The last two years I noticed that whenever I walked up to the brooder, the chicks were terrified and panicked. They just never seemed "well adjusted". So after some internet reading, I came across a few sites that mentioned using a clear brooder and keeping it in the house so the chicks could see you at all times and become accustomed to your presence. (Keep in mind, I'm thinking about my layers and the fact that I want them calm around people when they're older. I may do something entirely different for my broilers).
I had some "points" at a local store and was able to get this 28 gallon clear container for free! Love that. I would have gotten something a little longer, but this was as long as they had in a clear container. I'll probably use it for about 3-4 weeks and hopefully transfer the chicks to the coop at that point where I'll keep them separated from the hens until they're about the same size and accustomed to one another.
I purposefully had a wall built in my coop with a screen door for this very purpose. It allows me to separate birds but they can still see each other and get up close to have a little chat now and then. I also use this area to separate broody hens since I don't have a rooster, and I'll use it to keep my meat hens separate from my layers.
Back to the brooder with a view... We used a soldering iron to cut a hole in the top of the lid. Next my husband made a frame and stapled some aviary wire to it with a staple gun. After drilling holes in both the frame and the lid, we attached the frame directly onto the lid with screws and nuts.
You can see the finished results keeps the top nice and secure. (Don't you love those corners he did? Perfectionism in woodworking!)
I have 5 new Rhode Island Reds and 25 Freedom Rangers arriving at the end of April along with some chicks we plan to incubate and hatch about the same time (4H project). So this weekend I picked up an extra heat lamp bulb (just in case the other one should burn out - good to have a spare ready to go!), scrubbed out the feeders, and made a simple little roost for the chicks to stand on when they're a few weeks old (one that fits in this box).
In the past, I'd go to the feed store, see cute little chicks, and since I couldn't resist them, I'd bring a few home. Then I'd dash around trying to pull everything together to get them housed, warm, and fed. It feels so good to be prepared early this year instead of doing things backwards!
Ahhhh, spring... bring it on!
That brooder looks wonderful. I've always wanted to raise chickens and really look forward to your updates and pictures on this.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such a neat and tidy idea! Love it!
ReplyDeleteWe'll be picking up 50 chicks (Buff Orpingtons) in a few weeks. The plan is to have them in the basement (it gets some heat from the furnace) in a kiddy pool (raised somewhat off of the cement floor). We'll hang the heat lamps from the rafters so they can be adjusted. We usually only get 10 or so but we wanted a bunch to butcher in the fall. We bought 25 straight run and 25 cockerels (the cockerels were so much cheaper and we had to buy at least 25 of whatever kind we wanted). Some will be spared and put in with the layers to replace the old ones that aren't laying anymore. Some of them might be butchered, too...well except for my son's favorites. They're here forever. That's the plan anyway. Unless anyone has any better ideas?
This is too cute Amy....When I have my babies we used our snakes tarrarium..lol! Yeah the snakes scape!
ReplyDeleteThat's the way we do ours and it works out really well.
ReplyDeleteWe used a clear container especially so the children could see in. When the chicks grew, we laid chicken wire over the top.
ReplyDeleteChicks and children:
http://www.childinharmony.com/2010/07/chicks-and-children.html
happy day!
Another clear brooder that works well is an old aquarium (30 gallon size is ideal). It is too tall for the chicks to pop out of (at least for a couple of weeks) and a snap to sanitize before and after use. We just lay an old piece of window screen over the top to keep chicks in when they get older and can jump higher.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! we did somthing like this but we used an old dog crate. My hubby cut a round whole in the top and mounted the round bell of the heat lamp to it. It was great, I wonder if it is still out in the barn?......I plan on getting several new laying hens this spring....some of my hens have stopped laying. (time for the pot?) I don't know how to pluck a chicken :o( or gut it :o( dont know if I really want to either.... :o( guess I need to learn how. I was thinking of getting some boilers too. I guess I'm just used to buying mine at Costco already roasted :o) Time to toughen up. I know what you mean though about always doing things backwards, my dad calls it putting the cart before the horse and it seems I'm always doing that. Yesterday I found a jersey cow that is in milk now and almost bought her....I do want one and am planning on getting one however I am not ready, I have a place to put her but I need to learn how to deal with all the milk she puts out and get some supplys for collecting,storing ect. I just hope I know what I'm in for.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Susan
Wow, this is a great idea! Never even thought of that. And yup, totally done the whole "bring them home and THEN figure out what to do with them" trick... But not this year, I'm ready! :)
ReplyDeleteIngenious, Amy! I've used the old metal washtubs with chicken wire over them in the past. This would be much easier to not only clean up but transport from point A to B. Great job! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I was just thinking the other day about using bins for brooders & am so glad you posted this now as I'll make sure to buy the clear ones. Thanks for the detailed instructions!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea!! Will you keep all your chicks in this container, or what would be too many? I have 18 Rainbow Layers that I'll be brooding up in a few weeks and am trying to get ideas-I used a cardboard box last time as well and would like to try something else myself :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~another Amy :)
I'm impressed with your plan to keep your chicks happy and friendly. Good luck with your project. JB
ReplyDeletemrshester, I'm thinking I'll use a kiddie pool in the garage for the 25 meat birds, like Carmen is doing. They're going to need more space rather quickly. I'd do the same thing with them, but I'd need a really large tub and not sure where I'd find one that size.
