Baby chick questions...

[TylahT]

I am going to be getting some baby chicks or ducks soon and I have a few quick questions...

1.) Instead of building a small brooder for the chicks to first be put in and then making a larger one for them as they grow, I want to go ahead and build one that will be big enough for them for the full 6-8 weeks before they can go into the coop. I'm wanting to get like 5 or 6 chicks/ducks, so how big should the brooder be to allow them enough room to grow the whole time needed?
2.) Would I need to block off half of the brooder at first and then unblock once they get bigger? Or will the chicks be okay with the whole big brooder at first?
3.) Also I'm still trying to decide where to put the brooder for the chicks/ducks. I was thinking in my bedroom (I know half of yall r probably thinking I'm crazy now) or we have a small shack like thing that has no doors etc in our backyard but I could build a protected brooder out there, but if I did I would have to run a extension cord from an outlet to outside for the heat lamp.

Any help/suggestions would be great!!

 

[kenh2010]

Congrats on your new chicks. I had the same idea of building a large brooder, dividing it in half and then removing the divider as they grew. Never put the divider in it and I don't think it was necessary after all. Actually, it's good for them to be able to get away from the heat if it gets to warm for them. They seem to be under the lamp when they want the warmth. I have 8 pullets going on 5 weeks old and they still seem to have enough room in the 3 x 4 foot brooder that I made out of sheetrock and duct tape, which I REALLY like. It was cheap, draftproof and has been easy to keep clean.

We keep ours in the basement. Since the light is on all night I don't think I would want them in my bedroom. Smell has not been an issue as I clean them twice a day. I keep newspaper on top of the pine shavings and roll it up and toss it.

They have been lots of fun. Our town recently passed the ordinance allowing hens in the city limits. The local paper did a front page article on my chicks - very positive and their seems to be lots of interest in them. Wish you the best. Be sure to keep them warm, starting new hatchlings at 95 degrees and drop the temp 5 degrees each week until they are comfortable at room temp and keep everything clean. I would be concerned about keeping them outside in case the power would fail and they would lose their heat source. Of course, you may live in a warmer area than we do - it was snowing all morning here.

Ken

 

[donrae]

What Ken said lol.

But, beware of baby ducks in the house. I've done it once and NEVER again. They are the messiest, smelliest babies. Unless your brooder walls are like four feet high they will splatter water on your walls. They get the feed all wet and it smells bad. They get themselves all wet and get feed or poop on themselves and smell bad. They just smell bad. And did I mention the mess?

If you have enough room, you could brood little babies in your room, but be aware they don't sleep all night. Can you sleep with a party in the brooder at midnight? And again at two am? And again at ......well, you get the drift. Plus the light on all the time. And chicks shed a lot of dust, or dust-like stuff. Wow, sounds like I'm leaning toward the brooder being outside, huh?

As far as size, I'm using galvanized steel feed troughs that are two feet wide by five feet long. One tub currently holds eight six week old layers and nine three week old layers. They're just now getting a little crowded, I'm moving the older ones out to the coop tomorrow.

 

[TN_BIRD]

Just got our first set of chicks the other day.

There is no way I could share a room with them at night (light, noise, etc.). I would put them in a spare bedroom or dining room (does anybody ever use their dining rooms anymore?

) instead of outside because of the temperature fluctuation.

Good idea to build a big brooder. They really do grow quickly. I wouldn't bother with the partition (seems they advise folks to do that with their pups because it's supposed to help with potty training).

 

[TylahT]

Thanks to all the responses! Donrae, yeah I have decided on chickens aha bc I heard ducks are a huge mess. Yall's comments have helped me a lot!

 

[h8snags]

We had ours in a big rubbermaid tub, only lasted a week! We have 8 chickies, and they outgrew it QUICK!! They are 3 weeks old now, and it's getting a little more crowded, but we let them out a few times a day to run around in the kitchen (we replaced the dining room table with the brooder!). It seems to help with their "cooped" up energy! They come out and jump, run, and fly around! They are so much fun! Here is a link to what we did, sorry, no plans, just put it together! LOL! https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=80727-our-brooder
Hope it helps! Have fun with your chickies.. I sure am!