Brooder

[smart]

Hi,
Does a 3 week old IRN needs to be kept in brooder.

[amanda143]

They need to be kept warm until they are fully feathered so they either need a brooder or something similar. 85-90 is a general temp people go by.

[smart]

they either need a brooder or something similar.[/QUOTE]

Thanks “amanda143”. What do you mean by "something similar"? Could you give me some Ideas, any thing else that I can use instead of brooder?

[amanda143]

Some people can't afford a professional brooder so they make a home made one. I think the most popular is a 10g aquarium with a heating pad underneath. You can google homemade brooders and get some idea's. I know a guy in Louisiana that makes really nice brooders with thermostat out of coolers for around $200.

[Lori~D]

Heat pad set on low in a rubbermaid tub with holes in the top will work. Put the pad in half under a towel and keep half with no heat so the baby can move away from the heat if it gets to warm. I personally would put about three to four holes in the sides of the tub about as big around as your pinky finger and not in the top. Heat rises so the heat will leave out the top faster. Maybe 3 to 4 inches down on the sides of the tub.

[bubbie57]

After my two "males" laid eggs I needed to work fast because I was planning on hand feeding- after much research on the net here is what I came up with and it is fairly inexpensive.
acquarium Heater, a thermometer, and a hygrometer (for humidity). Petco sells both together for about $13.00.
(2) 20 qt rubbermaid type containers (rectangle shape)

Fill one tub about ¼ full of hot water and place the heater in the bottom- it should come with suction cups. Place the second container on top so it sort of floats on the water.
I provide humidity by filling a small gladwear round container with water and cotton balls. Punch holes in the plastic top and you have a humidity source.
When first setting this up you will need to allow time for the water to heat

I put bedding in the bottom of the top container covered by white papertowels. The little ones will be used to momma for cuddling with- so I bought a small teddy bear which they love. I always find them cuddled up to it when I check.

This brooder is affordable and very portable. Oh, and I put GSE (Grapeseed Extract) in the bottom tub water to cut down on bacteria.

Cost: about $3.00 each for tubs
About $23.00 for heater at Walmart
$13.00 for combination thermometer and hygrometer (humidity)
Total around $42.00- can’t beat the price and it works very well. I take my little ones (on my second clutch now) to my office with me and have the same set up at work.