My best brooder

I have tried so many diffrent things to use as brooders that can easily be cleaned and stored. I finially found something that works. Play pens. I bought two of the collapsable nylon ones at yard sales. I was using them for fawns and such as they come in, but I needed something for my chicks and turkey poults and grabed one. Throw some shavings in the bottom, hang a lamp for heat and you're set to go. If it is really cold in the laundry room, I toss a sheet over the whole thing (it also keeps the dust down). Since I have two, I set up the clean one, move in the chicks and haul the other one outside. Then I pick up the bottom pad,( litter and all) and dump. Everything hoses down and can be disinfected. When it's dry, you fold it up till you need it again.

After a few weeks I move them outside to a big pen with a kids play tent (dome shaped and quick to put up). I hang their lamp in there and fill the bottom with shavings. It holds the heat in really well and at night I can zip the door to hold in even more heat, if it gets too warm I can open the screened top to ventilate. It was worked perfect and I only paid $10 for each of the play pens and $6 for the tent.

My cornish cross and white turkeys, happy in their brooder

I am on the yard sales this weekend! Excellent ideas. I have been using a child's rigid plastic swimming pool as a brooder which works well until they start flying over the edges--I then stapled corregated cardboard around the rim to raise the edge--but I like your ideas much better.

What a fantastic idea, jyl! I will have to keep my eyes peeled at yard sales and put a bug in DH ear, so he can look too. Something tells me that our packed to the max problem may not be a one time thing and I'd like to be prepared. I am sooooo impressed with this idea....what could be more perfect for little chick housing......and I bet nothing could slip out of one of those holes! Thanks for the idea and pic! : )

This is a fantastic idea and so easy to clean... I wish I would have thought of this before I set my chicks up in my guest bathtub! What a mess that was :)

I've done the bathtub (seemed like a good idea at the time) and the kiddy pool too, before I discovered the play pens.

I told my DH about this idea and he about rolled his eyes. Just wait though....I bet he brings home a playpen. With his habit of buying critters now and worrying about housing later....I bet we end up with one. hee, hee! : )

Hey, great idea! I'm using ice chests with great sucess also for the smaller chicks. They are insulated, draft free, easy to clean & can be found at yard sales really cheap. You don't need the lid but they can be useful in cooler climits. You can put it down at night to keep them toasty warm. Just be sure to duck tape a piece of wood or something to the outside edge of the lid to keep it from closing tight. I am fortunate enough to be able to put my youngster outside at a couple of weeks with a house & light for cooler evenings or I'd foir sure be looking into playpens!
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah

Just totally awesome. Off to garage sales I go and may hit the thrift stores. My DH will be rolling his eyes also. Oh well he don't have to clean it up. I used them big square rubber maid tubs the last time. What a mess that was.