Brooding pen

[Slaphappy]

Starting for the first time Thinking of making a simple box brooder. I have a couple questions regarding location, size, and when to move them out.

1. I've read in the forums once they have gotten all their feathers you can move them out. Probably 8-10 weeks. My question is how big will these gals be between 5-10 weeks. How big will this pen need to be for 5-6 chicks

2. I was going to go the ecogrow plate route. But seems they will grow out of that rather quickly and would need a lamp anyways. Correct?

3. Any advise if I should place the brooder in the attached non heated garage or utility room in basement? I live in Illinois. We receive chicks basically March 1.

Thanks all

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I move my chicks out by 4 weeks but I wait until May or June to get the so I don't need to brood them long. It all depends on temperatures, and climate. You can brood them out in the coop if you are set up right and it's a larger coop. Otherwise anywhere else secure will work. I personally have always used a heat lamp so I can't comment on using the heat plate.

My brooder box is a homemade wooden box. Lots of different ideas on what you can use here on this site.

Welcome to BYC.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. They're mostly feathered by 5 weeks or so. If you're truly planning to keep them in a brooder for up to 10 weeks, you'll want at least 2-3 sq ft per bird, I'd say? More would be better, they're usually pretty decent size by then (about 60-70% the size of an adult?) and want to be out.

Hmm, not a perfect reference photo, but here's 5.5 week old chicks compared to fully mature hens.



2. I took away heat completely at 4 weeks. It was about 60 days/40 nights at that time. Depending on how cold it is for you in March, you may want to provide heat a little longer.

3. I don't like having my chicks inside due to dander and dust, having to then acclimate them to outdoors, and lack of natural light. Assuming you don't currently have chickens or have chickens but the coop has a separate space that could be used for brooding, I'd recommend brooding directly in the coop instead.

Always get your coop done before you have chickens! Everyone (myself included) figures there's time after you get chicks, then you end up rushing and putting in long weekends, or having to work in the rain, to get it finished, because the chicks always grow up faster than you think!