Anyone ever make a lid for their stock tank brooder?

[diamondsilkies]

Like @NFLchicks, I keep my brooder out on my porch, too, so my lid is built to keep out the cats as well as bobcats and snakes. Probably a little more heavy-duty than you'll need, but it's held up well over the years.

Here's a picture from when we were building it. It's pretty much just a thick piece of plywood with ventilation and a door cut out. You can't see in the picture, but I also made a groove in the bottom to fit the lip of the stock tank. There's a coat of polyurethane to keep it from being warped by water. Makes it easier to wipe down, too. There are two identical pieces that we sandwiched the chicken wire between.

 

[doughouse]

This has all been very helpful: thank you. It's entirely possible I put together something that is just barely functional, but if what I rig up manages to be photoworthy I'll share a photo here, as well.

 

[casportpony]

Please do share some pictures!

 

[doughouse]

So I rigged up a lid with some spare 2x4s and hardware cloth. The lid is HEAVY, though, so I might need to rethink it. The photos also include the divider I made to keep our three one-day-old chicks separate from our three two-week-old chicks for the first couple of days while the day-olds build up some strength.

 

[mmatlock]

We just made a lid for our stock tank this weekend. It may be excessive for just keeping your cats out, ours is outside on our front porch so it needed to be as predator proof as possible. We screwed the 2x4s into the stock tank walls then connected the top frame with hinges and a lock on the other side.

this is great! I think this would keep our dogs out with some supervision.

 

[Little Rock pointers]

This one takes a bit of luck, but I picked up a huge old window screen for $3 at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and use that over my brooder.

I wonder if it would catch on fire with a heat lamp

 

[Tram]

Used left over 2x4 welded wire and made a frame out of 2x4. Sits on top and I user a couple of 1" spring clamps to secure it from being pushed off. Cost nothing but a little time.

 

[Folly's place]

Our lids are wood framing with hardware cloth, very well attached. Heavy, but safe.
Chicken wire or welded wire aren't safe enough, it takes hardware cloth to protect chicks from evil visitors!
@Tram, add hardware cloth to yours and it will be good.
Mary

 

[Tram]

Oh this stock tank is in the garage or inside the main coop and only meant to keep the bigger chickens out of it. I wouldn't leave it like that outside. Sorry, I didn't mention that part. I am blessed with very few predators in my area (knocks on wood).

 

[Folly's place]

Rodents! Weasels! Just sayin'.
Mary