Brooding box

[Bear1978]

Hello!

I have 6. 2 week old baby chicks. Currently I have them in a plastic tote I converted into a brooding box that is 14in height x 20in wide x 30in long. will this size be big enough for them until they get old enough to go outside here within a few weeks or do I need to upgrade to something a little bigger? Thanks in advance!

 

[pintail_drake2004]

If kept clean, it should be ok. I try for bigger when possible, but making do with what you have is OK too.

 

[jreardon1918]

Probably not. They get big quickly. I forget the recommended min square footage for brooders. I have 6 chicks that are now 4 weeks old. They are in a 2'x4' brooder in the run. Tomorrow, I will open the little chick doors and let them out with the big girls as they are ready. If you have the flexibility to move them now to the coop or run, you might consider that or expand the brooder.

 

[Bear1978]

If kept clean, it should be ok. I try for bigger when possible, but making do with what you have is OK too.

Thanks! I clean it out on a regular basis as it’s in my office and I don’t want it to get stinky. I just don’t want them to start pecking excessively on each other due to them getting stresssed out from being too crowded. But so far they seem fine, other than a few of them being flight risks as soon as remove the lid! Lol!

 

[Bear1978]

Probably not. They get big quickly. I forget the recommended min square footage for brooders. I have 6 chicks that are now 4 weeks old. They are in a 2'x4' brooder in the run. Tomorrow, I will open the little chick doors and let them out with the big girls as they are ready. If you have the flexibility to move them now to the coop or run, you might consider that or expand the brooder.

Ok, I am in the process of completing the run and coop. I’ll keep and eye on them. If anything I can just throw together a bigger box with some wood and get them by the next few weeks. Thanks!

 

[jreardon1918]

I should have added, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). the first time we brooded we started with a plastic tub, then a big cardboard box. It seemed to small. Again YMMV.

 

[Reggan]

I agree with jreardon... you'll find in a week or so it's too small. I've had great luck with using big wire dog crates/dog Play Pens in the garage when I move them out of the tote. I moved my 3 buckeye pullets out of their tote at 3 weeks (also in our office). Too much anxiety, they were way too curious not to be able to see. I never even did the tote inside with my brahmas, straight in the garage in a large dog crate next to my buckeyes. I find they feather so much quicker, air flow is much better and they like seeing everything through the kennels. Pic shows the play pen butted up against the kennel (both wrapped with hardy mesh or pet screen). They are on their way to the coop tonight. They are ready! Buckeyes are 6 weeks and the brahmas are 4 weeks. My brahmas fly out of that kennel any chance we give them.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

I have 2 brooders I use in my rotation. After I hatch the eggs, they go in the first booder. This is nothing more than a box that 40# of crinkle cut paper comes in from U-Line. its about 48"x24"x24" I put a few inches of pine shavings in, screw a board to each side (put a small piece of scrap wood on the inside and screw through it, cardboard, and outside board) and run a heat lamp directly over top. Then after the batch of chicks is ready to move into the next brooder, I simply toss the whole box and mess into the compost pile. The 2nd brooder is a semi-permanent 5'x4' wood box in my grow out coop. This has a hinged screened lid and a permanent heat lamp. The chicks stay for about 3 weeks in each brooder. I have very few issues with pecking. I've found this works well for us on our farm.

 

[Bear1978]

Thanks guys! My brother in law owns a glass shop and I have access to free-ish screen that would be used in a screen door or window. That should work for the sides rather than hardware cloth correct?

 

[Reggan]

I used the soft pet screen (we use it in our 5th wheel for the dogs scratching) and it worked great. Easy to use too!! Much better then dealing with wire. No predators then no wire needed as long as you can secure it well enough