Plastic Storage Bin Container for Brooder Box

Today I was at Target looking at Plastic Container boxes.

What is your recommendation for size?

Hi, I'm pretty new at this too... our first chicks are coming in 2 weeks. But, I went to Walmart looking for a big plastic bin and ended up asking the associate if I could get the big boxes those big bins come in before they crush them. They stock their shelves and then usually crush the boxes later that day. They saved me a couple of really big boxes a couple days after I was in, I went back and picked them up, and that's what I'll be using for the brooder. I just asked them for the biggest boxes they could get me. I figured if they weren't quite big enough, then I'll tape a couple together like a couple other people had posted. I heard the "rule of thumb" if 1/2 square foot per chick in brooder. I'll be taping the small ends closed and opening one of the longer side to make a large rectangle. Free! I think they'll work out well, especially since they'll only be in there 5-6 weeks or so. I'm taking someone else's recommendation and putting some poultry fencing over the top once they're big enough to start jumping/flying out. Don't want to lose anyone! Good luck!

Here's a photo of mine. It's a 30 gallon tub - and it works great! By the way, I don't use the screen until they get big enough to jump out.

CarolJ said:

Here's a photo of mine. It's a 30 gallon tub - and it works great! By the way, I don't use the screen until they get big enough to jump out.

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Awesome. I saw that one as well @ Target. However I'm looking for a clear one. The 30 gallon clear bin looked pretty small compared the the non-clear one..weird.

Got one that is a 50 gal. Works well!

Went chicken supply shopping today!
Got a 66 QT bin (It doesn't look big)
also got a clip on light as well... all i need a stinking thermometer. Looked at 2-3 different places.
grrr

If I am going to get 6 checks, what size plastic bin is best for a brooder?

smak616 said:

If I am going to get 6 checks, what size plastic bin is best for a brooder?

 

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The biggest you have space for. Even six chicks take up a lot of room before you move them outside. And the more space, the better.

By the time they are a month old they will need about 2 sq ft per bird in the brooder. Seems awfully large when they are little but you will be shocked how fast they grow. Unless you want to make a brooder twice get one big enough to begin with..