I saw this on ebay tonight

[NSB]

330300485009

This was tempting. Have a look Lynda

[lynda66]

i used a bulb and a plastic storage box with a piece cut out of the top and a wire cooling rack over the hole. cost ....... nowt, cos i already had everything in ....... then after a few days transferred them to a babies playpen with a cardboard box with the top and front cut off, and the bulb over the box ...... cost £1.40 off ebay, plus a fiver petrol for sons mates car, i also got a dust sheet and some of those elastic luggage strap things (from the pound shop) to stop them escaping and stop the cat getting in...... to be honest, i didn't think the brooders were big enough, after having babies, after a few days, they want to play and explore, so as long as they are warm enough the playpen is a good option (mine are in the living room)

oh and if you've seen the size of mine, i really think they would be too big for it in 4 weeks, mine are 6 weeks now, and the playpen is getting too small for them, they like to have a run round.

[NSB]

When are they going to be outside for good? I was thinking of getting some chicks this year possible a few days old rather than eggs I think the eggs are too much hassle for me not that Ive done it before.

[lynda66]

i'd just go for the playpen then ..... the problem i've had (apart from the chook house not being finished yet) is that it's too flipping cold outside for them ...... but i would definitely say get them when it's warmer, and you'll want them outside about 4 weeks, cos thats when they start getting stinky ...... VERY.

just trying to get a hand to finish the chook house, and need to get a proper heat lamp for them so they can go out ...... and to be honest much as i love having pingu sat on top of the screen ...... the smell is getting too much lol

[chicken slave]

Eggs or chicks I've quit till spring has sprung. Nature brings new life in the spring and I now know why after having chicks hatch in October. It was really hard to keep them warm even in the wash house with a heat lamp. So I have now vowed to follow nature. I am going to be hatching more light sussex and some golden pheasant this year. I need to bring a new blood line into the chickens and build the flock back up as there will be only 1 cockeral left by spring. As for brooders I built one from 1 sheet of ply, 3 sheets of hardboard and a few batons, it has done me well and is all ready for spring (doubles as a straw box in the winter. My last babies went outside at 6/7 weeks and they survived the cold they did have full feathers by then and the bulb on the heat lamp blew about 2 weeks before.