Wanted: Something To Use As a Brooder????MN

[MagsC]

I dont know if anyone from Minnesota will see this, but I am trying to find something to use as a brooder, if anyone has something like this?
I was thinking large longer aquarium, stock tank, large rubbermaid container, large crate etc. or if someone has a brooder halfway decently priced. I have a heat lamp and a clamp for it, just find myself in great need of another brooder (or two even!! One for chicks and one for ducklings/goslings). Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Kennyog]

I go to the Dollar Store and buy their plastic containers.i use pine shavings for bedding and a simple heat lamp like you use.You don't need anything fancy.

 

[willowcol]

I went to our local grocery store and got 2 of thier huge watermelon boxes. They work great. Mine just puts them out back near the dumpsters. good luck!

 

[rancher hicks]

Well now I saw this in a magazine I think and that's where I got the idea. I trashed picked one of those 48" plastic pools. They're about 6" deep. I saw them for sale here at K-mart I think. Anyhow I wrapped a circle of fencing around it and it workded great. They were about 8 weeks before I moved them tho I expect you wouldn't need to wait that long. I'm new so I didn't have the coop finished. You could wrap it with 2' high fencing of you choice. I used 3' cause that's what I had. I think I may buy another cause you can only fit about 12 chickens once they get big, but it worked great. Keeps all the chips inside really good, mostly. I had eventually purchased 4 of those plastic bins at $9 each for 25 chicks. Very expensive. I got my chicks on Feb 25th and it's still cold here in NY in April. Next year I'm shooting for March. If you can find one get it now, cause they are seasonal, and will be gone soon.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Quote:
I have used these many times!!! They work great!!!!. I did however, line mine with a dollar store shower curtain, so it wouldn't saturate all the way through. Ohter than the shower curtain, just compost when done with it!!!! A brooder for a dollar, (plus shavings) can't get better than that!.

 

[Judy]

Shipping crates and furniture boxes behind furniture stores work well, too.

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

Yesterday I found a cardboard dumpster behind a Wildbirds Unlimited store. Hoisted DD in and got two big boxes which I combined to make a big brooder. Ah..dumpster diving!

 

[MagsC]

Great ideas!

I dont know if the local grocery store (we are out in the boonies) would let me get one of their watermelon boxes, but I can sure ASK, the worst they could do would be to say no.Maybe someone has an old plastic pool that has a leak (I could use the shower curtain idea for that too!). And of course if I can find any large plastic containers, though again, the dollar stores arent close....wait, I think there might be one in Lake City still...
We dont have a lot of stores in my area, (usually have to go at least 30 miles in any direction for something signifigant) so I usually order online. The brooder thing had me stumped. I did advertise on craigslist and have been looking on there too, but everything is gone about the time I notice it,lol!!!

 

[Bettacreek]

Wow, so perfect... I have been brooding over what I can use as a waterproof bottom to an old Pack'n'play for raising quail in. Never would have even thought about a curtain liner! Thanks for the ideas guys, even though it wasn't my thread, lol.