ajayb Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Am currently incubating some bought-in eggs. With about 2 weeks to go, I'm looking for advice on the best options for raising the newly hatched chicks (fingers crossed!). Will be no more than 12 and I'm considering the Brinsea Eco Glow Chick Brooder plus either a 3m black plastic brooder ring or the slot together plastic brooder kit from Brinsea ( or the brooder cage kit from Ascott ...). Does anyone have any strong feelings about these (or other suggestions), please? Plus, for how many weeks should the chicks be kept in this set up and will they have to be in an indoor room (rather than in my attached garage which, although it has a radiator, is very chilly overnight at this time of year!)? All advice welcome - thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranberry Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Wow your chicks are about to get 5 star accomadation!! My brooder is an old cold water tank. My chicks where born 10th Dec and were under heat in the house for 3 weeks then off heat in the house. "I have just put them in the barn 5 days ago and put the heat back yeaterday because of the cold. The first 3 weeks are important to keep warm and even temp which may be difficult in the garage at this time of year, Chicks do better in the long run if not kept too warm after this so then the garage should be fine. good luck and I look forward to seeing the photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I wouldn't go with any of your brooder options personally. An indoor rabbit cage (or even hutch) makes a good brooder The rings are ok when very little but chicks soon escape them. The Ascott brooder is ok bit has a wire floor so needs a covering of cardboard over that. The ecoglow isn't massively powerful so I'd maybe keep the chicks in the house for a week or so then try the garage provided it's not too cold out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I agree that an indoor rabbit cage is an excellent option, and for the flooring woodchip cat litter is fantastic (after a few days, keep them on j clothes for th first few days. As for an electric hen I have This one it's great at you can adjust the legs as they grow, and can also keep one side slightly higher than the other so varying the heat. Personally I would keep them in an indoor room for the first few weeks if you can. I kept mine on heat day and night for the first 4 weeks, then in the night until 6 weeks, at 6 weeks they were out in the day, in in the night (off heat), and they were fully outside from 8 weeks. Although they could have been out sooner really, I'm just a panicker!! Good luck with it.... And we love to see chick pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajayb Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Thanks to you all - I really appreciate the advice, being a complete novice at this area of chicken-keeping! Am excited & nervous in equal measure ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I start my chicks off in a deep walled long plastic crate with electric hen & shavings, until 1 week & a bit old. They then go in a plastic indoor guinea pig / rabbit cage with electric hen & wooden cat litter. Brilliant things - indoor guinea pig cages. However, do watch that the chicks don't put their necks between the bars of the cage. I sometimes rig up some plastic / card lengths along the sides of the cage & half way up the height, to prevent this. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 this is my set up they go in thr box for about 10 days this time of year http:// then in here until they are about 6-8 weeks old http:// I've added a deeper kick board to the front snice this photo was taken as even 3 week old chicks can kick out a lot of shavings when they start to dust bath dims are 4ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft high frame is 19mm roofing lath 100mm gravel board ply wood base hollow cell upvc soffit and chicken wire all but the timber was salvaged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I'd also go with an indoor rabbit cage or modified dog crate with plastic around the bottom to keep bedding in and draughts out I've also used an old fish tank for quail chicks for a couple of weeks with a heat lamp suspended over the top - and made this brooder to use for quail chicks: I made an electric hen from wood and then suspended that from the metal wire of an indoor cage, with it slightly angled so the chicks could choose where to sit under it and keep warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
