WestKnollAmy
The Crazy Chicken Lady
I have gotten sick of chicks jumping out of the tubs and running outside. Even with screens over the brooder tubs they jump pout when I open it to feed, water or clean. I can't keep up with 400 chicks running all over the place.
With ideas from others here on BYC I finally decided to build something more to my capabilities of handling 100s of chicks a month.
They will stay in the 4' long tubs until 3 weeks old and then go in this...........
It is 6' long, stands 3' high, 2 1/2 ft deep.
I have to finish the plastic netting on the top. You see one of the doors is standing open on top. With 2 sides that open I am hoping to be able to keep them from flying out too much while feeding and watering.
The plywood is on one end so I can turn it to the open part of the coop. I am not putting this in the brooder room, I am putting it in the open front coop that the ducks are in right now. You can sort of see it behind the brooder.
So the plywood end can block some wind and if I need to hang a heat lamp from the middle bar I can point it back towards the plywood for extra warmth.
The floor is 1/4' hardware cloth. The supports will help with the weight of chicks, water and feeder. I will grow them in these (I plan to make 2 more) until they are 6 weeks old and then they can go down on the floor of the coop and then outside to the adjoining pen.
This pen is light enough for this old woman to pull it outside to hose down the wire when it gets gross. Although a quick brushing out once a week should keep it from getting too bad.
The black plastic mesh is so cheap and easy to use. If I had to worry over predators I would not do it but they will be locked in the coop. The only problem would be snakes but snakes can't get through this.
I can't wait to try it on the 50+ chicks that I am currently trying to keep in the brooder room. Another 20 are outside all day with the big flock and come back in to the brooder room to sleep at night but they are 4 and 5 week old roos. Absolutely no sense!
With ideas from others here on BYC I finally decided to build something more to my capabilities of handling 100s of chicks a month.
They will stay in the 4' long tubs until 3 weeks old and then go in this...........
It is 6' long, stands 3' high, 2 1/2 ft deep.
I have to finish the plastic netting on the top. You see one of the doors is standing open on top. With 2 sides that open I am hoping to be able to keep them from flying out too much while feeding and watering.
The plywood is on one end so I can turn it to the open part of the coop. I am not putting this in the brooder room, I am putting it in the open front coop that the ducks are in right now. You can sort of see it behind the brooder.
So the plywood end can block some wind and if I need to hang a heat lamp from the middle bar I can point it back towards the plywood for extra warmth.
The floor is 1/4' hardware cloth. The supports will help with the weight of chicks, water and feeder. I will grow them in these (I plan to make 2 more) until they are 6 weeks old and then they can go down on the floor of the coop and then outside to the adjoining pen.
This pen is light enough for this old woman to pull it outside to hose down the wire when it gets gross. Although a quick brushing out once a week should keep it from getting too bad.
The black plastic mesh is so cheap and easy to use. If I had to worry over predators I would not do it but they will be locked in the coop. The only problem would be snakes but snakes can't get through this.
I can't wait to try it on the 50+ chicks that I am currently trying to keep in the brooder room. Another 20 are outside all day with the big flock and come back in to the brooder room to sleep at night but they are 4 and 5 week old roos. Absolutely no sense!
