Does a brooder have to be small and enclosed?

[camaro10]

My 15 BR's are 1 week old. I bought a tote at Wal-Mart and cut a square in half of the top so there is a top on to keep the warmth in. I have the heater lamp sitting on the screen. Can I move them at this age to a very large cage but it will have more fencing area that will be more open to air? I am worried there are to many chicks in that tote and not enough room for them.

 

[trilyn]

Yeah, the more room the better. I've got chicks that have been brooded with pegboard as the walls. As long as they have a heat lamp in a corner of the brooder and are out of serious drafts, they'll be fine. They really need the room, it prevents a whole host of problems. Good luck!