Brooder - Design Input Needed

[AlpineSpringsRanch]

Due to being a new user...my pictures were uploaded but cannot be displayed

I have drawn up plans for a brooder and have designed it with two things in mind:

The width between my garage wall and the garage door track (31" usable with an inch or two spare JIC I measure wrong

)

The length of the 1 x 4 lumber I have (54") to reuse..

SO...since this will be my first time raising chicks I thought I'd get advice..

What would be the optimum height for the brooder?

Would it be OK to use chicken wire / hardware cloth for the front instead of plexi?
(this will be in the garage...probably permanently I figure worse case scenario if I don't like the chicken raising thing I can always use the brooder as a rabbit hutch

How many chicks would this design be suited for (I was thinking of ordering 25)

What have you found to be the best solution for the bottom.
I was thinking plywood but then I figured I'll want to be able to clean it out between chicks so thought about also doing a wire bottom and then making a pull out tray...thoughts?

Are their concerns with painting the brooder? Staining it? Sealing it?
I could leave the wood as is...but might want to paint it or something to dress it up.

 

[faykokoWV]

I just use a big plastic tote witha window screen over it so I'm no expert


I don't like a wire bottom for little chicks as their feet/toes can get broke poking through the wire

you could use wire for the front, but you might have a problems with drafts in a garage enviroment

If you use plywood for the bottom, paint with a wood sealing primer then paint with high gloss paint, makes it easier to clean.

height depends on how long you plan on keeping them in there and what you are using for a heat source, but I would think 2 ft would be tall enough