Using a fish tank for brooding?

[Flummery]

Try pound land for the anti slip mat... (looks almost like woven foam rubber)

That's the bunny! Glad it's only £1

[Flummery]

Like this do you think?NEW NON SLIP ANTI SLIDE MATTING SHEETING GREY 47X63CM on eBay, also Modern, Rugs, Rugs Carpets, Home Garden (end time 19-Feb-09 10:53:29 GMT)

Yes but it sounds like Poundland is the place!

[CoraxAurata]

That looks interesting! Might even get some myself - since I have no old mouse mats <g> and I'm running out of tea towels too!

[lynda66]

Apparently I've got to aim for about 90 deg F? I'll try a thermometer in bottom of tank overnight with light lit and see what temp it is!

i had mine in the living room and never tested the temperature, but they always looked warm under a 60 watt bulb ..... they move away from it if it's too hot and snggle up under it if its cold

but at a week old they were in the playpen with just the bulb and lots of straw in a cardboard box, (and their stuffed chicken) and they have been fine, they will show you if it's warm enough.

[HayleyB]

I was thinking of rubber matting as well though old mouse mats are a clever idea.

Only Lynda could give cuddly toys and diggers to chooks, they'll grow up with warped minds, will write endless Xmas lists to santa, and will need asbos by the time they're a year old

[lynda66]

I was thinking of rubber matting as well though old mouse mats are a clever idea.

Only Lynda could give cuddly toys and diggers to chooks, they'll grow up with warped minds, will write endless Xmas lists to santa, and will need asbos by the time they're a year old

hey they already have an asbo ........ only asbo legs it every time they are out of the playpen ....... and it werent me wot got the elephant and digger di sent them ..... i felt like they needed something to snuggle as they haven't got a mummy, and they liked it so there

[MaureenHall]

Think I might have just struck lucky!! My friends have a vivarium (4' long) that's got all the heating equipment, thermostat etc that's no longer in use since their lizard snuffed it. I think I can have it in exchange for a computerised telescope that I never use, so I can put my babies (if any hatch) in it for a few weeks I've already been given a huge dog-crate thing to put them in as well, so I'm all set.

*note to self - get some of the anti-slip stuff from Poundland*

[lynda66]

i had a look at the anti slip stuff today, i'd be a bit concerned that they could peck bits off it to be honest, it doesn't look very strong.

how about an antislip bath mat with the suckers on the bottom cut to shape?? bet they have them in poundland too, and will last longer

[MaureenHall]

Well it's a definite YES on the vivarium (will have to call it a chookarium now!)

Think you might be on to something there Lynda about bath mats instead of anti-slip stuff - unless I can get a mouse mat thats 4' x 2', or I might get some cheap washable cotton rugs from Ikea

[lynda66]

thats an elephant mat

and i'd still use shavings and straw, they were happy on it, they could poke round in it and chuck it over themselves, can't help but think a mat would be very boring and get dirty very quickly, whereas the shavings absorb everything.

[Snadger]

I think I may be going down the tea towel route as mentioned earlier............at least for the first few days!

[Hilary B]

If the 'base' is too smooth, shavings/straw won't prevent sliding about. I'd use something 'non-slip' UNDER the shavings/straw. If you could get a small enough piece, that thick black garden pond liner might be good, maybe an 'off cut' from someone's odd-shaped pond?

[di]

So I need a stuffed chicken, cat toys that rattle, a little digger, a stuffed elephant, a mirror and chickens with a sense of humour?

I'm having a big sort out of the kiddies toys this week....you'll have to let me know if there's anything you need!!

[CoraxAurata]

No shavings for the first few days - if they do eat them they get really blocked up....

Snadger - you may want to cut a bit of cardboard to fit the bottom of the tank to put the tea towel on - mine didn't slide around on that......

[Polly Fouracre]

I brooded quail chicks in a heated propagator, that worked well. I used kitchen roll for flooring which had to be changed often but went on the compost heap. I plan to use a heat-pad for table chicks with a fleecy cover and a cardboard box over the top of it. (I might paint it to look like a mummy hen!!)