HI i put some eggs in the incubator today Light sussex l/f, and just beeing thinking of a brooder for when they hatch, theres 18 eggs in total. What sort of size should i make it? Whats the most economical type of heat for them?Im hoping that they will be in the one brooder from 2 weeks old to 5-6 for when they ae ready to go outside. And i have been looking at these water nipples, they look a great idea, dose anyone use these? How do you get the chick to learn to drink from them? also would it be possiable to teach year old hens to drink from them? As i think its great to keep there water clean for them.
Brooder ideas please
- Thread starter wcah
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
An electric hen is without doubt the most economical way to rear chicks. You will rapidly recover your investment. Try to get one at about 40 Watts as the very small ones struggle in a colder room. I would give them 24 hour daylight for the first 7 days, then natural day and night.
I think Karminski uses nipple drinkers for hens. Would be a good idea for chicks because of the risk of drowning in a saucer. But I've never tried them so I wouldn't know if they would take to them initially. Probably fine after a week.
I think Karminski uses nipple drinkers for hens. Would be a good idea for chicks because of the risk of drowning in a saucer. But I've never tried them so I wouldn't know if they would take to them initially. Probably fine after a week.
VALBURNHAM
New member
I have the rabbit bottles for my hens. When I bought them I thought it would be a nightmare learning them to drink from them. No problem at all they were so inquisitive they all had the hang of it in no time at all. Sorry no idea if chicks would be the same.
tygrysek75
Member
They learn drink from it very quicly-they like to peck at stuff and this is why learn where the water is very qiuckly.
Chuck said:
There may be 24 in total if i add the 6 eggs next week. For the first 2 weeks they will be quite happy in a storage box in the study with a heat lamp which iv got but hopfully will find somthing more costafective for the next 4-5 weeks as the heat lamp is £1 per day. After 2 weeks they will need more space and so then they can move into the barn in to a new brooder which is what im looking for ideas for., many thanks
Ahh. Whatever you decide to use if they are going in to a barn, make sure that it is rodent proof. I had a chick that was attacked by a rat when I tried using several sheets in a ring of corrugated cardboard. I've now got a super dooper brooder area made out of breeze blocks with wire over the top.
Tim
Administrator
I use a wooden crate. I removed the top, lifted it 12 inches off the floor so that it stands on legs, removed and reduced the height of the front, making it detachable for cleaning. I painted it out white and hey presto...a chick brooder (once heat lamp etc is added). It can be washed / scrubbed out at the end of the season.
For ducklings, I have a waterfowl rearing unit which is fibreglass with a mesh area to allow droppings to fall through and a bath area. There are 2 plugs, one can drain out the bath water and the other is for draining water used for cleaning. There is a ramp going into the water. It's kind of hard to describe, I should get a photo...
For ducklings, I have a waterfowl rearing unit which is fibreglass with a mesh area to allow droppings to fall through and a bath area. There are 2 plugs, one can drain out the bath water and the other is for draining water used for cleaning. There is a ramp going into the water. It's kind of hard to describe, I should get a photo...
Tim
Administrator
Hi Guys,
Sorry, I'm not ignoring you... it's just I had some ducklings due to hatch so I thought I'd try to get a photo of them in the rearing unit...
Anyway, 13 ducklings hatched and I have taken a few photos. The unit has two areas, a bath area which will be filled with water every few days when they are older and a rearing area which has a plastic mesh that allows muck to fall through. There is a plug hole at both ends. I put a bucket under each plug and then I can throw a bucket of water in there and give it a scrub.
When it is really mucky, I take it outside and wash it with the hose.
Sorry, I'm not ignoring you... it's just I had some ducklings due to hatch so I thought I'd try to get a photo of them in the rearing unit...
Anyway, 13 ducklings hatched and I have taken a few photos. The unit has two areas, a bath area which will be filled with water every few days when they are older and a rearing area which has a plastic mesh that allows muck to fall through. There is a plug hole at both ends. I put a bucket under each plug and then I can throw a bucket of water in there and give it a scrub.
When it is really mucky, I take it outside and wash it with the hose.
Tim
Administrator
Chuck - Here is some help on uploading photos: http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=77
Basically, they can't be large, like you get off a camera, you'll need to reduce the size in order to upload them. So you'll need some software to do this if you don't have any photo editing software already.
Basically, they can't be large, like you get off a camera, you'll need to reduce the size in order to upload them. So you'll need some software to do this if you don't have any photo editing software already.
05 my chicks just get a saucer with pebbles . and my brooder box will be small solid wooden sheets made into a cube should take about an hour to make 
.
