This isn't really an invention, and certainly not on a par w/ some of you guys stuff, but thought I'd share it anyway.
I prefer it if we have broody moms to do the work, but that isn't always doable. We bought these cheap feather dusters and tied them together and hung them in the brooder. The chicks LOVE it they cuddle down in it just like a mother hen, run in and out seem much more at ease and less noisy. You can do much less heat light (still need the light especially at first) but the feathers trap the body heat of the chicks keeping them much warmer on less light. They can escape the light and still be warm. I will never brood chicks myself w/o these feather dusters again. We have raised 2 groups w/ them and the difference is amazing.
Brilliant I think I may have to do an adaptation of that for use with my brooding set up I have one of those yellow brinsea ones that can brood up to 20 chicks, I think if i add a couple feather duster bits to it it might make them even happier.
