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Elly
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 356
Location: Norfolk
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 Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject: Best Artificial Broody Set-Up for Bantams? |
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I should be getting 6 x 1 day old araucana bantams around the end of this week 
The last chicks I had were hatched under my broody hen, so I had to do very little. Plus they were not bantams.
My question is what is the best way to set-up an artificial broody cage?
I have a plastic bottomed cage with wire top (the sides come up about 6in) and I have a heat lamp which can hold either a red bulb or ceramic one. I am thinking about making a enclosed area, with a small 'door', under the heat source to make it feel more snug. Is this a good idea (the cage is large)? 
Also, is it best to keep them in the house or would they be OK in a garage?
Sorry for all the question, but as I am expecting the chicks to be smaller I'm more worried 
Keep smilin
Elly |
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Pekinout
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 1219
Location: Cornwall
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:25 am Post subject: |
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How long/wide is the cage? It should be ok if it's large enough, don't forget you'll need room for their food and water containers inside it. You can hang the heatlamp over it on the outside.
A big cardboard box is fine too, as long as you don't get the heatlamp anywhere near it.
This time of the year they should be fine in the garage, as long as nothing can get in there to take the chicks like rats or anything. |
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Elly
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 356
Location: Norfolk
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:40 am Post subject: |
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The cage is a good 2ft x 4ft and about 2 ft high. I'm worried it maybe too open for them and was going to put a 'snug' area in it. The garage is a good, solid brick one and we have never seen a ny signs of rats etc in/near it. The cage would be on a table rather than on the floor (we have a huge double garage) 
Its all animal building/work here at the moment We are just finishing enclosing a 45ft sq part of our garden for our chickens and have started to build a 10ft by 6ft run of the guinea pig shed (tall as the shed to allow the children in to play with them)  No wonder the housework never gets done 
Keep smilin
Elly |
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Henwife
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 3540
Location: Monmouthshire
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| If you can get one, a small electric hen would be the ideal in an 'open' cage of that type. I can fit one into a similar sized 'parrot cage' it gives them a warm covered area, and a light open area for food and water. If you've already got the heat lamp, simply use something (cardboard, old feed sacks) to make the bottom 6" draughtproof. If you use an electric hen, draughtproof the same way. It's draughts that kill. Bantam chicks are usually as tough or tougher than LF despite being smaller. |
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