Why not put them in the coop?

 

Go to walmart and ask for a watermelon box. It's huge and it's tall and it's thick! I have used mine over and over. Be sure to ask for the cover too so you can use it as a bottom. The best thing..it's FREE better try now while they are still getting the huge boxes.

 

BTW...those watermelon boxes fold up flat for storage And transport

 

Ughhh... I get your frustration, my girls are all 5 weeks old, and unfortunately we are behind on the coop renovation, so they're still in their 4x4x2 brooder, all 15 of them! ... I have to get the sheathing up on the coop, and the foundation fixed, plus new windows and door before they can go out there... it's DRIVING ME CRAZY because they don't want to be in the brooder at night. They go outside during the day in a 10x10 pen, but I can't keep them out there all night due to the predators.


AGHHHHHHH.