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Brooder box size

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Idaho Chicken Bungalow said:
Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies!
You are definitely headed in the right direction.
This stuff saved a couple of my chicks on the first few days. A little bit goes a long way,

Stromberg's PH426 Poultry Supplement, 200 Grams​



Visit the Stromberg's Store
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I looked for the product, but it is showing as being out of stock.
 
Hi! I'm a pretty new chicken mama myself! Welcome to BYC!!!

Last year I got layers in two batches and this year I got 25 cornish cross meat chickens. I'll share what worked for me, and that might help.

I brooded two sets of egger chicks (9 and 10 chicks at a time) in a 45 gallon rubbermaid tub. By 3 weeks they had out grown it. I moved them to a watermelon box (the large cardboard boxes that walmart and similar stores use to sell watermelon and pumpkins) at 3-4 weeks. (I put cardboard over the watermelon box side holes and put two additional layers of cardboard in the bottom, and set it out in the garage on a tarp.) Used medium pine shavings for bedding for both tote and watermelon box. Used 1-2 inches in the 45 gallon, changed it every 2 or at most 3 days. Watermelon box, I used 4", shavings and changed it once a week. Water leakage can be an issue from waterers, but by 4 weeks I had the chicks on horizontal nipple drinkers, which pretty much ended the water leaks.

They grew in the watermelon box until 6 weeks, and I put them outside in my covered open-air coop/run as soon as they had enough feathering. They were a bit cramped in the watermelon box by the end of it.

From what I can tell, the watermelon box is about 1.5 the floor space of one XL dog crate (link below)

Eggers Tote:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/sterilite-45-gallon-wheeled-latch-tote-stadium-blue-case-of-4/420268689

XL Dog Crate:
https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/137471

For CX, used 1-2 inches medium pine shavings, changed it every night, fluffed it in the morning to mix in the poo/aerate the litter and at noon if I was home. So far, I've only had the CS for 3 days but they make 3x the amount of poo and 3x the amount of water in their poo compared to the eggers, and grow 3x as fast. I had no idea I'd have to change their poo every day, and there is water/moisture sitting in the bottom of the plastic tote when I do. I can see switching over to morning and night full cleanouts very fast, and they'll probably outgrow the 160 quart by the end of this week. I plan to split them into two XL dog crates at that time (lined with cardboard, maybe housewrap/feed bags), and hope to get another week or two before putting them out in my enclosed 10'x30' covered open-air coop/run on grass/wood chips.

Cornish X Tote:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HART-160...ge-Bin-Clear-Base-Blue-Lid-Set-of-3/668354072

Things to note:

I really love brooding in the plastic totes because I can lift them and dump them into a large outdoor trash can, and save the littler for composting. They are easy to wipe out and sanitize, and wash with soap and water in the front yard.

I brood in my garage. I use meat thermometers to check every area that gets heat from the heat lamp to make sure the heat lamps are the right height from the chicks (right temperature) and the plastic isn't overheated. Also the chicks get used to the cold weather outside by having the area not under the lamp be cold similar to what's going on outside but somewhat warmer. Chicks make an insane amount of dander. I brooded my first batch of eggers inside for two weeks - never again!!! My entire half house was coated with chick dander and it gave us respiratory issues.

I put 1/2" hardware cloth lids on my brooders, with 1"x2" strips of wood zip tied lengthwise at the edges to provide handles and keep the mesh in place well. I put firewood on the lids sometimes to provide weight and security when I'm worried about predators, and use aluminum foil to cover anything I think might get hot - it wicks the heat away and protects the surface underneath from heating. These lids protect from predators (mice, birds, cats, dogs), and make sure that if the heat lamp does happen to fall (not even possible the way I've got it hung, but anyway), it will fall onto the lid and not the chicks. Setting on the lid will not be an issue (I've tested it).

Hope this helps! Good luck, and have fun in your chicken journey!!!
 
FunClucks said:
Hi! I'm a pretty new chicken mama myself! Welcome to BYC!!!

Last year I got layers in two batches and this year I got 25 cornish cross meat chickens. I'll share what worked for me, and that might help.

I brooded two sets of egger chicks (9 and 10 chicks at a time) in a 45 gallon rubbermaid tub. By 3 weeks they had out grown it. I moved them to a watermelon box (the large cardboard boxes that walmart and similar stores use to sell watermelon and pumpkins) at 3-4 weeks. (I put cardboard over the watermelon box side holes and put two additional layers of cardboard in the bottom, and set it out in the garage on a tarp.) Used medium pine shavings for bedding for both tote and watermelon box. Used 1-2 inches in the 45 gallon, changed it every 2 or at most 3 days. Watermelon box, I used 4", shavings and changed it once a week. Water leakage can be an issue from waterers, but by 4 weeks I had the chicks on horizontal nipple drinkers, which pretty much ended the water leaks.

