Brooder Question?

[ilovechickens]

I am expecting my day old's probably tomorrow. I have a clear large tote set up with wood chips covered with paper towel, a feeder, 2 water's and 26 chicks coming. I have a heat lamp that is adjustable for height and a hardware cloth cover. Is my tote big enough for the little ones for a couple of weeks? Then They will move to a larger brooder, and eventually work their way to freedom (to their own little coop with their own runs covered for predator protection). Also when can I introduce scratch to the wee ones? My tote size is 28" long 18" wide 13" deep.

 

[CovenantCreek]

It sounds like your tub is close to the size of my large one, which got to be too small for my batch of 25 Leghorn chicks in just a few days. By 3 weeks, they had pretty much out grown my 4'x4' brooder, they probably could have stayed another week in it but that's it.