brooder question?

[thepremo1]

im getting 8 to ten chicks very soon, and i was wondering how big my brooder has to be, and how long to keep them in it?

 

[MissAnnieFrannie]

I think that it kind of depends on what breed you are expecting to get. For example, bantams wouldnt need as much room for so long as say a standard brahma would...

Right now, I have a huge 55 gal rubbermaid tub. It has 7 bantams (cochins and cubalayas) in it with more than enough room. I am planning on putting my next batch in the same thing, but it will be 14 standard sized chicks, and I know I will need more room for them before they are ready for the coop.


I am pretty sure that how long they stay in also depends on breed and time of year and where you live. Remember, your chicks should be kept at around 95 degrees the first week, and then decrease it by about 5 degrees every week after, until they are feathered out and the temps and weather permits them to go to the coop (from what I hear, app 8 weeks, but I am new at this to, so please dont take only my word for it!).

Sorry I am not alot of help...Maybe someone else can be mroe specific!

There is also alot of great info here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-first60days.html


Good luck!

 

[butterrflye81]

Average sized chicks need about 6 square inches per chick for the first month. This might look like alot of room at first, but chicks grow really fast. Brooders need to be atleast 18 inches deep, Especially if the source of heat is overhead, like the heat lamp. Below is a chart i found in one of my Raising Chickens book.

Age Brooding Space in Square Feet

0 - 4 weeks 1/2
4 - 8 weeks 1
8 - 12 weeks 2
12 +
light breed 2 1/2 to 3
heavy breed 3 to 4

Hope this helps.

Ola

 

[A.T. Hagan]

The chart that Butterflye quotes above is pretty good. For large fowl about a half-square foot per bird until four weeks then one square feet until eight to ten which is when you should be thinking of taking them out (unless they're hybrid meat birds which ought to come out much sooner).

.....Alan.

 

[catdaddy66]

A.T. Hagan :

The chart that Butterflye quotes above is pretty good. For large fowl about a half-square foot per bird until four weeks then one square feet until eight to ten which is when you should be thinking of taking them out (unless they're hybrid meat birds which ought to come out much sooner).

.....Alan.

Sounds very sound!​