Can A Brooder Be Too Big?

[OrpDotes]

Hi all,
I just had a quick question, I have seven chicks 4 BOs and 3 GLWs. The BOs are around 5 days old and the GLWs are a week and a half. I built a large osb board 4’ by 4’ brooder for them, and was wondering if they are too young to be moved out of the 1 1/2 by 3’ plastic storage bin they’re in now. Should I wait another week to be safe? Also one of them was sort of sick yesterday and I don’t want to stress them out too much. This question became long fast. Haha! Thanks so much! God Bless

 

[Kiki]

No they are not too young...
The tote is probably already too small imo. I am not a fan of a tote period.
I don't think it is possible to only heat one side of such a small area unless you are using a heating plate/pad.


What is wrong with the one that makes you think its sick?

 

[Fancychooklady]

The bigger brooder will allow them to move away from the heat when they are over heating and lessen the likelihood of pasty butt. I would pop a small box or shoe box at the lamp end just so the sickly one doesn't stray too far from the heat.

 

[Birdinhand]

from my experience, I like to limit the space for the first few days at least till they seem like they are "up and running", gotten familiar with the placement of food, heat source and generally seem cognizant. from that point on though, I like more space than is generally considered minimal. I find that when they have plenty of room to wonder and have fun exploring that they are happier and have fewer behavioral issues, like pecking each other. 3'x5' is a good amount of space if you can spare it. I have taken two boards and screwed the ends together to make a partition so I can close in one corner for the first few days and then when they seem ready I remove it and give them access to the whole brooder.

 

[Kiki]

I glanced over some of your other threads and it looks like you might be having problems with it being too hot.
Move them to a bigger area and get a new thermometer asap so you don't over heat them and lose more.

 

[RodNTN]

My brooder is huge (it can easily hold 30+ chicks comfortably) and right now I only have 4 bantams in it. They love to run and fly and jump all over it!
Plus it is very easy to clean out.
I just put the heat lamp on one end, the feed and water in the middle, and they choose which side they want to be on whenever they want.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I glanced over some of your other threads and it looks like you might be having problems with it being too hot.
Move them to a bigger area and get a new thermometer asap so you don't over heat them and lose more.

I'd agree, overheating causes pasty butt and that in turn will kill chicks. Check their vents are clear of poop .

 

[OrpDotes]

No they are not too young...
The tote is probably already too small imo. I am not a fan of tote period.
I don't think it is possible to only heat one side of such a small area unless you are using a heating plate/pad.


What is wrong with the one that makes you think its sick?

She was just very lethargic, separating herself from the group, and not eating much. We thought she may have had a swollen bottom and vent. I was worried because we originally had 4 GLWs but one of them passed away I had been worried about her the day before because she had been lethargic and separating herself from the group. When I woke up next morning I found her dead. When I asked about this most people said it was probably just FTT so I was less worried about sickness. Until another of my chicks began having the same symptoms. Once this began I added corid to there water and gave the sick one some probiotic and sugar water (to help with lethargy) I also had her eat as much coconut oil as she could in case she was constipated. That seemed to perk her up and now she is acting perfectly normal and pooping which we hadn’t seen her do before. I’m continuing corid to make sure she dosen’t have it. Thanks so much for the response.

 

[OrpDotes]

She was just very lethargic, separating herself from the group, and not eating much. We thought she may have had a swollen bottom and vent. I was worried because we originally had 4 GLWs but one of them passed away I had been worried about her the day before because she had been lethargic and separating herself from the group. When I woke up next morning I found her dead. When I asked about this most people said it was probably just FTT so I was less worried about sickness. Until another of my chicks began having the same symptoms. Once this began I added corid to there water and gave the sick one some probiotic and sugar water (to help with lethargy) I also had her eat as much coconut oil as she could in case she was constipated. That seemed to perk her up and now she is acting perfectly normal and pooping which we hadn’t seen her do before. I’m continuing corid to make sure she dosen’t have it. Thanks so much for the response.

Also I will move them to the big brooder now.

 

[OrpDotes]

I glanced over some of your other threads and it looks like you might be having problems with it being too hot.
Move them to a bigger area and get a new thermometer asap so you don't over heat them and lose more.

Will do!