Brooder Size HELP

[flyguyata]

I bought a new incubator this year and now I have 43 baby chicks, and 7 more eggs to hatch that are just rocking and rolling and cherping. The brooder I am using is 34" x 19.5" tub. What is the amount of space per chick in a brooder?

 

[schmije]

I've heard half a square foot per chick up to 4 weeks old. I've had mine tighter than that, but they seem happier with the extra space. You can fit them in a much smaller space for the first couple of weeks. I think your tub will be pretty crowded with 50 chicks - especially after the first week or so.

 

[CrazyMomOf2]

I have 48 chicks and I ended up using two large wire dog crates wrapped with cardboard. I had both cages facing each other with the doors open to make their space as large as possible. I worked out perfect because I clamped the heat lamps to the top and didn't have to worry about them fall onto my babies! I have them in my basement, so in the space between the cages where the doors are, I put shavings directly onto the concrete. I also wedged some branches in between the wire for them to perch on. It worked out perfect for them until they were about 3-4 weeks old. Now they have an entire room in my basement until the coop is done being built!

The way that I did it gave them all enough space to spread themselves out and to be able to get away from any bullies!

Good luck with your fuzz butts!

 

[felidaet]

I currently have my 18 chicks in a 3' x 3' area. I will add another 8 chicks in the next few days. In a couple of weeks I will remove the divider from the brooder and then the 26 chicks will have 3' x 8'. This will give them almost 1 sq foot per bird. I will probably keep them in the brooder until they are about 6 weeks old.

 

[flyguyata]

Thanks everyone for your responses. They seem very happy and content for the time being. I am going to get another tub the same size and split them up between the two in the morning.

Because we had such great luck this year with the incubator, some of my friends want to buy some. In the next couple of days some of my babies will be leaving home for their new ones. Also, 3 eggs left in the incubator not sure if they will hatch will give them an extra day.

 

[robk0220]

we've got 41 chickies in a 4 x 4 brooder, 12 inches high.... they are all plenty happy and got lots of room to run around... for now....