Brooder size suggestions?

[_Randall_]

I've got 120 GG eggs in the bator due to hatch off April 11th. I'm about to build a brooder (or maybe I need "plural" - "brooders) .... Even though I don't expect a 100% hatch, what size brooder (square feet floor space) would you suggest for .......say......80 chicks? (And I hope I get 80 chicks to put in there!)

 

[JJMR794]

Randall the older they get the more space your gonna need, and need it bad too... They can be mean as a junk yard dog! I would look at getting bits for them if you want to keep that many togather....

I dont build brooders, I use the large plastic totes--- make brooders out of them--- they're re-usable, easily cleaned and disinfected, and i have a system ---

I have a stack of clean bins in the feed shed, just waiting to be put into service...

When I need a brooder i get a bin outta the shed, line the floor of the bin(old towels for the 1st week, newspaper after that) place clean feed and water dishes in it and take the whole contraption to the spot of use... Now if i am brooding new chicks then i set it up with the heat lamp and let everything get all nice and toasty warm, when i'm ready i place the lil fuzzballs in it and start broodin!

Now lets say they have been in there a week to 10 days... starting to get a lil dirty in there, better clean the brooder! See above. I set up a brooder and bring it over next to the dirty 1, i transfer over all the lil fuzzballs and take the dirty brooder outside-- empty the remains in the trash and spray as much material out of it as possible with the hose..... but wait its still nasty inside! fill it up with water and 1 cup of bleach and let it soak for an hour or so.... empty, rinse with the hose and set it out to air dry. NOw not only is it clean, but it has been disinfected as well

i also soak the feed dishes and water fonts in the bleach water at the same time.... Once dry it goes back on the bottom of the bin stack in the shed to await its next use.

THis system works well for me. I have enough bins to cover my needs with ease, didnt spend a month of sunday's and a small fortune building them, and mine can be readily sanitized ( at my leisure as well--- usually saturdays are brooder days here...) these are readily available at any dollar general store quite cheaply. Another advantage lets say i hatch 80 bobs--- week 1 i can stack the lil fellas pretty deep in a brooder, say all 80 divided up into 3 bins.... week 2 they're bigger and meaner, now we divide them out into 4 or 5 bins, week 3? meaner yet--- divide them into 6 or 8 bins, and so on until they are ready for grow out pens.

Cant say for sure if its for everyone, but i works like a charm here

 

[Doc Henry]

I use the same system on a smaller scale instead of towels I use the grippy rubber drawer liner stuff it reusable and sanitary. I also customize the lids of totes with scraps of hardware cloth for heat lamps so they don't cook the plastic.

 

[Valley quail breeder]

For large hatches I use my concrete floor in my barn put chicken wire in a large circle than put that shipping paper like they use in packing and wrap around the wire form a large circle than hang a couple heat lamps from top.