brooding box

[Dawn Balallan]

Hi, i have just bought my first incubator & was unsure of how to go about constucting a brooding pen as previously i have only left a broody hen to get on with it!!

 

[Judy]

A search in the Coop forum for brooder produced a bunch of threads. Here is just one:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=590574

Each chick needs about 0.5 sq ft at hatch, 1 sq ft by two weeks, 2.5 sq ft for weeks 4 to 8, and 4 sq ft at 8 weeks. At least, that is one guideline I've come across. A lot of people find their flock outgrowing the brooder much younger than they expected, I think.