will this brooder work ?

[ranger4327]

will this brooder work ? it is a dog kennel turned brooder. i just put cardboard on the sides, it is approx. 2' x 3'. i am wondering if the lamp will heat to a sufficient temp on top ? or will i have to put it on the sides ? it is a 250 watt red lamp. Should work eh ? My chicks come in 10 days, so i hope so..... i will be getting 9 chicks...... our lil girl is getting excited to have them !

 

[Jennings Gamefowl]

i would maybe move the heat lamp down a little bit though and welcome to a wonderful life of chickens

 

[needtohatch]

I started mine in our old dog crate. I did not have a heat lamp, just reg bulbs. I had to cover the top and hang the light inside from the side. If you have a thermometer you can set inside to check temp before you get the babies I would do that. I have also read that untill they know what their food is you will want paper towels over the shavings so they don't eat them.
Good luck and post pics when you get them!

 

[terri9630]

That is the same type of kennel I have my chicks in. I had my light hanging from the top inside the cage. The triangle parts of the clamp have an open end and after I clamped the light I twisted it so the bar was inside the triangle parts so the light couldn't fall into the cage. I'm not sure if that is the right way to describe that.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
This kind clamping is not secure and dangerous. May easy slip and cause damage or fire.

The lamp is just too heavy for this setup.

I hang mine from the ceiling, or put two medium size boxes or else connected with a bar, 2x2 or what have you on the top of the cage and hang the lamp from it.

 

[dlaciv12]

I am new too. I still don't have a coop or a brooder plan. I wonder about ventilation in yours. I was thinking of using a cardboard box but still have the ventilation question.

 

[kevindean]

I used the same setup 250 watts is too hot . I got a 90 or 100 watt red bulb and hung it from the ceiling.

 

[briteday]

I have chicks in a 30" x 30" x 24" tall box and the 250 watt red lamp was way too hot. I went with a regular 100 watt light bulb. My last batch I brooded in the same box and used a 75 watt reptile bulb from Petsmart and it worked great. Unfortunately it had burned out by the time this batch arrived.

I think the clamp light is OK as long as the top grate is on the crate, so the lamp couldn't fall into the cage. Just be sure it is secure and monitor it every time you visit the brooder. Also, be careful with your little girl as that metal reflector is going to get REALLY hot to the touch.

until your chicks are a few weeks old the ventilation throught he top is just fine. In fact, in the early days you may need to cover up a bit of the top to keep the heat in, especially if the brooder is on the floor where it is generally cooler in most homes.

I always have the brooder set up at least 24 hours before the chicks arrive so I can adjust anything necessary and it is warm after a chilly ride home.

 

[bethandjoeync]

We just upgraded our chicks (3 week olds) into a kennel like that but ours was quite a bit bigger (but they needed the room. but we didn't board up the sides. I used double layers of burlap 1/3 of the way up the wall. even when they dust bathe, it doesn't get that high, so not much mess (yet). and I have seen them scratch all the way down to the burlap on the bottom, and might get the nails hung for a second, but easily get loose. I think the cardboard is a good idea, but maybe trim the sides down a littl for more air circulation, and so they will be able to see you when you come to the side. we never used paper towels on top of the shavings, and they do just fine with them. just make sure you give them enough grit...just in case they need some digestive help. we had only one instance of pasty butt, and haven't had any problems since. looks great!! and the kiddo looks excited too

good luck, and can't wait to see pictures of the new fuzzy butts!

 

[enola]

I agree, a 250 watt lamp is going to cook them in that set up