They grew in the watermelon box until 6 weeks, and I put them outside in my covered open-air coop/run as soon as they had enough feathering. They were a bit cramped in the watermelon box by the end of it.

From what I can tell, the watermelon box is about 1.5 the floor space of one XL dog crate (link below)

Eggers Tote:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/sterilite-45-gallon-wheeled-latch-tote-stadium-blue-case-of-4/420268689

XL Dog Crate:
https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/137471

For CX, used 1-2 inches medium pine shavings, changed it every night, fluffed it in the morning to mix in the poo/aerate the litter and at noon if I was home. So far, I've only had the CS for 3 days but they make 3x the amount of poo and 3x the amount of water in their poo compared to the eggers, and grow 3x as fast. I had no idea I'd have to change their poo every day, and there is water/moisture sitting in the bottom of the plastic tote when I do. I can see switching over to morning and night full cleanouts very fast, and they'll probably outgrow the 160 quart by the end of this week. I plan to split them into two XL dog crates at that time (lined with cardboard, maybe housewrap/feed bags), and hope to get another week or two before putting them out in my enclosed 10'x30' covered open-air coop/run on grass/wood chips.

Cornish X Tote:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HART-160...ge-Bin-Clear-Base-Blue-Lid-Set-of-3/668354072

Things to note:

I really love brooding in the plastic totes because I can lift them and dump them into a large outdoor trash can, and save the littler for composting. They are easy to wipe out and sanitize, and wash with soap and water in the front yard.

I brood in my garage. I use meat thermometers to check every area that gets heat from the heat lamp to make sure the heat lamps are the right height from the chicks (right temperature) and the plastic isn't overheated. Also the chicks get used to the cold weather outside by having the area not under the lamp be cold similar to what's going on outside but somewhat warmer. Chicks make an insane amount of dander. I brooded my first batch of eggers inside for two weeks - never again!!! My entire half house was coated with chick dander and it gave us respiratory issues.

I put 1/2" hardware cloth lids on my brooders, with 1"x2" strips of wood zip tied lengthwise at the edges to provide handles and keep the mesh in place well. I put firewood on the lids sometimes to provide weight and security when I'm worried about predators, and use aluminum foil to cover anything I think might get hot - it wicks the heat away and protects the surface underneath from heating. These lids protect from predators (mice, birds, cats, dogs), and make sure that if the heat lamp does happen to fall (not even possible the way I've got it hung, but anyway), it will fall onto the lid and not the chicks. Setting on the lid will not be an issue (I've tested it).

Hope this helps! Good luck, and have fun in your chicken journey!!!
Click to expand...
Thank you, very much!
 
LovingMyChicks said:
I am a new chicken mamma. Picking up my chickens in Feb. A total of 130..I forgot when I ordered a hatchery special of meat birds, it also came with a variety of chicks 25 total. So I ordered 50 chicks F and 5 M.

Hubby (who is not entirely happy with me)...built a 4' x 8' brooder. We put 3 XL brooder plates (covers up to 50 chicks ea.) An infrared heater, and we have heat lamps as a stand by, and agreed to let me put them in our house for at least a few weeks to give them the best start.

So far, I have bought chick grit, vitamins, electrolytes, apple cider vinegar with mother, and dust bath, starter feed, and will get puppy pads to start, then use either sand or wood chips.

I am also building perches, to help strengthen legs and give them something to do.

The big coop which we will transfer them into when they are ready... is 12' x 20' shed which we will cut in half and build two runs 24' x 24'. We are working to make it predator proof - laying mesh wire, using railroad ties, and a 4x4 frame with 2'x6' panels to make a canopy over the top. -- the other side will be used for turkeys...coming in April.

I also thought about using an Air Dancer as a scarecrow to ward off predators, like coyotes, hawks, eagles, etc. Has anyone tried this?

Am I heading in the right direction?
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC!
 
LovingMyChicks said:
I'm not canceling my order.

I will start building another brooder box.
Separate the meat birds from the layers.
Just so you are aware, the lid wasn't finished.
I wasn't going to leave the lid off. Yes it will have mesh wire...

Hubby has the materials and will be finishing that up today.
I'll put 2 brooder plates in each one. I have 4 on hand.
I'll move them to the coop in two weeks.
Click to expand...
Welcome!! That sounds like a great plan and wonderful journey that you have started on!! I can't wait to follow your adventures! I love your brooder boxes! Hubby made ours similar but with us being in FL and when we got our chicks it was summer they did not need the heater at all.
Have a wonderful day and please share pics of your new feathered family members when they arrive!
 

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