Chicken Brooder
July 13, 2008
Written by: Katie
I’m not sure why it is called a brooder. Maybe because “broody” birds will sit on their eggs and in lieu of broody chickens we have a surrogate (if you will) brooder. I’m just guessing here. Someone enlighten me.
Jeff built this last week and I had to take pictures of my superman at work.
While he was building a new home for the chickies we put them out to pasture.
Thankfully chickens (and ducks) are herd animals.
I swear, it was all I could do to refrain from putting a little leash and collar on these ducklings and walk them down the street.
In case you have never owned a duck I have to tell you that ducks are one of the most filthy creatures on God’s green earth. This is a Khaki Campbell (because I know someone will ask). The chickens are Rhode Island Reds (because someone already asked).
Here are two of the girls trying out the new brooder.
“I don’t know Mable. What do you make of this drafty house?”
“It feels like we are being watched, Betsy.”
It became a bit crowded in that brooder with 28 (3 ducks, you know) little peeps and so they were moved outside fulltime. Then we were forced to buy 9 more little chicks because well, they were heirloom chicks, and we are all about chicken breed conservation.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I could just eat that duck - it’s SO cute.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Katie - We live in the city too and I we have have chickens and ducks. AMEN to the ducks being dirty. We finally had to seperate the ducks and chickens because the ducks would get the chickens water so dirty. We have a kiddie swimming pool for the ducks and it is very funny to watch them in the pool. Good Luck!
July 13th, 2008 at 10:06 am
You can buy feeder goldfish and put them in the duck pond. They will swim in circles so very fast chasing the fish!
Ducks are also very good for the slug, snail and tomato worm population. I had a hard time keeping them in snails! I had two ducks for pets long before I had ever heard of a homestead :) .
Jeff is very talented at building. That brooder looks professionally built!
July 13th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
They are just so STINKIN CUTE!!
July 13th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Nice job on the brooder, it is a nice one.
I love little chicks and ducklings… so sweet… but oh so messy. :)
Have fun with your little ones…
BTW, what is new with the homestead?
Love,
Chas
July 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I didn’t know you bought ducks too! I bet June is loving those. :)
July 13th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
those pics almost make me want to have some chickens! unfortunately, I have yet to forget the wretched smell that wafted into my windows when my neighbor had a ton of them.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I think it is called a brooder since that is where a “brood” of chicks are kept. So since I keep my brood of children in my house does that make it a large brooder? Hmmmmmmm :-)