Brooder dimensions?

[yellowish_chickenfeet]

Hey everyone!
I'm sure I could find this information in another thread somewhere, but I'm having a hard time searching for it. The chicks are coming in about a month, and we need a brooder big enough to hold nine until they can go out in the coop. I was thinking of building a 3 by 6 box out of plywood, and then sectioning it off so that they'll have an easier time finding the food and everything when they're little. So what's the right amount of space for them during that first week or too? Also, how tall should the brooder be so that they don't fly out?

Thanks!

 

[Kiki]

3 x 6 sounds perfectly big enough.
For 9 chicks I think you could get away with something close to 2 feet by 4 feet?
They grow fast.
You will want to use something like chickenwire or hardware cloth over the top to keep them from flying out.


Why not brood them out in the coop?

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Sounds good for 9 chicks, they’ll enjoy 2 s.f/bird once they are older. You could start with half of that, so maybe 1 s.f/bird and once they are 2-3 weeks let them have it all? Good luck with them!

 

[yellowish_chickenfeet]

3 x 6 sounds perfectly big enough.
For 9 chicks I think you could get away with something close to 2 feet by 4 feet?
They grow fast.
You will want to use something like chickenwire or hardware cloth over the top to keep them from flying out.


Why not brood them out in the coop?

Thank you for replying! These will be our first chickens, so we don't even have a coop yet...Gotta get on that!

 

[yellowish_chickenfeet]

Sounds good for 9 chicks, they’ll enjoy 2 s.f/bird once they are older. You could start with half of that, so maybe 1 s.f/bird and once they are 2-3 weeks let them have it all? Good luck with them!

Thank you, I'm thinking now that I'll just divide it down the middle.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

No problem! First chickens? Us too! You’ll love them. Literally LOVE them! When you hear a distress call, you’ll run in, only to find that they were in a tussle over who gets to sleep where! So adorable, take pictures while it lasts! Here are mine!

 

[yellowish_chickenfeet]

View attachment 1351297 View attachment 1351298 View attachment 1351299 View attachment 1351300 View attachment 1351301 View attachment 1351302 View attachment 1351303 No problem! First chickens? Us too! You’ll love them. Literally LOVE them! When you hear a distress call, you’ll run in, only to find that they were in a tussle over who gets to sleep where! So adorable, take pictures while it lasts! Here are mine!

OMG! They are absolutely adorable. I can't wait!

 

[TheYLWFlock]

They are cute as all get out! We are soooooo happy we made the plunge! Can’t imagine life without our little chickies!