Show me your brooder set-up!

[kyeschicks]

I'm interested on how you guys have set up the brooder. Include some pics!

Do you like the heating plates or the heating lamp better?
Do you use shavings or dog training pads, or what kind of bedding? I believe shavings decrease odor.

 

[K0k0shka]

Here's my setup from last year. This year I'll do it again only with a bigger box.

I made my own heating plate with a heating blanket. Heating lamps are dangerous and unnatural. I used sand for the bedding and absolutely loved it! Easy to clean, cheap (you don't throw out tons of soiled bedding), not as dusty as shavings, and it didn't smell. I'm doing sand again this year.

 

[SegiDream]

I'd love to have a heating plate, but a lamp has worked fine and I just observe their behavior in case it needs adjustments. No pics cause I don't have it set up now but I use tote boxes, small to larger when they're older. They're versatile, easy to transport, easy to clean..

I saw one farm with a neat set up in a storage shed lined with brooders. They used shallow stock tanks with heat plates and lamps. Of course they sell their chicks when they're a couple days old but I thought it was pretty cool.

And we use shavings.
................

Now que everyone who disagrees with me to quote and tell me how wrong X is Maybe I should add disclaimers. Warning: use of a heating element can pose a fire hazard, use with caution and follow the instructions... Oh and someone will probably say pine shavings are bad they could have pests in them or it could hurt their lungs or electricity and shavings affect the environment or whatever... everything has it's pros and cons. But it works for us ok.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I'd love to have a heating plate, but a lamp has worked fine and I just observe their behavior in case it needs adjustments. No pics cause I don't have it set up now but I use tote boxes, small to larger when they're older. They're versatile, easy to transport, easy to clean..

I saw one farm with a neat set up in a storage shed lined with brooders. They used shallow stock tanks with heat plates and lamps. Of course they sell their chicks when they're a couple days old but I thought it was pretty cool.

And we use shavings.
................

Now que everyone who disagrees with me to quote and tell me how wrong X is Maybe I should add disclaimers. Warning: use of a heating element can pose a fire hazard, use with caution and follow the instructions... Oh and someone will probably say pine shavings are bad they could have pests in them or it could hurt their lungs or electricity and shavings affect the environment or whatever... everything has it's pros and cons. But it works for us ok.

Do you have a picture of your tote brooder? I need a picture of one for my article (in my signature) and I don’t have any of my own. With your permission, I would love to use it as an example!

 

[SegiDream]

Do you have a picture of your tote brooder? I need a picture of one for my article (in my signature) and I don’t have any of my own. With your permission, I would love to use it as an example!

Actually not really =/ because the totes are currently being used as a worm farm with dirt and worms and the wire I used to cover the top is being used in the coop for another purpose atm. And my lamp light is growing my seedlings for the garden. I'm probably going to get a new tote ready with the same method in a month or so for new chicks. Do you care if I send you pics of it then? It may not be quite what you want for your article though.

Couple notes on what I did: The easiest way I found to cut holes in a plastic tote is with a soldering iron.. But cutting plastic can be really time consuming plus you commit that tote to it's new purpose by cutting it. So instead of cutting holes... I found this square wire shelving at a thrift store for ridiculously cheap. I zip tied 2 panels together. Placed 2 sets of these over the top overlapped so they wouldn't fold in and zip tied them. The 4 panels went over the tote box like a bridge, 2 panels across the top and a panel hanging down on each side. I did this 3 times I think for a total of 12 panels. I could have used just 6 panels to cover the top if I had wanted and I also could have zip tied all 6 together in a giant rectangle. I secured the wire on each end of the tote with binder clips so it wouldn't move. But I left the middle loose so it could slide back and forth to access food/water etc. I attached the only pics I have of the setup. They're not great sorry.

It sounds really complicated but it is super super easy to put together and convenient and you can re-use the tote and wire for something else afterwards. Plus it gave 100% ventilation at the top. And I could place the lamp on the wire without having to worry about melting plastic by accident. I also liked the clear plastic because chicks can kind of see you and get used to people walking up to them. When they got to about 4 weeks old they graduated to spending days outside and nights inside until 6 weeks. HTH

 

[kyeschicks]

Thank y'all for the responses!

 

[rebeccaH86]

I just use a big storage bin with a framed wire top under my microgreens rack with a ceramic heat lamp on my fourth set of chicks now with this setup super easy and cheap.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Here's my indoor brooder setup. It's an old reptile cage so the front opens up for nice easy access. The top is a little weird because I used to use a heat lamp. At one point it sat there weird and melted the top. I dialysis invested in a heat plate instead.... love it! I ordered 2 more for the screen porch brooders. They're getting hard to find right now. Eventually, I want to order a BIG heat plate for the big brooder outside. For now, that one will have to stick with a heat lamp.

These are the screen porch brooders. I came home from a swap one day and was surprised that my husband had built the double one for me. He and I built the big one together a few days later.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I use a converted chinchilla cage. I believe the chicks are not as stressed if they can see out of the brooder.
I brood in the living room, makes the chicks friendlier and used to all kinds of noise IMO. I use puppy pads, as shavings too dusty for inside. As chicks get bigger, I put pine pellets (horse bedding) over the pads, absorbs smells and not as dusty as shavings.
Heat plates all the way! I have the Brinsea plates in different sizes. Love them. NEVER going back to the red heat lamps!
You have to stuff them under the plates a few times until they get the idea that is where the warmth is. They catch on pretty quick.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I just use a big storage bin with a framed wire top under my microgreens rack with a ceramic heat lamp on my fourth set of chicks now with this setup super easy and cheap.View attachment 2534616

Great brooder! Wonderful pic, and a good example of a brooder setup mentioned in my article. With your permission could I use the pic in the article? I would tag you underneath to give credit