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Barnyard Buddies:  Brooder for new chicks?  |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 14 2012 : 6:28:40 PM
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We are getting 6 chicks in a few weeks. We have most of what we need. But... I remembered my parents always keeping them in a large cardboard box with a red light. But, I just read that you shouldn't use cardboard. What have you folks used as a brooder until they are big enough to be moved to the chicken coop?
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2012 : 7:00:21 PM
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I use a guinea pig cage with a red lite on top of it, or you can use a rubbermade tub
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm!
http://homesteddinmomsworld.blogspot.com |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2012 : 8:52:32 PM
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Oops! Mine are in a cardboard box with a red light in it! I read cardboard was OK since they were only going to be in it for a couple of weeks. They are pine shaving for flooring. Why isn't cardboard good (not that I will change them at this late stage).
Audrey
.jpg) Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
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rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2012 : 09:48:10 AM
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We've used cardboard, rubbermaid boxes and milk crates with a cardboard bottom with the red light; not had any problems with the chicks we've kept like that. We also now have an official brooder cage built just for chicks --one part is completely closed in with a door that opens to the wire floor part. We put sand in the closed off part, works very well.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
Edited by - rksmith on Apr 15 2012 09:48:27 AM |
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Bornagainfarmgirl
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Jenn
MT
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2012 : 11:41:09 AM
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I have used the biggest rubbermaid storage box I can find -50 gallon.... Then I can wash it out really well and use it to store stuff in the garage so the mice will not get in (if there are any, but who wants to take chances!). I have just recently been reading about these Brinsea brooder heater thinga-ama-gigs, and find them very interesting. Very low energy use.... I may try one next year, since the energy bill goes up markedly at brooding time. Other than that, I just use pine shavings in the bottom of the brooder and that is about the gist of it!
Raised on a farm, and getting back to it! |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2012 : 12:08:30 PM
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Pine shavings in the largest rubbermaid bin I can accommodate :D
I have a 40 gallon bin I bought this spring and I have brooded each time 10 goslings +3 ducklings, 10 turkey poults, 11 ducklings, 3 chickens + 6 poults.
It cleans up like a champ each time and stays useful past brooder season.
The dirty pine shaving bedding makes nice garden mulch too!
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2012 : 12:48:44 PM
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Thanks! I think we will end up going with either the rubbermaid or the carboard box. I think the book said the cardboard was a fire hazard and could get wet and soggy. I guess if you are careful it wouldn't really matter.
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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Bornagainfarmgirl
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Jenn
MT
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2012 : 2:09:36 PM
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.JPG)  
Had to share a few chick pics, just because they are so fun! (Orpingtons, and Delewares)
Another thing I do is put repurposed baby gates on top of my ' rubbermaid brooder' so when the girls start to get 'flighty' they cannot get out!
Raised on a farm, and getting back to it! |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2012 : 3:26:30 PM
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Cute pics!
Audrey
Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2012 : 11:09:01 AM
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The only problem that I can think of with the cardboard box is that one does have to be careful that the bulb somehow doesn't end up touching the sides and starting a fire. With a small number like that one could use an extra bathtub. I have a small fiberglass bathtub that I use at first and then transfer them to a regular brooder that a friend gave me a couple of years ago. I love it!
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: Brooder for new chicks? |
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Brooder for new chicks?
