Hi, I'm planning to hatch chicks.
I plan to lend an incubator from a friend.
So now I'm starting plans for a safe and appropriate brooder.
I do have a selfbuild terrarium from my tortoises when they were babies (long time ago). They now do live outside in an outdoor enclosure or are in their hibernating space since many years now but I kept the terrarium in case someone gets injured or sick or there is need for a quarantine area, which thank God never happened. Several times I thought about selling it, but perhaps I'm lucky now I didn't - looking at the terrarium I thought maybe it could be modificated as a chick brooder and wanted to ask you for your opinions.
(Please notice: the terrarium on the pictures is still set up for tortoises. I would never use the UV-lamp/neon tube for the chicks. I would not use the bedding and the stones and cork barks etc. for the chicks. The whole terrarium would be emptied and cleaned and desinfected thoroughly)
The inner dimensions of the terrarium are:
length: 1 m 37 cm = 54 inches
wide range: 65 cm = 25 inches
height: 70 cm = 27 inches
It is made of coated wood (good to clean and desinfect) and in the front are two big glass panels. Ventilation areas (perforated sheet) are on top and on front (I increased ventilation by leaving both glass panels open for about 0,4 inches if neccessary). I could change one glass panel for a frame with wirefence to have more ventilation for the chicks if this would be better.
I plan to use a brooder plate: https://brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/ecoglow-safety-600-chick-brooder/ so this would be the heat source for the chicks.
There is a ceramic bulb holder for a heat lamp on the right side in the terrarium, I could put a moderate light bulb there, perhaps covered with a little lampshade so the light would not be so harsh for them.
First week I plan to use puppy pads, afterwards wood litter or pine shavings.
Please tell me your opinions. Would the terrarium work as a chick brooder? Any advice is much appreciated ❤
I plan to lend an incubator from a friend.
So now I'm starting plans for a safe and appropriate brooder.
I do have a selfbuild terrarium from my tortoises when they were babies (long time ago). They now do live outside in an outdoor enclosure or are in their hibernating space since many years now but I kept the terrarium in case someone gets injured or sick or there is need for a quarantine area, which thank God never happened. Several times I thought about selling it, but perhaps I'm lucky now I didn't - looking at the terrarium I thought maybe it could be modificated as a chick brooder and wanted to ask you for your opinions.
(Please notice: the terrarium on the pictures is still set up for tortoises. I would never use the UV-lamp/neon tube for the chicks. I would not use the bedding and the stones and cork barks etc. for the chicks. The whole terrarium would be emptied and cleaned and desinfected thoroughly)
The inner dimensions of the terrarium are:
length: 1 m 37 cm = 54 inches
wide range: 65 cm = 25 inches
height: 70 cm = 27 inches
It is made of coated wood (good to clean and desinfect) and in the front are two big glass panels. Ventilation areas (perforated sheet) are on top and on front (I increased ventilation by leaving both glass panels open for about 0,4 inches if neccessary). I could change one glass panel for a frame with wirefence to have more ventilation for the chicks if this would be better.
I plan to use a brooder plate: https://brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/ecoglow-safety-600-chick-brooder/ so this would be the heat source for the chicks.
There is a ceramic bulb holder for a heat lamp on the right side in the terrarium, I could put a moderate light bulb there, perhaps covered with a little lampshade so the light would not be so harsh for them.
First week I plan to use puppy pads, afterwards wood litter or pine shavings.
Please tell me your opinions. Would the terrarium work as a chick brooder? Any advice is much appreciated ❤