How big should my brooder be.....27 chicks coming on Saturday

[HippieChickyMama]

Hello BYC.
I am new here and new to raising chickens. My birds will be coming in the mail on Saturday and I'm not sure how big the brooder should be for 27 standard baby chicks. I was thinking of using a wardrobe box on its side? We are currently building the hen house (8'x8') and a run maybe twice or three times that size. I would also like to let them free range in my yard which is about an acre when they get bigger. Please help. Thank you much!

 

[Judy]

Here is a guideline that one of our experienced members uses:

Up to 4 weeks, 0.5 sq ft per bird, so for 27 chicks, about 14 sq ft, or about 4' by 4'.
4-12 weeks, 1 sq ft per bird
12-16 weeks, 3 sq ft per bird
Then 4 sq ft per bird, which means your coop will be too crowded.

Usual rule of thumb for adult large fowl: 4 sq ft per bird in coop and 10 sq ft per bird in run. Some on here do house them in less space, especially if they spend the day in a large yard. But those with cold, snowy winters often have even larger coops, as birds tend to stay indoors during the worst of winter days. If they start pecking and feather pulling, which they are prone to do if feeling crowded, you can quickly have serious problems which you may not be able to stop.

Lots of information on here; you may want to look over the Learning Center, linked at the top of the page.

 

[HippieChickyMama]

Thank you for the measurements ddawn. Wardrobe box will be too small then. Perhaps I will use my daughters kiddie pool instead. 10 of my birds are meat birds and so it is my understanding that they will be ready to butcher after about 2 months or so. Once that is done we will be down to 16 hens and a rooster. Hopefully my coop will be big enough for that many. I can make the run as big as need be. Do they have to be started in the house or can I just put a draft guard up in my coop and keep them out there?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Kiddie pools are real common and they are nearly draft proof.
They also offer another benefit. When the chickens can look over the edge, its time to move them out!

 

[Judy]

Ah, yes, I see, the meat birds make all the difference.

Yes, you can certainly brood all of them in the coop, from day one, if you can give them some warmth (mostly at night after a week or two.) I won't brood in the house ever again, mainly because I don't feel all that dust and dander is good for the people. And you won't want the smell from the meat birds in the house; it''s bad enough from the layers. They'll be jumping/flying out of low boxes in a week or two (well, not the meaties, I don't think) so being in the coop is a good idea for that reason, too. Or just brood them in the coop with no brooder box at all, just a short term draft guard. (When they fly over it you can take it down!) They'll let you know if they need more or less warmth. You can let them out in the run for a while at one or two weeks or so, on warm days. They'll grow and feather faster outdoors, too. Mama hens take chicks outdoors at a few days old, even in much cooler weather than you're having now.

Good luck!

 

[Judy]

Davaroo has a good point, as usual. Maybe use the kiddie pool for the draft guard in the coop? Would make life simple, which is always good.

 

[cmom]

Check out this thread with pics of many many brooders. I may give you come ideas.

 

[nhnanna]

Sounds like you have things under control.
There is alot of good information on here.
Welcome to BYC