Will this brooder set-up suffice?

[MizzPeabodyIV]

I would like to purchase three baby chicks from my local feed supply store, I believe they are just a few days old. I don't want to invest much money into the brooder set-up as I'm not entirely sure how my backyard chicken endeavor will turn out, as I have a fairly strict HOA. I do plan on either buying or building a nice coop and would rather spend the money there.

If possible, I'd like to use items I already have for the brooder. I have several plastic totes, a heating pad as well as some left over puppy pads and old towels. I would purchase a feeder and water container. I do not want to use a heat lamp, I'm too afraid of it being a fire hazard. Will the heating pad be enough? I figure I'd place the heating pad on one side of the tote floor and cover with a towel & puppy pad. Will the chicks outgrown the tote before they can go outside to the coop?

I'm planning one getting one Americauana, maybe a Salmon Faverolle and black sex linked. Hoping for quiet birds!

 

[eggorthechicken]

I'm not sure about the heating pad but maybe someone else can chime in. If it's warm enough, you can use a 100 W bulb and see if its enough heat. They let you know if they are uncomfortable. If they are cold they will chirp loud and huddle together. I have used all sorts of brooder set ups and it doesn't take much especially if you just a have a few chicks.

As far as picking quiet birds...I have faverolles and they are the loudest and nosiest birds I have (just FYI...lol) Other's may say different...just my own experience. They are funny and comical but quiet they are not. My cochins are the quiet birds in my flock. Good luck!

 

[Percheron chick]

A plastic tote or cardboard box works fine for a brooder. The problem with the heating pad is you probably aren't going to get the brooder hot enough for them to be happy. You need to get the box up to 95* for the first week. Check the temp on the pad and that will tell you if you can make it work. A regular clamp on heat lamp and bulb will run you about $20. You will only need the 125W bulb for that small an area. I use old dog dishes for my baby chicks to eat out of. They fill the regular chick feeders with shavings as they are so shallow. Just make sure that they are low enough for them to reach. You can start them with paper towels on the bottom of the tote. Just roll them up when they get nasty and put new ones down. I would think they would pick at the fibers on the towels and end up eating them. those could kill them. When they outgrow the paper towels, they're going to want something soft and fluffy to "dust" themselves in and scratch in. If they outgrow the box, go to Costco and get a bigger box!

 

[Okie Girl]

My Hubby is a Big Machine Mechanic. They have parts shipped in large wooden boxes. He brought one home to be used as our brooder. It's about 3' x 3' big and 2' tall. We use a clipped on light with a 40 watt bulb. Our brooder is in the house. If it was in the garage or someplace cooler, we'd need a higher watt of bulb. The chicks are doing fine.

 

[MizzPeabodyIV]

Thought I should update...

Got my chicks today, the three that I was planning on (americauna, black sex linked, and the salmon faverolle). So far so good. Using my probe meat thermometer the heating pad is keeping them around 95 degrees. I put a stuffed animal in there and right now there are all sleeping under it.

And go figure, the salmon faverolle is the loudest and noisiest one of the bunch.! I hope a noisy chick does not mean a noisy hen.

 

[eggorthechicken]

Thought I should update...

Got my chicks today, the three that I was planning on (americauna, black sex linked, and the salmon faverolle). So far so good. Using my probe meat thermometer the heating pad is keeping them around 95 degrees. I put a stuffed animal in there and right now there are all sleeping under it.

And go figure, the salmon faverolle is the loudest and noisiest one of the bunch.! I hope a noisy chick does not mean a noisy hen.

Glad to hear it and I'm not surprised about the fav....mine are chatterboxes.

 

[MizzPeabodyIV]

Day #2 and my setup still seems to be working okay. Here's a photos, normally I have the stuffed duck laying down so the chicks can huddle under it. I also put an old baby gate over the top so they can't escape.

 

[gingerly1983]

The heating pad makes me nervous.

They have no way to get away from it if they get too hot. With the heat lamps, you normally put them on one end of the brooder so they can get away from it if they are too warm. They're little feet may get too hot. I use a 60 watt regular light bulb in a clamp style light, and I put it over a plastic tote but I am sure not to touch the edges of the tote with the light. I've used this set up for quite a while with no problems. If you stay with the heating pad set up, please leave an area that they can get to if they are too warm.

 

[countrycakelady]

I have to agree with gingerly....they have no where to get a 'cool' spot at, with a heating pad....I would have to invest in a heat lamp, or even a 100 watt bulb. They can then have a 'hot spot' and a 'cool spot' too.

 

[MizzPeabodyIV]

The heating pad is only covering half of the tote floor. The side with the food/water does not have the heating pad underneath.