Brooder size?

[MontanaDolphin]

How do I know if my brooder will be too small once my chicks get bigger? They are only a few days shy of 2 weeks old, but they are growing fast! How do I know if the brooder I made for them will be ok once they get close to being ready to go out to the coop? For six chicks (barred rock), how big should it be for the maximum size the birds will grow to?

 

[binza1979]

I have the same question. Experts, please chime in!

 

[Cockle-Dood]

I allow for about 1 sq foot per chick until about 5 weeks old. Here in the south, mine are feathered enough to go outside by then...i currently have 9 chicks in approx 6-7 sq foot brooder and they are almost 4 weeks old now with no issues. (they are BR's, BA's, EE's, and 1 silkie).

In a second brooder...about 4 sq feet...i have 3 SLW's and 3 Polish at about 2-3 weeks old and they are doing fine until the bigger brooder clears out in a week or so.

Hope this helps!

My bigger set-up...a standard water trough from TSC....the same one they use in the store for their chicks with a recycled accordian style baby-gate for a lid and a 250 watt red-bulb heatlamp with dimmer control....couldnt be happier with it!