What do you need in a brooder

Check out the first sticky--"Post pics of your brooders"--after a few pages, you will have a REALLY good idea of how a brooder should be set up. It is pretty simple--litter, food, water, and a lamp. Thermometer is a good idea. Wire over the top is also a good idea. After the first few days you can start getting creative, with roosts, etc...if you want.

 

First of all, you need a waterer, feeder, some bedding (use straw or papertowels the first 2-3 days then switch to pine shavings). You need a red heat lamp, and a heat lamp holder.

 

I use carboard boxes at times. They make great brooder boxes, especially the larger ones.

 

I put chicks in mine..... But seriously,,, a warm temperature controlled environment with food and water. There is a thread about brooders at the beginning of this forum that may help....

 

When I first got mine, I used a large clear plastic storeage container with a 60 watt bulb and a small waterer and feeder in my laundryroom. After I found one wanting to roost on the lip, I movied them to a dog kennel that my stepbrother used for his dogs. Has 4 dog boxs in back with a walk in, about 4 1/2 ft. by 3 ft each. Use hanging feeder and a auto water with lots of straw for them to play in. They love it.
Claude