brooder cage

[silkiechick]

Hi thought you would like to see the brooder cage I use. I think it is a commercial rabbit cage, but is great as a brooder . I hang the heat lamp above the weldmesh top.It is of solid metal and weldmesh construction and so is rat proof. It however requires you to lay corrugated card on the floor under the litter to prevent leg problems in the chicks . But I have had no problems at all to date. I bought it from www.ascott.biz They have loads of smallholding supplies and great selection of poultry accessories.

[Nellie]

Wow thank you for that tip, I have one of those cages which I used to keep my guinea pigs in in the winter when they were babies. I completly forgot I had it, its been stuck up in the loft for 2 years !!!!
Even though I now have a custom made brooding shed now I am sure I will be overrun this year so an extra brooder would be ideal !

[Sandy]

Wow that is nice... I use a cardboard box modified with a heat source on the top using some of the mesh like your cage is made of... as the chicks get bigger I just add to an extra box until they are large enough to put out into the outside area and then into the flock area

For the floor for the first week I use ribbed paper towl.. works a treat.. never had any straddled leg problems at all.. then I change over to fine wire mesh with news paper underneath .. easy to clean up

I also give all my chicks multi vitamins for the first 3 weeks of their lives.. I have found that over the years a lot of chicks are lacking in some vitamin or other..and this fixes the problem before it becomes a problem.. I only make up a weak solution and make it up fresh each day.. really helps them and they just zoom ahead

Sandy

[mollyd0g]

What sort of multi vitamins do you use and how dilute a mixture do you make up. I put probiotics in my chicks water for the first week which seems to help keep them fit and healthy.

[maureen]

I thought you would like to know what I use as a brooder. I bought an old chest of drawers from a second hand shop. It was £2. I took all the drawers out except the bottom one laid it on its back and put wire mesh on top and hey presto one cheap brooder.

[Ash]

well done maureen what a fab idea ;D

Ash

[duckmad]

good idea
we have done something similare with an old large wooden storage box. we use it to give the ducklings a couple of days to find food and water before they go in with the older ducklings, its cheap cheerful and works a treat
duckmad

[littlefeathers]

Ours started off in a large see through storage box with a small one on top to hold the lamp, they are now in a little childrens blow up paddling pool £2.50 ......... the little b*ggers have already jumped out so we've had to increase the side heights with some card ;D. next house ...... hopefully a detached one in the country with lots of land..... ;D ;D ;D yeah yeah yeah.... dream on.

[blazestar]

;D COCKADOODLEDO...UNTIL NOW I HAVE NOT THOUGHT OF REARING DAY OLD CHICKS BUT AFTER READING THIS POST OUT A LOUD MY OTHER HALF AT THIS MOMENT IS DOE EYEFULY LOOKING AT MY COPY OF PRACTICAL POULTRY AT THE SWEET LITTLE CHICKS AS A BOY I INCUBATED PHEASANT & QUAIL EGGS IN THE AIRING CUPBOARD & REARED THEM TO FULL SIZE. I COULD NOT THEN BRING MY SELF TO NECK THEM & THEY LIVED A LONG & HAPPY LIFE... ;D