Using Tanks as Brooders?

[Bex]

Has/does anyone use Tanks (Fish Tanks/Aquariums.. without the water!

) as a brooder?

I had used totes up until we got 6 Muscovy ducklings but then wanted to try out a tank by using our 90gallon that we no longer use for anything else. It holds heat better than the tubs, IMO.

We also have the new chickees in a large tank and they are staying warm, well, too.

I also like it because we can use the screen lids and it keeps our dogs out and the chicks in, lol!

Is there any reason that we -shouldn't- use a tank?

 

[kobesmom81]

We wondered the same thing at our house. So, we kinda did trial and error. My DH had built a coop for my 2 Silkies but since they were so small still it was really too big and we put some other birds in with them. Everything was fine until I gave everyone grapes one day and my big roo kinda "snaped" at the little ones. So, we decided to move them into a new coop that hadn't been built yet. We took a big aquarium that we had and put pine shavings in the bottom, a 1 qt. waterer, food dish and DH made a little roost for them. Then we put them on top of the bar that seperates the living room and kitchen. They loved it, they could watch all the tv they wanted and see everything that was going on in the kitchen. We didn't have any issues and plan to do the same when I go get two more silkie chicks to complete my little flock. We used a poop scoop to get out the poops on a daily basis and cleaned the shavings out completley once a week. We did have to make a little platform for the food and water to keep pine shavings out. And they knew that treats came out of the fridge so everytime you opened the fridge door they got excited, even if you weren't getting them something! LOL Anyhow, it worked well for us.

 

[KellyHM]

I have a 40 gallon (wider than normal) tank that I'm using as a brooder.

 

[Bex]

Thanks for the replies.

We breed mice as a hobby, as well as I am a major reptile lover so we have many tanks around. I was very happy to reuse something we already had.

 

[UrbanMama]

Here's my "Command Center"

Our 1st stage brooder is a 100 gallon aquarium...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6233&p=48