What to do with chicks when cleaning brooder

[Spartan22]

That's funny, I heard that white bulbs drive the chicks crazy. I heard that also from a friend who lost 600 out of 1000 chicks after stressing them out from white light. but, if it works for you, I don't know what happened to theirs!

That was a lot of chicks!!! And 60% fatalities, sounds more like management issues but what do I know I'll probably be overwhelmed brooding that much also, LOL. Similar to my kindergarten going to a class of 100 toddlers/kids w/ only 2 teachers.

 

[BYCforlife]

Wow. That's a lot of kids. That was their second year, the first year they did 200 successfully. Makes me feel like I'm not doing enough

 

[BYCforlife]

I hope this works to send.... This is my plan for when I get my chicks.

 

[Spartan22]

@BYCforlife no that was just an analogy I will never send my kids to a big class like that, the most should be 8-10 w/ an assistant. We have 3 kids ourselves and we felt outnumbered at times when one is sick or needing special attention.

Regarding brooding chicks, the most I brood at one time was 17, and that was a lot for a 900 sq ft garage, dust was too much, I was dusting every 3 days.

 

[Spartan22]

I hope this works to send.... This is my plan for when I get my chicks.

Might be too small, you'll probably only hold them there for a week or so, and the heat source is too low/close to the floor. Consider a 3x5 furniture/appliance box most of the time stores give it away. I used to brood them on those containers, waste of time and money.

 

[BYCforlife]

I see. Good to know! Next year I am hoping to buy 30 layers to sell. We have too many egg sellers at the farmers market already, so I will hopefully sell to people who want birds that have been laying for only a week or so. Any suggestions on prices?

 

[BYCforlife]

Might be too small, you'll probably only hold them there for a week or so, and the heat source is too low/close to the floor. Consider a 3-5 furniture/appliance box most of the time stores give it away. I used to brood them on those containers, waste of time and money.

I am keeping them in here for only the first few days, them moving them to a box in my shop that I am building. There will be 2 square feet per chicken, and it is 4 feet tall. I am working on making a mesh tube so I can have the bulb higher on the bin. Thanks for the suggestions! When/if I go bigger, I will start them off in a bigger box. I have access to boxes up to 4 feet tall and wide. I was just wanting something more permanent, but I guess it will not work. good to know! I guess it will be even worse once the wood shavings are in there... Closer to the light. Anyway, I will have a thermometer, so it should be OK for this year.

 

[MigraineMan]

I hope this works to send.... This is my plan for when I get my chicks.

As much as I like symmetry, I would be inclined to put the lamp to one end rather than in the middle. That'll give your chicks a better choice of warm-to-cool zones. Also, you can use an in-the-cord dimmer to set the heat lamp intensity rather than building a clunky mechanical structure.

 

[rubyedmonds]

Are you talking about carving a hole for the heat lamp/heater and keeping the lid on top?

If you are, then I would probably not do that. I myself got 10 chicks and at first put them into a Rubbermaid bin. I worked great (and then we moved them into something larger, they were getting bigger), but I didn't use the lid. I just clipped the heat lamp to the side facing down at the chicks and adjusted it if they seemed too cold or too hot. I think if you kept the lid on, their brooder would overheat and get smelly inside.

 

[BYCforlife]

Are you talking about carving a hole for the heat lamp/heater and keeping the lid on top?

If you are, then I would probably not do that. I myself got 10 chicks and at first put them into a Rubbermaid bin. I worked great (and then we moved them into something larger, they were getting bigger), but I didn't use the lid. I just clipped the heat lamp to the side facing down at the chicks and adjusted it if they seemed too cold or too hot. I think if you kept the lid on, their brooder would overheat and get smelly inside.

If you didn't see the picture, I have four good sized holes in the top of the lid of the bin. Yes, that would get pretty stuffy if there were no holes!