brooder

[shortncrazy2]

So in a couple week I am going to need to have a brooder for my baby lovebirds. I have the things that was giving to me from the lady I am fostering for, but I don't care for her setup and since I am planning to breed later down the road. I was wondering what time of setup you use as a brooder.
I have been researching online to see what others are using. So far at the moment I thinking about using a 10 gallon fish tank with a mesh/metal lid and putting a heating pad under half of it. I already have a thermometer and a hygrometer bought that I can put in it. I was thinking I could put carefresh on the bottom and then line paper towels over there...Think that will work good.?

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Thats what I've heard most people use. Some use a heat lamp on the top as well. Crystal

[Birdsmile]

I made a wooden top for a 10 gallon aquarium and installed a dimmer switch to a double light fixture.
By adjusting the dimmer i can adjust the temperature of the brooder. We used these untill we bought our grumbach. If you would want pictures e-mail me and i would send them.
Jack

[Monica]

That's a great thought to use the dimmer for!!!!

Here's some links that may be of interest...
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - The Responsible Breeding of Cockatiels Part V - Brooders and Brooding Chicks
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Tips On Breeding Quakers
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Breeding African Greys - Part II
National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) A Fancier for Life: Meet Lorraine Still
Chick problems

An idea... use a small container inside the brooder... put in a paper towel and put the chick in the container... to help keep them in one place, easier to clean up, etc.

One used a small heating pad and set a small glass aquarium on it. Added a couple of small water dishes, a wash cloth for security warmth, a small feed dish and a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Then a small towel over top with a small opening left for fresh air. The temperature inside the aquarium was kept at 83 degrees. The heating pad and aquarium sat on top of a marble turn table on a kitchen counter but I think setting it right on the counter would be fine. The small heating pads apparently can be purchased at Walmart (though I have not had the chance to go shopping yet they are about $13 supposedly).

Another option was similar. A small aquarium (about 5 gallon), a wooden homemade top with an area for a small heating lamp with a red bulb (for reptiles) and the lamp was hooked up to being wired into a dimmer switch so it can be turned up and down to monitor the heat source. The babies were kept in 2 pound margarine tubs lined with a wash cloth to make a little nest. The aquarium will hold two of these. There was a thermometer also in the aquarium and the heat was again 82.9 so 83 degrees. Water was kept in a small container to keep the air moist. When the babies get bigger then they can live outside of the margarine tubs as they learn to eat and drink on their own. They are very vulnerable so feedings must be kept on a regular schedule especially if they have no natural source of water when they are very tiny. The breeder who had this set up was raising 3 babies in this set up. For more the margarine tubs could not be used and then the babies would have more space.

[shortncrazy2]

thank you so much for all the info. your a great help! I want to be prepared as much as i can.

[Parrot Lover]

My husband made our brooder out of a cooler. like the ones that sell for 300$ It was really easy. It has a temp gage and all. I will post pics soon as I find my camera

[Bagwellfan]

I use the 10 gal aquarium with a AviTech brooder hood on it. I love them, quite and around $125.00. I like them better then my Brisea's.