what are good ideas for non-expensive brooders?

[Coopedup:p]

i need some good ideas for some non-expensive brooders. anyome have any?

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

rubber-maid totes, boxes cardboard or wood, an old animal water tank, any thing with sides that is not to small

 

[Airilith]

I've seen people use those plastic kiddie pools. You can get them at Walmart for $9-25 depending on the size.

 

[swheat]

And a light bulb w/reflector from wal-mart for around 6 bucks.
To keep them warm

 

[weirdmuse]

Quote:
or one's that leak for free on trash day in the early summer.

 

[briesberrypatch]

I've used kiddie pools before, but the problem with them (from my point of view) is it doesn't take long for the chicks to start jumping out.

Earlier this year I found a Kiddie Koop playpen from the 1940s at a thrift store - CHEAP ($15). I thought it was a rabbit hutch until I got it home and saw the tiny Kiddie Koop logo. It has a drop down side, as shown in the picture, but what you can't see in the photo is that it also has an attached top that slides over and down to be stored on the back side. Chicks can't jump out, and I don't have to worry about my dog or cats stealing chicks from the brooder. My favorite part is that it collapses for storage, so it takes up very little space when I'm not brooding chicks.

And here are pictures of some earlier versions of the Kiddie Koop, so you can recognize it if you ever come across it.

When the chicks are young, I put them in a rubbermaid tub inside the Kiddie-Koop, to protect them from drafts. It would be easy to add plywood or plexiglass to the sides if you wanted permanent draft protection.

 

[cposz]

We just used a cardboard box. A small box when they were really little, then a recliner box from a local furniture store when they got bigger, but were still to little to go into the coop with the older hens.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Right now I am using card board box. I am fixing to use the wood case that goes around a hot tub. It'll be plenty big and sturdy.

You can find free hot tubs on craigslist. Just take the tub out and use the case.

 

[stetson6576]

If in a protected area, I use 1/4 in hardware cloth folded and cliped into what ever size is needed. Total cost the one that I built was $35 and I have enough to build 3 or 4 25in by 30in boxes. they are very easy to clean and don't take much time to build. I use mine for quail so they are relativly small. hope it helps

 

[Wynette]

Watch the curbs, too! I use an old horse trough that had a major leak in it. I just put duct tape over the leak (the edges are sharp). You can find all sorts of things on curbs - I've seen several horse troughs in the country on trash day!