/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Brooder questions....

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by daisy_dukers, Apr 17, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Apr 17, 2009 #1
    daisy_dukers

    daisy_dukers Chillin' With My Peeps

    145
    0
    129
    Oct 9, 2007
    Stats
    25 ISA Browns.....Day olds coming June 2nd.

    I am probably only going to keep them indoors the first week, and then the brooder will go out to the soon to be built coop. Smell is an issue, plus my wife has a bird phobia(which she will hopefully get over).

    1. How big of a brooder should I make? will a 4x4 brooder work for the first few weeks?

    2a. I have seen designs where the floor was made of fine hardware cloth so the poop dropped though, is this safe for the chicks feet?

    2b. Or Is it ok to put them on wood pellets right away, or should I stick with newspaper the first week, then transition them over..

    3. How soon can I give them leafy greens (swiss chard, lettus, etc.) I grow veggies indoors(under two 400W HID's) so I always have tonnes of extra that we dont eat.

    So many questions....
     
  3. Apr 17, 2009 #2
    B. Saffles Farms

    B. Saffles Farms Mr. Yappy Chickenizer

    6,605
    2
    251
    Nov 23, 2008
    Madisonville, TN
    1- 4x4 brooder will be big enough for the first few weeks.
    2- After the first week I put mine on wire but I put a thin piece of wood ofe about half of it so they can get on the wood to block the air coming up from the bottom.
    2b- I put mine on paper towels for the first 2 or 3 days then add shavings.
    3- Im not positive but I would say after the first week would be ok.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by