building a brooder - how big?

[UGAchick]

I started my brooder with a recycled set of cabinets from the Habitat ReStore. Great find at $30 for all 3. I put the big one on top of the smaller two and secured them together. Then I built a frame for the roof, but have not attached it yet. The top cabinet is the one I intend on keeping the birds in, and the bottom two will be used for storage.

The top cabinet is 4' x 1' so it is only 4 sq feet. If I take out all the shelves and hang the lamp from the top (which was my intention) it might be crowded. I could also leave the shelves in and have a three level brooder, but I am not sure how to rig the lamp(s) for that. Suggestions please!!!

Of course more pictures to follow once I add the tin roof and paint

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

I'm not sure about the use of the cabinets in the picture. This is my first time of having chicks and have learned one thing. THEY GROW FAST! I started out with one rubbermaid tub and within a couple of hours added another for 25 chicks. Of course that meant having to get more ways to water and feed. The chicks are 1 1/2 weeks old and have already become uncomfortable in the rubbermaid tubs. I had already built a larger brooder, 34" x 4' by 2' tall on 2' legs that they would go into outside before going to the actual coop. Well today they are, even as I write, in the larger brooder that has been so graciously placed into the living room by my sometimes resistant to chickens husband. It is 110 degrees outside and a tad too hot for my "babies". They are trying out their wings, digging, throwing pine shavings, chirping, eating, drinking and pooping. Quite happily I might add. In my one week of experience I've learned, GIVE THEM LOTS OF SPACE TO TRY OUT THEIR WINGS. They are so happy in this larger brooder. No more walking on top of each other. Just lots of play! I have divided this brooder into thirds. One third for the nine "girls" and two thirds for my 18 broilers. Each portion is serviced by a 5 gallon bucket that feeds two nipple waterers for each side. The broilers also have a wooden feeder that will hold approx 10 lbs of feed. Those little boogers ate all the food and all the water in on night out of their chick sized feeder and waterer. Hope this information helps. If I had known that the tubs would only be good for a week or two I wouldn't have bothered. Good luck with your brooder. Maybe you could lay it on it's back and take the shelves out. Add a wire top which will give lots of ventilation and light.

I will be glad when the weather breaks and they can go outside but for now I am having a ball watching all the fun my babies are having!

 

[UGAchick]

Well I didn't think about lying it on it's back....

That might work, but it would only be 12" high, the shelves are not much shorter than that. I would also have to figure out some way to add a roof, since it will be outside. It hasn't been about 95 here lately, so I think it should be safe. I planned to put hardwire cloth on the two side doors (but leave the doors there so I could close them at night, and leave the shut but as my way in. How much headroom do these guys need?

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

What if you used the cabinet on it's back as a starting point. Add corner supports with 2x4's maybe 2'tall then put the roof on top of the supports. Securing hardware cloth around the gap between the cabinet and the new roof. The cabinet would give them a secure bottom but the raised roof would give them plenty of room to romp and lots of ventilation. You could either make the roof so that it raised up for maintenance or add a small door in one of the sides. I don't know your woodworking skills but this is something that I know I could do and I'm not "all that". I think if you leave it upright you will find that the little peepers will jump out every time you open the door. Mine try to do that and they are down in an enclosure somewhat like I am explaining to you for your project. I hope I haven't confused you. Sometimes it's hard to explain something even though you can see it plain as day in your own head. You could probably even still use the cabinet doors as side walls that you can raise at night or in rainy weather. The two smaller cabinets could still be used as a base to use for storage and help raise the brooder off of the ground. Good Luck! Let me know how it works out. I love building from scraps. That's how I got all of my brooders and coop.

 

[UGAchick]

Ok. Maggie, I think I am going to take your advice. I lost sleep over this last night as today is really my last day to figure this out before my chickies come. I am going to lay the top one down on its side, supported by the bottom two and some 2x4s. Then I am going to add about 2' to the top, starting from the inside corners of the cabinet (with more 2x4s). I am will make walls with some heavy stuff I have around the house (this needs to be dog proof, and put hardwire ventilation around the top. I am still not sure about the roof. It is under the lip of the roof of my house, but when I reconfigure it this way it will stick out quite a bit. Thoughts anyone? Of course I will be adding more pictures today as I work.

First I am going to go take it apart. 7am isn't too early for power tools, is it?

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

I'll be glad to see your work in progress. Is the heavy stuff that you mentioned for the walls solid or does it have ventilation? If it is solid you may want to consider putting some type of cut-out covered with hardware cloth for a window of sorts. My little chickies really like to look out and see the sites. (Me coming with a treat mostly!) I think that also helps tame them so they aren't afraid when you just suddenly appear at the door. I made little roller shades to cover my windows so that I could let the shade down if I knew the weather was going to be bad. (Clear plastic and dowels) Do you have extra plywood or metal roofing laying around? I used plywood on the top of my run as little door openings so that I could add food and water without having to go into the run.(3 ft. tall) I just painted it with several coats of outdoor paint. Maybe something like that would work for you for the roof. You could even set it at a very slight angle to help shed rain water.

 

[UGAchick]

I got the thing built and secure, but did not have time to make it pretty before the babies arrived! I followed Maggie's suggestion and laid the big cabinet on its back on top of the smaller ones, then I added 4x4s for back legs.

The hardest part was getting the shelves out. I added a reciprocating saw to my christmas wish list

I added 2x4s to be 12in higher in the front and 18in higher in the back and then attached angled 2x4z to support the roof. I also removed the middle door to the cabinet, but left the two outer doors. They close flush against the 2x4s.

Then I added cement board stuff (really thick) as walls and a tin roof. I know it is going the wrong direction, but I only had 1 piece and had to make it work. On the far side I put hardwire cloth inside the door opening, so that during the day (which is still 90 here) I can open the door for ventilation. There is also ventilation all along the roof line in the front.

I am going to make nipple waterers, but I didn't have the right sized drill bit, so the bowls will suffice for today. I also added roosts for fun. It is lined with recycled billboard for easy clean up and for now is covered with puppy pads. I will be replacing them with pine shavings in a couple days.

It certainly isn't pretty (yet), but it will keep the dogs out and the babies in!!

 

[UGAchick]

I also wanted to add that there are several advantages to having an outdoor brooder, most of which are obvious. But my favorite is watching the day old chicks chase around the bugs that are trying to get to the heat lamp. Now THAT is entertaining!!

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

Great Job! I think your little babies will like your brooder this way versus being taller and skinnier. Do you have your coop ready for them? You will be surprised how fast they will outgrow the brooder. Doesn't that sound just great since you worked so hard to get the brooder ready! By the way, your babies are really cute. Mine are almost three weeks old and I already miss the fuzzy butt stage! By the way, I failed to tell you my name is Julie, Maggie is my puppy's name and I named my coup "Maggiemoo's Cluckers". Once again, great job building. My husband thinks I crazy most of the time!