Last Summer a Bob cat got our beautiful flock of seventeen chickens. It was awful! We had worked so hard getting ready for our girls, enjoyed watching them grow, and appreciated their eggs. We had discussed getting more this Spring, but had originally opted not to, in favor of camping a lot in our "new" camper. Well, we won't be camping every other weekend like we thought. After a visit at a couple friends homes who have chickens, I asked my husband if we could purdy please get a few more chicks. I'd planned on six at most, but he decided seven would be better, to account for losses and still have a small flock to provide entertainment and eggs.
The Monday after Easter I hit the local TSC, and left with eight beautiful babies. Five heavy layers, and three cute bantams. I brought them home and set up brooder shop in a new 18 gal. Rubbermaid tub.
My husband, was a bit miffed I bought 3 bantams because you don't exactly get good egg return on your investment. So on Thursday this week, I went back to TSC and left with three New Hampshire layers and two of the seriously cutest bantam bitties I've ever seen.
I knew we would be out of room in the tub and had to figure out an alternative brooder location with a quickness! The Monday batch was already hoping on top of the water and feeder. Light bulb moment. I'd seen on Instagram, while chicken hash tag stalking someone who'd converted a dog kennel {some call them crates, but ours is massive, so it's a kennel} into a brooder. Ah Ha! I'd figure out how to modify it for my baby chicks. I got some free cardboard at TSC, and came home and got to work!
The dog kennel is approx 4 ft. long, 2 ft. wide and 3 ft. tall. Perfect place to cage my peeping new girls.
We have a five month old Rottweiler puppy, who well used the kennel for a few months, but now rarely goes in there except to nap during the day. I scrubbed it from top to bottom! I used super hot water, Palmolive soap, and a full cup of white vinegar. I poured it all over the plastic bottom and let it set a few minutes while I measured and hacked up cardboard with a paring knife. I was sure to scrub the heck out of it! I dried it and placed some old newspaper on the bottom. I put cardboard up the long sides and down the back. It's inside the kennel to help with shaving spill out.
Then I added some pine shavings, not very deep, but enough for some insulation and scratch factor for the babies. Then I placed the food and water. I strung the light, with a red heat lamp bulb, away from the feed and water. I noticed in the tub the water heated up fast and I was changing it three times a day. The light is hanging a bit low right now because the chicks are still very young. {You raise it an inch a week, and want the temp at around 95 degrees.}
Lastly, I added my chicks, one at a time, dipping their beaks in the water so they'd know where it was. That's important because lets face it, chickens aren't exactly super smart. They were a bit confused at first, all of them stuck close to the entrance. Then one of them took off running like she'd seen the Promise Land, and all followed suite. They now have plenty of room to grow, play, sleep and get away from the heat lamp if they need to cool off. I added a stick from the yard fro the brave ones who are ready to begin perching. I'm quite proud of myself, to be honest. It was "free" to do it and all it took was a little thought. So far, they are thriving. It's hilarious to watch them.
