Brooder idea for 11 birds?

[turtlemh]

I have 11 birds 8 chicks 3 Guineas. I called some stores for large boxes and they weren't helpful at all. Was thinking about going the kiddie pool route. Any ideas?

 

[Choco Maran]

Kiddie pool is fine for to start with a few days at best. They will quickly out grow the pool sides. I would keep checking at the store for a big box. Find out when their deliveries are and stop by on the store on that day you might be able to get boxes before they break them down. You can try a large dog crate but they can be a bit pricey. When are the chicken coming?

 

[turtlemh]

I already have the chicks. They are around 1.5 weeks old. I was going to put cardboard around the sides and do a top of some kind. I have a large dog crate but it's not much bigger then what I have them in now.

 

[azygous]

Do you have a coop and run? Are there adult chickens already living in it? If not, why not brood right there in the coop? There would be plenty of room, and the chicks would not need to go through the transition from brooder to coop later on.

Even if you have adult chickens, brooding in a safe pen in the run is a great alternative to a cramped, stuffy, confining brooder box. Chicks brooded outdoors with plenty of room and under natural temperatures have many advantages over brooder-raised chicks. I've brooded three batches of chicks in my run under the heating pad system, and they did splendidly.

Read my article on outdoor brooding linked below my post.

 

[3riverschick]

I already have the chicks. They are around 1.5 weeks old. I was going to put cardboard around the sides and do a top of some kind. I have a large dog crate but it's not much bigger then what I have them

Here's what I did. I went to the market and asked them for the triple thick corrals they sell the watermelons in. (3x thick is important if you want them to stand up to the wear and tear) They like to give them away because they take up so much room in the crusher. Each one is 15 sq. ft. of floor space. When you set them up they have cardboard "wings " which stick out a bit at floor level on all 4 corners. This keeps the corners stable and the corral from changing shape. Large fowl need 2 ft. ft. each to grow out in until they are old enough to go to the coop. ( in my case I had them in the corrals until 3 mos. old) So I brooded 7 Light Sussex in each corral. They did fine, no stress problem. I cut a niche in the top of the cardboard on opposite sides and laid a 2x4 across, hanging feed and waterers from it. But it was messy , so I out them on the ground on a raised cement block. I had them in the garage. I laid down a blue plastic tarp and set the corral on it. Then added 3 inches of kiln dried hardwood shavings. ( the white bale at Tractor Supply) should smell like fresh dry sawdust, not turpentine. I laid a chicken wire top over the corral and weighted the edges to hold it down. Or you could lay 2x4's across the wire to hold it down. Worked great, I had 6 corrals with 7 each, 42 happy, healthy birds.

Best,
Karen in PA, USA

 

[turtlemh]

I don't have the coop set up yet. Just painted the floor yesterday. It also would be too cold for them as they are not fully featherd and there is no electricity in the coop. I will maybe try the watermelon thing. So far none of these stores have been helpful and just look at you like your crazy.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
I got my corrals at Aldi's.
Best,
Karen

 

[turtlemh]

My Ed made me this temporarily. I called BJs and the guy was really nice. Said he might have a watermelon container by Tuesday and took my name and phone number.

 

[3riverschick]

Clever Ed. Never seen anything like it. Very creative!
Best,
Karen

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't have the coop set up yet. Just painted the floor yesterday. It also would be too cold for them as they are not fully featherd and there is no electricity in the coop. I will maybe try the watermelon thing. So far none of these stores have been helpful and just look at you like your crazy.

If you have chickens for very long, you get used to being looked at that way. try any tool store: Sears, Harbor Freight. Put several boxes together. Really, brooding outdoors is the best and easiest. However, not everybody is organized and has the coop ready before the chicks. I understand how life can happen and get in the way of the best of intentions. While it's not the best option for electricity, I keep an industrial extension cord between house and coop year round. I would not be able to keep chickens in the winter without electricity to keep the water thawed.