building a brooder--need input

l'abeille

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I need to build a brooder to accommodate 25 chicks from 1 day through 6 weeks old. It *must* be rodent (rat) proof as it will be in my detached garage in N. CA. Here's what I'm thinking of--please comment. 4'x6' plywood floor raised 1' off the ground on 4 4"x4" posts, with 18" high plywood walls, framed in 2"x2" boards. One 4' side will open out with a hinge for clean out of litter. I will have a hinged lid of 1/2" hardware cloth framed in 2x2s. I plan to use a cardboard chick guard inside during the first weeks and have a hanging 250 watt heat lamp over head. I also have an oil-filled radiator available if we have a cold night. Temps will probably be 50-70 degrees outside.

will this keep out rats?
will this be user-friendly for me?
will the chicks have enough room (std size, dual-purpose breeds)?

thanks!
 
Sounds like it would probably be rat proof. You might consider wrapping the legs with metal flashing so they can't be climbed. I would try a mock-up to determine the optimum height, see if you can reach in, ease of feeding and watering etc. It might get a little crowded towards the end, but I think you could get away with it. I would suggest making the top/lid in more than one piece rather than just one large lid, and think about how you are going to hold it open while working inside.
 
Sounds fine to me. I'd agree you should probably build the lid in two pieces. That's what I did with mine so I could reach in to change food and water without disturbing everyone too much. And I'm wishing now that I'd made the lids hinged! I don't know about keeping out rats though - a rat can chew straight through fairly thick wood in no time at all.

And ditto on the crowding thing. I have a 4' x 2' brooder with four chicks in it. They're a just a month old and starting to look a little cramped in there. Can't imagine if there were 12 in the same space. I made a raised floor in mine with a ramp up and perches underneath to give them more floor area...
 
Gypsy.......I did the same thing....built doors and then wished i had made them hinged. I just finally took the time a few weeks ago to go ahead and modify them and put hinges on them. It was worth the extra work!
 
Thanks, everyone for the suggestions. I'm interested in this idea to add a "loft" to reduce crowding. How tall would the ceiling need to be to accommodate 5-6 week olds (std, dual purpose breeds)? They will be graduating to their coops at about that age. How complicated is it to install a dimmer switch on the heat lamp?
 
Take a look at the following link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=288978

It may not fit your exact needs, but it could give you some ideas. I am in the process of duplicating it (with some variations) based on the pictures provided. From a concept point of view it is very purposeful. I will post my differences later, but I do think it has a lot of potential. It is about 18" above the floor which allows storage of feed below it. It can accomodate a variety of options (compartments) based on your needs. It also has storage capabilities on top of the unit. I put wheels on mine so I can move it around when I need to.

So, take a look. And good luck.
 
Hey, that's my brooder! LOL

Fowldelights, if you need any more pictures or info, let me know....I have lots of others on my computer.

I do have another larger brooder shed. It is a converted tack shed and is currently a single large compartment (4x6). I am planning on adding another 'floor' to the middle to create a bottom and top level. Only young mediteranean breed chicks seem to use the top, so it is wasted space currently.

Picture this shorter and on 'legs' and it would be what you are trying to create, I think. It is currently being used as a quarantine shed for a quartet of LF cochins, so the size is deceiving.

0130001854a.jpg


0130001857.jpg
 
NellaBean:

Yes it is your brooder. Which I find for my needs absolutly perfect. The difference is that I'm making mine 4 compartments, not 6. I'm also providing some additional structional support due to inexperience. Hopefully mine will be completed this weekend. What I love about this forum is the sharing of information.

Thanks to you and your boyfriend. And I hope "l'abeille" can benefit from it.

Ron (FowlDelights)
 

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