Brooder size

[llcardinale]

First time chick mom: My nine chicks are almost four weeks and are flying around their 6x4 brooder like mad, at times sometimes running into each other and coming up chest to chest, seeming to challenge each other. I don't believe any of them are roosters. They are healthy and growing quickly. I moved them from a 10 sf. to a 24 sf. brooder at 10 days, which calmed things down. Their environment is pretty much ideal in terms of temperature, ventilation and air quality. They're in a 400 sf. backhouse, so it's quite and stress free. I purchased a 7x7x7 pop-up tent to move them into this weekend. I don't know how folks manage these growing babies in smaller brooders. Don't they pick on each other, or have other problems? Are my birds unusually wild, or is this normal?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I've got a 6x4 brooder and they love to run around in it. It's perfectly normal. Mine is at least 3' deep so they fly around a little too. Them seeming to challenge each other is them figuring out the pecking order. They settle down as they get older.

 

[llcardinale]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know anyone who's raising baby chicks so I'm often wondering what's normal.

 

[rural mouse]

More space is always better, especially if there's clutter and things to go under/perch on above. Broodies have the chicks out and about learning their environment from the moment they come off the nest. Babies are learning, learning what's good to eat, learning alarm calls (both from the flock and other animals around them), learning where water sources are, learning which adults are tolerant of baby shenanigans and which aren't, learning how to find mama when they're "lost".... Broodies can and will range out from the coop 50 yards or more depending upon terrain. Babies need to learn while they're young, when they learn the easiest.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's normal. My brooder is about 9 sq ft and I usually do 4 chicks at a time, and they are going bonkers by 10 days old, so I aim to start letting them out for supervised exploration around that time.

At around 14 days they get full run and coop access, so that's 500 sq ft, and they can navigate that without issue.

The recommended minimums on here for brooder space is definitely minimal!

 

[llcardinale]

More space is always better, especially if there's clutter and things to go under/perch on above. Broodies have the chicks out and about learning their environment from the moment they come off the nest. Babies are learning, learning what's good to eat, learning alarm calls (both from the flock and other animals around them), learning where water sources are, learning which adults are tolerant of baby shenanigans and which aren't, learning how to find mama when they're "lost".... Broodies can and will range out from the coop 50 yards or more depending upon terrain. Babies need to learn while they're young, when they learn the easiest.

Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately my coop build is being delayed by a month, so they won't be outside and in their coop until three months, which is why I purchased the 7x7x7 pop-up tent and have made free-standing perches, hoping they will start to roost at night. I might take them out into the run if I can get to the point with them where they're okay with being held. At this point four can be easily held, but the other breed acts like they're being tortured. So, I'll have to see how it goes. Thanks again.

 

[llcardinale]

It's normal. My brooder is about 9 sq ft and I usually do 4 chicks at a time, and they are going bonkers by 10 days old, so I aim to start letting them out for supervised exploration around that time.

At around 14 days they get full run and coop access, so that's 500 sq ft, and they can navigate that without issue.

The recommended minimums on here for brooder space is definitely minimal!

 

[llcardinale]

Thank you for your feedback. Wow, 500 sq. ft. is an amazing amount of space. My coop will only be 6x5x6 for nine chickens, with the addition of a 220 sq. ft. run. It does seem that at almost four weeks they could take on just about anything within safe boundaries. Makes sense to me that the more space the better. I had only ordered six chicks, but was mailed 10 (--surrendered one to my vet, who is attempting to heal her splayed leg. If she survives she will add her to her own small flock). They've all survived and are healthy, for which I'm grateful, but now I have less space for them than I'd planned.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had over 20 full sized fowl chicks in a 3' x 6' brooder until they were 5 weeks old. Sometimes there were more pullets, sometimes more cockerels. The boys do take more room at that age. For enrichment they had food, water, and a perch about 18" long and 3-1/2" high. It was certainly getting crowded, they were ready to get out.

I do believe the more room the better up to a point, but I also believe in observing them to see if there are behavioral problems. With some of these broods it was definitely time to let them out.

My nine chicks are almost four weeks and are flying around their 6x4 brooder like mad, at times sometimes running into each other and coming up chest to chest, seeming to challenge each other. I don't believe any of them are roosters. I don't know how folks manage these growing babies in smaller brooders. Don't they pick on each other, or have other problems? Are my birds unusually wild, or is this normal?

Sounds perfectly normal, for pullets as well as cockerels. Some of that is establishing the pecking order as mentioned. I think some is just playing, like when a group run from one end of the brooder to the other like they are in a wave.

I do not believe in those square feet per chicken numbers you read about on here. You are dealing with living animals and each animal can be different. They are good guidelines and will keep you out of trouble most of the time but not all. Each chicken has its own personality and sometimes they just require more room than the guidelines give them. Sometimes the guidelines are overkill.

With all of that said, I do not expect you to have any problems with space. You should have plenty, which makes your life less stressful. Good luck, I think you will have it.

 

[RoseHawke]

Some chicks are just nuts. I've got two 8-week chicks in a 16 square foot pet play pen, and they make use of every square inch occasionally running amok.