ReplyDeleteHi, so funny to see that your new post is about chickens. I was just on the Internet about chickens and came here to see if you have anything about it. Do you have any words of advice for a person just getting into keeping chickens? I am thinking of using a chicken "tractor".
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, a tractor is great for broilers, but some kind of brooder is necessary until they are a bit older - you need some place to keep them warm 24 hours a day. You'll start them off at about 95 degrees and then work them down by 5 degrees each week until you reach about 70 degrees or room temperature. At 4 weeks you can usually move them outside during the day if it's warm enough. Check out the additional posts I've written under Keeping Chickens and I'll do some posts on the chicks when they arrive.
ReplyDeleteAmy, what a great way to do this! We're still in the chicken "planning stage", but will definately keep this seriously in mind. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteI should have added that we'll have a chicken wire "fence" around the kiddie pool so they can't escape. : )
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty much what we do just we use a metal grated shelf to cover ours and have been doing it that way for the past 3 years....just be carful with the heat leamps and that plastic...we melted on when we first started...DH put a hook on the ceiling (plant hanger) to loop the heat lamp so I could adjust the hight to the brooder it doesn't need to be too close...and we kept a fish tank thermometer on the side to make sure we didn't make nuggets out of our chicks...I would only put no more than 10 in one that small though...also if you put the lamp on only one side it gives them the oportunity to move away from the heat if it gets too warm for them...but they are the best for easy cleaning! Just wipe right out...
ReplyDeleteAmy, I love your idea! We have baby chicks coming in two weeks and I need to get everything ready. I think I'll show this to my husband. It is definetely doable and should keep them safe from Max the hunter (our cat). Now just to empty one of those clear containers that are holding clothes. :) Thanks for the detailed explanation and pictures!
ReplyDeleteCindy
Is it that time of year already! I just love the spring and all the farm babies!
ReplyDeleteHe did a very nice job :-)
Wow, what a nice brooder!!! You're gonna have some spoiled chicks with this setup... and then the upgrade to the Hen Hilton :) Great job!
ReplyDeleteWe've used this plan for brooding the chicks for a few years now. we start the birds in one, then spread them out to up to four boxes before they go into the tractor in the green house. They are SO easy to clean and the chicks seem less jumpy at every cleaning or feeding. Also the boxes are easy to store for the next set of babies.
ReplyDeleteSo Nice! I use a 55 gallon fish tank as mine. I've got chicks hatchin this weekend, cant wait :)
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteIs there a specific book you would recommend to someone with an interest in raising layers? I really, really want to do this but know very little about raising birds. I am the type of person that gets all my ducks in a row before I start anything. Sometimes, I need to just jump right in but in this case, I want to be sure I can care for these little chicks.
Maggie
ReplyDeleteI am building some top bar hives would love to have this book as a reference for my new project.
steelman at gvtc dot com
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI have three books I recommend often - you'll find them in my bookstore. Look under my header and click the "book" tab, go to the bottom of the books and select page 2 and 3. You'll see them there.
I highly recommend the Storey Guide to keep on hand at all times for reference.
Hope it goes well and you get chicks soon!
Good idea - and nice to look at too :-)
ReplyDeleteBut my little chickees would end up bloodied messes - they are hyperactive this year and are jump-flying up against the the pig wire cover we finagled over our plastic container this year. I've never had chicks this lively before; comical but worrisome at the same time; LOL They are getting moved into a larger containment situation this weekend because they need room scamper and to spread their tiny wings already!
~Val
Val, did you get a new breed this year? Maybe it's their personality! Charming, I'm sure, but also could be a sign of attitudes to come!
ReplyDeleteSo far we've opted out of getting babies this year, but we've decided to let our hens raise their own when they go broody. So far we have one little bantam hen sitting on 6 eggs. This will be a first for us so we've got to fix up a separate area for her to raise her babies, away from the rooster and other hens who might injure or kill the chicks. And we've got 2 pr. of Canada Geese and 2 pr. of wood ducks on our little lake that appear to be hanging around to raise a family. At least we hope that's what they are doing. They are wild, but will stick around long enough to raise babies and teach them to fly. That is always fun to watch.
ReplyDelete