Will an old metal wash tub be okay for a brooder? And other questions

[Coffee4Me]

I brought in an old round metal wash tub to use as a brooder. My daughters are afraid that the metal will get hot and bake the six chicks that we are getting tomorrow.
Should I leave just the hardware cloth on top for a cover so they get enough ventilation? Or should it be covered with something more substantial (just leaving part of it open to the hardware cloth). I know I need to get a thermometer so I can check the temperature.

How far away should the lamp be initially? I saw (in the brooder photos section) lots of folks just leaving the lamp sitting on the hardware cloth.

Should I put anything under the paper towels? and How long before I switch out paper towels for pine wood shavings? Should I have wood shavings under the paper towels in the first place?

What is the best thing to use to combat odors?

Thank you very much.

 

[CoopCrazy]

I would say it will work great , just keep it out of direct sunlight, i would put shavings under the paper towels , then remove the towels after three days and leave on the shavings.. Defintly go with hardware cloth so they have proper ventilation and I just judge heat lamp height how the chicks are reacting to it .. Tooh hot they will runt o other side of brooder, too cool and they will huddle under light, if they are moving around eating drinking scratching and sleeping then they are perfect....

 

[gryeyes]

My favorite feed store uses metal horse troughs for its chick bins. As long as your washtub is large enough to hold your chicks without crowding, it should be just fine. IF you are worried about it, you COULD break down a cardboard box and line the walls with cardboard........... but then you might as well use cardboard boxes duct taped together for your brooder, right???

Messy, hard to clean. Stick with the metal wash tub if it's large enough!

 

[darbella]

That is what I am using now for about 20 or so 3 week old banty's. It is a very large round budwieser promo galvanized ice tub! I put a panel from a mtal dog crate over the top with an 85 watt red spotlight in a fixture for heat and since it is indoors, they have enough heat. I put the light to one side so they can come and go from the warmth. My only problem now is all the dust! I am havign a hard time keeping it down!

 

[grammy of David]

JUST BE SURE NOT TO GET THEM TOO HOT FOR THE TUB WILL HEAT UP THEN COOL DOWN AT NITE......YOU MAY HAVE TO USE 2 DIFFERENT WATT LITE BULBS....DAY AND NITE...GOOD LUCK

 

[shellybean40]

I use a metal horse trough and we are on our 3rd batch of chickies!! Works great!!

 

[Coffee4Me]

Thank you for all the responses. I guess I'm set then! I'll be picking up my first chicks ever tomorrow afternoon. I hope they will be a good fit for our family. My four daughters are very excited. We are getting 2 each of Plymouth Rock, Buff Orpington, and Araucanas. I still have eight Bovan Browns on order with the feed store. I need to cancel at least part of that order!