Built myself an outside brooder!

[Norcal527]

I'm so proud of myself! Haha! I've been brooding about 40 chicks of 3 slightly different ages in my upstairs bathroom and frankly they are getting stinky and messy! The new coop isnt quite built yet so I decided to build myself a large outdoor brooder for the back porch with double the space of my collapsible bathroom brooder and make it much easier to clean and give the growing babies a lot more room. I purchased plywood and some 2x4s and used some extra scrap wood I had lying around. While I probably could have done cheaper I know I'll be brooding many chicks in the future so this was worth it for me. I've got some ducklings and goslings coming in a few weeks so hopefully the big chicks will be in their coop by then!

It's 2 levels each 4x8...it is currently divided into 2 sections on top for my 1 week and 4 week old chicks and the bottom is open for the 7 week old chicks. I put roosts and hangers for the feed and installed a heat lamp for the youngest babies. Temps are in the 40s at night but they are happily running around and chirping throughout the night so temps are good. I also put on casters so it can be moved easily for storage.

Overall I'm very pleased and the only change is that I will be adding a bit if plexiglass or wood higher up on the sides to try to contain more of the shavings. I will also paint it once its empty this year to make it more waterproof.

Anyways take a look.. thought it might inspire some of you

 

[jolenesdad]

You’ll never go back!!!! Great job

 

[rosemarythyme]

Wow that is nice, and very space efficient for the number of birds.