What do you use for a brooder?

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

161 gal stock tank with 1 bag of wood pellets covered with puppy pads for the first 3-4 days.

I just lay new pads over the top of the soiled ones. Easier then trying to pull up the old ones.

Just put my new MPC 26 Rainbow Specials in there this morning. Man alive - 26 little chicks poop a lot more than my first 10 did. On the other hand, they're all pooping and no pasty butts.

I'll be building something much larger over the weekend to house them all until I figure out what all of them are and which ones I'm going to keep and the ones I'll post here and Craigslist FREE to good homes.

I like to use two heat lamps in case one burns out. I clamp the lights to the backs of metal folding chairs and then wrap the cords around the backs to prevent then from falling in the brooder if the clamp fails. Temps holding at 95' near the lamps dipping to 85' away from it.

 

[SunnyChic]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

161 gal stock tank with 1 bag of wood pellets covered with puppy pads for the first 3-4 days.

I just lay new pads over the top of the soiled ones. Easier then trying to pull up the old ones.

Just put my new MPC 26 Rainbow Specials in there this morning. Man alive - 26 little chicks poop a lot more than my first 10 did. On the other hand, they're all pooping and no pasty butts.

I'll be building something much larger over the weekend to house them all until I figure out what all of them are and which ones I'm going to keep and the ones I'll post here and Craigslist FREE to good homes.

I like to use two heat lamps in case one burns out. I clamp the lights to the backs of metal folding chairs and then wrap the cords around the backs to prevent then from falling in the brooder if the clamp fails. Temps holding at 95' near the lamps dipping to 85' away from it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_rainbow_pullets_sept_23_2009_005.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_rainbow_pullets_sept_23_2009_009.jpg

You're set up looks great! I couldn't resist ordering the 25 rainbow pack from MPC, either! I love the wood pellets and I think I'm going to use your idea of puppy pads rather than paper towels. I'm going to start them out in my kiddie pool and then move them to a larger brooder. I may take my extras to one of our BYC swaps here in Florida.
Good luck with your cuties!

 

[BeccaOH]

I've used multiple things as I currently have about 100 chicks in various stages of feathering.

Large plastic storage tubs (usually used for the newest hatchlings with puppy pee pads on the bottom)

Plastic dog carrier

Swimming pool - flexible plastic 5 feet across and 18 inches deep covered by large house window screens

A wooden box designed for rabbits or ferrets with a lift up lid. Lid is always open with a handmade screen across the top.

A garden trailer you'd pull behind a mower that is about 4x5 and 2 feet deep. Covered with house window screens and pallet toppers to keep chicks in and cats out.

My friend promised to make me a brooder out of a cargo crate. I like his really well.

Setting a light up over some of these has been a challenge at times, but I generally find a way.

 

[FenDruadin]

Right now I've got ducklings in converted rabbit hutches, and really like having them closer to eye level. The wire flooring lets a lot of water fall through so it doesn't get as wet as the rubbermaid brooder (which I still use indoors for the first few days). Also, they've learned that when I open the door, they can jump out onto the soft straw below and run free for a little while. It's SO cute to watch them pop out by ones and twos onto the ground, lol.

I've also used dog crates and they work fine too.

I move everyone out to the outdoor pens during the day as soon as they are large enough not to go through the wire, which is around three or four weeks. At night, they go back in a brooder with a lamp. Obviously, if the weather is wet or cold, they stay in a brooder even when they're larger. But doing it this way allows me to raise more ducks with less brooder space and happier ducks.

I like the heating pad idea--I may try that. I don't like having the light on all the time either, but hadn't thought of a good way to deal with the problem. I'm also going to start picking up 25-cent stuffed animals at yard sales to use for surrogate mamas. I had thought of hanging feather dusters in each brooder for that purpose, but since I'm planning to try and sell ducklings and maybe be able to break even on feed cost, I'm looking for ways to economize, and feather dusters are costly.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[walkswithdog]

For larger batches of chicks the BIG outdoor kennel heating pads work wonders. And the deluxe ones ADJUST. I'm so happy with mine

And since it's built for kennel use you know it's tough and safe if something spills.

Then I use anything that will hold chicks, pools, dog crates, empty chest freezers, whatever works at the time.

I'm about to do it again and building a brooder in the well house because I am test hatching tooooo many eggs.

And I have a towable garden tractor that needs to be made into one for older chicks...

Busy busy. Right now mine are in the bottom of the parrot cage keeping the lonely parrot company - his friend died and he's lonely.

 

[Kriquet]

I love my galvanized oval horse trough! It's high enough that they can't fly out (at least not very easily) and it's super easy to clean. I put the heat lamp at one end, waterer in middle and feeder at far end. It's plenty of room for everyone to race in circles! Makes a great isolation pen when needed, too! When I'm not using it I plant tomatoes in it!

 

[Vanessabuffsnsilkies]

Quote:
How do you have the chicken wire attached? I have a pool but didn't have anything that fit over top and considered chicken wire...mie are in a big rubber maid tote right now til I figure a way to enclose the pool. It will be in the garage but I would feel better about having some type of cover on it just in case.