Brooder Size

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. The Best of Luck with your Chicks! And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[NatJ]

I will be getting 35 chicks soon...What is the best size to use for a brooder

As several people already said, 1 square foot per chick is a good starting point.
So that would mean 35 square feet.
A brooder 6 feet by 6 feet would provide enough space, or a brooder 5 feet by 7 feet, or a brooder 4 feet by 9 feet.
Large cardboard boxes often work well as brooders. For that many chicks, you might need to cut parts of several boxes and fasten them together to get it big enough.

And then plan on doubling that space in about 3 weeks.

By the time they are adults, plan on having about 4 square feet per hen in the coop.
That would mean 140 square feet, so a 12x12 foot coop would work pretty well, or some other shape that works out to the same number of square feet.

 

[Blue Raptor]

Hello: I will be getting 35 chicks soon. I would like to know if this size of water trough would work for the brooder The size is 6' long x 2' wide x 2 ' high. What is the best size to use for a brooder

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[N F C]

Hi, you've been given some good tips for brooding your chicks. Best wishes!

 

[DobieLover]

I dont have the coop built yet any other ideas on a brooder

This is a MAJOR problem. You will need to have adult size, predator proof, properly ventilated housing for them by the time they are about 8 weeks old. You will not have enough time if you don't start now. I suggest converting a large shed into a coop.

 

[Team01]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
It's not big enough for that many chicks.
What type of chicks are you getting? Layer, bantam or broiler?
You want to shoot for 1 sq ft per chick for the first 3 weeks then increase the brooder size to 2 sq ft per chick.
And they start flying at 2 weeks and can easily fly up 2'.

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
It's not big enough for that many chicks.
What type of chicks are you getting? Layer, bantam or broiler?
You want to shoot for 1 sq ft per chick for the first 3 weeks then increase the brooder size to 2 sq ft per chick.
And they start flying at 2 weeks and can easily fly up 2'.

HI. I have a shed that 8' x 8' would that work as a brooder

 

[janiedoe]

Why so many chicks?
Are you planning to keep them all?

HI. I have a shed that 8' x 8' would that work as a brooder

Please see the post above from @NatJ

 

[DobieLover]

HI. I have a shed that 8' x 8' would that work as a brooder

Yes but you will need an even larger coop for when they mature.

 

[NatJ]

HI. I have a shed that 8' x 8' would that work as a brooder

Probably yes.

You need to make sure it's predator-proof, and you need electricity for whatever heat lamp or brooder plate you use to keep the chicks warm. An outdoor-rated extension cord can take care of the electricity.