Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Tips for successful breeding and troubleshooting breeding problems.
Post Reply
User avatar
L in Ontario
Mod Emeritus
Mod Emeritus
Posts: 13365
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:29 am
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
Contact:

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by L in Ontario » Tue May 31, 2011 2:25 pm

Looks pretty good to me, Gary! =D>
Liz

joni0215
Pip
Pip
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:43 pm
Location: East Bay Area - California

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by joni0215 » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:46 pm

Wow! Thanks!! Great and brilliant ideas! I'd love to see a picture of that bowl setup, if you have one. I'm not the best "written instruction" follower on the planet. :) I was also looking at that "water nanny" that Deb has on her website. that's an interesting setup too.

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by ac12 » Fri Jun 03, 2011 2:01 am

Here are more pix of my setup.

Special note on the dimmer. It is a Leviton cord dimmer from Home Depot, part number TB103. About $10 USD. This is a "resistance" dimmer. All it does it reduce the voltage going to the device. Some dimmers are more fancy and do the dimming electronically. Those will not work for the power supply. So in this case, the simple dimmer is the correct dimmer to use.
Attachments
The dimmer adapter plugs into the wall, then the power supply for the brooder plugs into the dimmer.
The dimmer adapter plugs into the wall, then the power supply for the brooder plugs into the dimmer.
This is the overall setup. Top to bottom.  1) The power supply plugged into the wall (at the top), 2) the brooder (you can see the black wire between the thermometer display and the temp probe going into the top of the brooder), 3) the thermometer (black object 2nd from bottom), 4) the dimmer control (white object, lowest item)
This is the overall setup. Top to bottom. 1) The power supply plugged into the wall (at the top), 2) the brooder (you can see the black wire between the thermometer display and the temp probe going into the top of the brooder), 3) the thermometer (black object 2nd from bottom), 4) the dimmer control (white object, lowest item)
This how I have the inside of the brooder set up.<br />On the left is a shallow dish with a couple layers of paper towel on top to insulate the chicks from the dish.<br />On the right is a small ramekin with water, to provide humidity.
This how I have the inside of the brooder set up.
On the left is a shallow dish with a couple layers of paper towel on top to insulate the chicks from the dish.
On the right is a small ramekin with water, to provide humidity.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

User avatar
Sally
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 17929
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
Location: DFW, Texas

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by Sally » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:43 pm

Looks like a great setup to me! I think I'm going to get one of those Munchkin warmers--I like the idea of the heat coming from the top.
3 Purple Grenadiers, 1 Goldbreast + 1 cat.

National Finch & Softbill Society - http://www.nfss.org

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by ac12 » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:59 pm

Sally
That blue plastic on the front of the warmer is a window, you can peak on the little guys. And there is a small lamp that you can turn on to light up (a little) so you can see them. But the blue plastic is not real clear and the shape distorts the image some. But it is nice to be able to check on them w/o opening the top, and letting the heat out.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

User avatar
Sally
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 17929
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
Location: DFW, Texas

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by Sally » Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:07 pm

A window for checking up on them! That's it, I'm dumping my Prince Lionheart warmer for a Munchkin warmer! :lol:
3 Purple Grenadiers, 1 Goldbreast + 1 cat.

National Finch & Softbill Society - http://www.nfss.org

moonrise

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by moonrise » Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:05 am

Y'all are enablers! :wink: :lol: I just got one of the Munchkin warmers. Figured it would be good to have onhand.

The glass aquarium thermometer I found has a suction cup on it, and I was able to stick it just inside the window of the warmer. It's readable without having to open the lid. =D>

I plugged it in a few minutes ago, and am testing it as we speak. 84 degrees and rising. :)

I'll ask Hubby about the dimmer switch. :)

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by ac12 » Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:25 pm

moonrise
I was thinking about the brooder for a long while.
Then I got 2 tosslings that I had to keep warm...
EMERGENCY need to make the brooder NOW.

Yes, it is much better to have it on hand BEFORE you need it. Lot less stressful than trying to buy the stuff and put it all together when you need it. And it takes a little while to get the dimmer adjusted to the right temp.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

User avatar
CandoAviary
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8554
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
Contact:

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by CandoAviary » Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:59 pm

Brilliant idea adding the dimmer/cooler control :idea:

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by ac12 » Sun Jun 05, 2011 9:34 pm

I just thought of something to be aware of.

The Munchkin warmer has its heater in the cover. That means you MUST use a dimmer to control the temp. And I don't know if you could use this warmer in the car,
#1 the output of the power adapter is 12vAC not 12vDC. Car is 12vDC.
#2 Even if DC is not a problem, you don't have a dimmer, so the warmer would be running full temp. The only way I can think of lowering the temp is to open the cover a small amount to let some heat out.

The warmers with the heater below the compartment, you can use towels to reduce the heat to the chicks. Also I "think" you can use these in the car with the appropriate car adapter.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by ac12 » Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:41 pm

Follow on question.
At what point should I plan to transfer the birds from the brooder to something else, like a cage. Or can I keep them in the brooder until they feather up and don't need the heat of the brooder?
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by debbie276 » Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:58 am

This is a picture of my homemade brooder. I can leave them in there till they are fully feathered then they go into a cage or aviary.
brooder.jpg
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
CandoAviary
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8554
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
Contact:

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by CandoAviary » Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:59 am

Nice brooder Debbie :D Heating via water solves the humidity issue also...smart thinking there :D

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by debbie276 » Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:01 pm

Thank you, and the submersible aquarium heater allows me to set the temperature perfectly. :)
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Inexpensive Brooder You Can Make

Post by ac12 » Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:06 pm

That HUGE water bath is more temperature stable than the little baby wipe warmer. I was watching the temp in the brooder go up and down on the digital thermometer.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

Post Reply