Brooder set up

[Ilovechickens2525]

Hi all, I plan to keep chicks in this set up for first week or two. Then they have a bigger brooder box to move to out in the heated garage at that point. I have puppy pee pads to line the box with. But I’m worried about them being warm enough. I put a thermometer under the Brinsea heat pad I have in there and it hasn’t gone above 78 degrees??? Do I need to have the thermometer touching the heat pad for it to work? Should I put towels underneath the bin to warm the ground for them?

And there’s a vent nearby. Should I have that open or closed? Open lets out heat but also maybe drafts?

The hardware cloth thing underneath to bin is the lid that will keep the cat away (just incase, she is old and not a hunter so I don’t think she’ll be too interested, but better safe than sorry)

 

[CHlCKEN]

I imagine once food and water are set in, floor space will be incredibly limited. How many birds are you planning to have in there? Might work for a pair for a couple days, but chicks need space. You're definitely going to need something bigger. Maybe a kiddie pool with corral sidings? I used one of these pet tents last year and it is by far the best brooder I've ever had.

Please keep the cat out of that room. ALL cats are hunters whether you think they are or not. It won't end well if she spots them.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I imagine once food and water are set in, floor space will be incredibly limited. How many birds are you planning to have in there? Might work for a pair for a couple days, but chicks need space. You're definitely going to need something bigger. Maybe a kiddie pool with corral sidings? I used one of these pet tents last year and it is by far the best brooder I've ever had.

Please keep the cat out of that room. ALL cats are hunters whether you think they are or not. It won't end well if she spots them.

I only have 6 hatching eggs in the incubator. So if I have 100% hatch rate on shipped eggs it’ll be 6 chicks. And this is only for the first week or so, they have a bigger set up in the heated garage that I mentioned. I’d just like to be able to keep a close watch on them at all times when they are newborn.

There is the hardware cloth lid for the cat but yes she won’t be left unattended in the room with them.

I was more wondering about temperature…

 

[CHlCKEN]

I only have 6 hatching eggs in the incubator. So if I have 100% hatch rate on shipped eggs it’ll be 6 chicks. And this is only for the first week or so, they have a bigger set up in the heated garage that I mentioned. I’d just like to be able to keep a close watch on them at all times when they are newborn.

Maybe I am misinterpreting the scale of it

I was more wondering about temperature…

Put your hand under and see if it actually feels warm to you. It may not even be working. I had an issue with mine last year needing to switch to a new cord. I don't think standard thermometers work to measure radiant heaters though and that may be your only issue.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Maybe I am misinterpreting the scale of it

Put your hand under and see if it actually feels warm to you. It may not even be working. I had an issue with mine last year needing to switch to a new cord. I don't think standard thermometers work to measure radiant heaters though and that may be your only issue.

This is just the temporary set up for the first week. It’s one of those large 32 inch by 13 inch bins. The heat plate does take up a good amount of the space but they will only be little fluff balls in here. I have a wooden/hardware cloth off the ground brooder out in the garage that’s twice the size of this one. I just didn’t post pics of it because I didn’t have any questions about it lol. Sorry if that was confusing!

That makes sense about the thermometer not picking up the radiant temp, I do feel heat when I put my hand there.

Is it better to open or close the nearby vents?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I put a thermometer under the Brinsea heat pad I have in there and it hasn’t gone above 78 degrees???

The heat plate works by them touching their backs to it so it should be adjusted for their height. Many people slope it higher in front so they can find their preferred height.

And there’s a vent nearby. Should I have that open or closed? Open lets out heat but also maybe drafts?

Exhaust or inlet vent? I would not want a breeze of any temperature blowing on them. As long as there is no breeze, no issue.

I only have 6 hatching eggs in the incubator.

They will be hopping on top of that heat plate in no time so they have all that area. I don't see an issue for the first little bit other than cleaning poop. My personal preference would be to use the other brooder to start with, but that's just my preference. I don't see anything wrong with you plan.

There is the hardware cloth lid for the cat but yes she won’t be left unattended in the room with them.

Good.

I have a wooden/hardware cloth off the ground brooder out in the garage that’s twice the size of this one

When they are around 6 or 7 weeks old that one may start looking a bit crowded. You might think about what you plan to do then if you need to do something.