What's your chick brooder look like?!

[BellsCluckers]

I'm another one who will not use lamps of any kind brooding chicks. That's absolutely no reflection on your setup, @Storybook Farm - it's beautiful and having the chicks at eye level and with the ability to self regulate is spot on! Jaded I might be, but I look at it and still see a lamp warming chicks. But if there was only one "right" way to do this, this entire web site could be read in half an hour, and your setup is perfect for someone who might not be comfortable trying out Mama Heating Pad. Personal comfort zones are important to take into account.

I brood outdoors in a wire brooder pen in the run, right out there among the adults, and have for the last few years, 8 batches of chicks. Here in northwestern Wyoming our spring "chick season" still has temps in the 20s, often dropping into the teens, and we've been known to get snow in June. They can walk around it on 3 sides of the brooder, the chicks learn to be chickens by watching them, and I have full integration by the time the chicks are at the end of their 4th week. At that time the entire brooder comes out, since the chicks have been off all heat by the end of their third week anyway. From day one they learn that sundown is "under Mama" time, they tuck themselves in, and sleep all night long, exactly as they would do under a broody hen. Works for me! And in the end that's what's important - what works for us and healthy, happy chicks.

Edited to add: My good friend @lazy gardener brings up an excellent point. The number of chicks we are brooding makes a world of difference. Mama Heating Pad is more for the person with 15-20 chicks, although great adaptations for more have been made.

Very cool and I love the video!

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Aww! Very cool ! What is the ecoglow? Might be interested in using one.

It's a heated plate. It's the big yellow thing in my picture lol. The chicks go under when they are cold and press their backs on it to warm up. It lets them self regulate the temp. It also cost a lot less to run and there's no risk of a fire or a bulb exploding. I bought mine on Amazon but I know tractor supply also carries them

 

[BellsCluckers]

It's a heated plate. It's the big yellow thing in my picture lol. The chicks go under when they are cold and press their backs on it to warm up. It lets them self regulate the temp. It also cost a lot less to run and there's no risk of a fire or a bulb exploding. I bought mine on Amazon but I know tractor supply also carries them

Wow that's so cool definitely goig to invest in one of these!

 

[Blooie]

I wanted one of those so badly for my second batch of chicks. Granddaughter Katie got a burn on her arm from the doggone heat lamp, I was sick of the lights being on all the time, and was starting to absolutely hate my chicks and everything about raising them. But I simply didn't have room in the budget for one of those warmers, a heating pad was $20.00, and a good friend was already doing it, so I dove in. Never looked back!

 

[Pensmaster]

Here are all of my brooders, an evolution culminating in a spacious outdoor brooding pen, which I do now instead of using indoor brooders. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/r...rooder-and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors

What a great article thank you for sharing. I’m half way there with my brooder now as it’s in the barn. Much more open and chicks are calmer. I’ve just the spot to put the outdoor brooder.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

My chicks ... then they are moved outside into the brooder box to acclimate to the other chickens and the barn.

 

[gator75]

In my garage. Temp around 65-70. Moved lamp back a bit so the temp is high 70s. 1-2 wk old chicks.

 

[heidibee]

I don't have any chickens other than these new chicks, so their coop is currently inside the garage without the run attached and I'm brooding them in there. Temps get down to 40 degrees F in the garage at night, but they are cozy under their heat plate. I have 8 in here, but will only be keeping 4 once I know who my roos are. Screenshot from my 'peep cam'

 

[aart]

Mine go from incubator to this brooder:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-brooder-palace.67730/

Then they go out to the coop after about a week:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[Storybook Farm]

Your brooder is along the lines of the "Ohio brooder". If I ever find myself brooding more than 50 chicks at a time, I think I'd try the Ohio brooder. I think you'll be pleased with it. Is it possible for you to lift it up to "peek under" to check the chicks? That would be one concern. I'd want to be sure there were no sick, failure to thrive, or dead chicks under there.

Yes, it’s easy to see because the pen is at eye level (purposefully) and it’s easy to lift: very light weight. So far this evening (30* outside) it’s hold steady at 95* in the center. We have three days to test it before new chicks come.