Built my first Brooder today out of Pallets!

[OkChickens]

I am expecting 100 RSL, 25 Delaware pullets, and 50 Cornish X in March and this brooder is to house the 100 RSL. It is 3x7 and 2ft tall made out of 2 long pallets and 1 regular sized. It took me 3 hours to build/design. I just kinda started and this is how it came out.

My plans are to sell my 100 RSL and keep maybe 10-20. This brooder is 21 sq ft and can accommodate 84 chicks at 1/4 sq ft per chick. I imagine within a week I will have about 30-50 sold. Does this seem good? I'm probably going to take out a few pieces of wood on the top and replace it with hardware cloth for ventilation. And will 1 heat lamp work or should I use 2? Thank you,


-Nate

 

[Bleenie]

I would add 2 heat lights for that many babies, make sure to space them far enough apart that they don't crowd and smother eachother.

I was going to ask "what on God's green earth are you going to do with 100 RSL's!!??"... then I saw you were selling most of them, lol. I would lose my mind changing bedding if I had to raise that many babies, lol.

 

[GeneJordan]

thats a big pine box...

hope the neighbors don't think you have a new coffin for them

 

[OkChickens]

Haha I live on a few acres. My neighbors hear a Roo doodle every once and a while but besides that they can't really see anything. I will probably grow about 100 Rsl up next year to sell as ready to lay pullets. I going to raise my Delaware hens to breed X a RIR Rooster to make Red Stars. I haven't ever done this but I want to try it. This is me first tome with chicks and from what I have read and researched they are really easy to take care of. Make sure they have Food and water that is clean, Clean bedding, and reliable heat.

My plan is to take of 2 pieces of the top on each side to put heat lamps in, I will have 2 large feeders and 1 waterer in there and I will use a bag of pine shavings for the bedding. How does this sound?