Brooder box first build

[JMotuzick]

So I came up with this idea at about 5am today. Couldn’t sleep. I recently ordered some chicks and need a brooder!

I stoped at Home Depot and bought well nothing for this first post!

The first picture shows what I used to build the box:

Just ply wood and screws!

Both of witch I had left over from other projects. The plywood was a full sheet of 3/4 and some drywall screws 1 5/8 I think.

The first cut I made 24”x48” this is the base or floor.

Next sides 23 1/4” x48” I made 2.
This left a peice 25 1/2x48”
I cut this in half the other way to get 24x25 1/2”

My German helper and the wood:

I still haven’t figured out pictures with this software ! Time for another post...

 

[JMotuzick]

So I just screwed the peices together base is on the right here. Because I used 3/4 and it’s only holding the sides on, I just screwed through the sides of the ply. Not the strongest but I’m not going to be filling this with wet cement either!

The ends went on, Thunder is still supervising! The dementions worked perfectly and I ended up with the ends being about 3/4 higher then the sides but that shouldn’t matter to the chicks!

I added a cross peice at about 8” up and 6” in this was part of a old shelf we took down in the garage. It’s just a 2x2. It will act as a Roosting pole and a handle to help move it around!

 

[JMotuzick]

Darn pictures!

Ok back to the Home Depot trip this morning... I bought furring strips 1”x2” 1” nails (should have gotten 1 1-4” and a roll of HC)
Here’s the top when working with a single grain of wood drill a small hole before screwing it off it will prevent the wood splittering.



4 staples one at each corner, I made the cover 2’x4’ and just smaller then the lips on each end. I used what I had thus the electrical staples!


I sandwiched another peice of furring strip all the way along just to keep the HC solid. I’d hate to see my helper to to get a snack!



As I was walking in I found some hinges from a old front door I had saved. I’ll be putting one on a end. Then some latch on the other. Just gota figure out what!

 

[JMotuzick]

I’ve found the heating pad for the mama heater it’s in my shopping cart just gota hit order. I have both feeders and waterers anything else I’m forgeting besides chicks and bedding?

Look for a tractor build post soon too. On the depot run I bought some stuff to prefab that in the shop so I can quickly assemble it outside come April! Then maybe disassemble it again quick come fall. It should last much longer if it’s dry and not in a snow bank right!?!

 

[CackleFruitCrnr]

Great job!!! So silly question...will you use this as a grow pen as well or just for chicks? I need to get one of these built soon myself!

 

[JMotuzick]

Looks like we have 20 coming 3-1. Hoping the weather holds out and no issues with the mail! If they all arrive safely 6 go to a friend. (We need to figure out what6)! The other 14 will stay here. My other friend is getting 6 more, he has eggs in his incubator, so his brooder will have 4 week olds when this batch arrives. The 14 will live here from arrival until the weather permits them to go out at 6-8 weeks. We already have a grow pen set up here. When we looked at the house we laughed because there where two cops set up! Now I’m happy!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Plan on putting them out long before 6-8 weeks. The brooder isn't large enough to support that many birds that size. I put my birds out 3-4 weeks of age depending on weather. 4 weeks of age early spring and 3 weeks of age late spring.

 

[JMotuzick]

will do! it all depends on the weather, worse case i can start to separate them out a bit into a large dog crate we have. hopefully we have a early, warm spring!

 

[pepe1]

Great job, i recently bought an incuview incubator and was planning on hatching some chicks from my flock, i would need a brooder and really like the one you made, i am heading to Home Depot to pick up what i need, thank you for your post.

 

[JMotuzick]

yes, quite simple and i had most of what i needed!


I still need to finish the top. I have a friend coming tomorrow to help with some things, he will hold it in place for me so it gets set just right. After sleeping on it i'll put the hinges on the longer side not the end, i'll need two but will allow for more access. I'm planing on putting it in the corner of the garage behind the oil tanks and next to some shelfs the 25" size is just right as i only have 26" to slide it in!