How big should the brooder be?

[Matt A NC]

The first week standard size chicks do good at half a square foot per chick. They will out grow it then and will need 1 square foot per chick for the next 2 weeks. Then add an addition half a square foot for every 2 weeks.

Matt

edited to add: I have seen lots of folks lose chicks to the mess that ducks make. The ducks get everything wet and that includes chicks which die easily from a chill. I would keep them seperate.

 

[catdaddy66]

I also read 6-12 inches square per bird for 6 weeks. I am getting 25 chicks soon and have made 2-3 brooders. None will hold them all to 6 wks old, so I have planned to separate every 2 weeks or so to thin the flock and increase space. My question is this: Will the establishment of pecking order in each brooder prevent a seamless reintroduction into the tractor @ 6 wks old? Is this not a good idea or will it be manageable? I guess I could split my coop into halves to avoid a stressed environment. What do you guys think?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
how many did u have?

Twenty-three chicks

 

[first time farmer]

I got a bunch of free ply wood so i think im going to build it out of that. Im thinking it will be 8 by 10 or 12 by 2 feet high. I am going to build a top so they cant fly out. And i will use my old brooder(a rubbermade) for the ducklings.

 

[RAWR]

Quote:
how many did u have?

Twenty-three chicks

we had about that many and we just used the 55 gallon rubermaid
they do fine just like that
nobody got hurt or anything

 

[Judson]

Hi all, we are also getting our first chicks this spring and are trying to do all of the prep work asap. Unless I am reading something wrong, there have been suggestions of anywhere from 6 square inches to 2 square feet per chick. 6 square inches would be 24 chicks per square foot!!! This can't possibly be correct??? Can it? I'm just a city boy who moved to a rural area so I sure don't know, just checking.

--Judson--

 

[RAWR]

Quote:
i dont think it is...but like i've said, the best first time brooder is a 50-55 gallon rubermaid tub
its an easy clean up, and it keeps the chicks safe

 

[catdaddy66]

Quote:
6 square inces is 1/2 sq. ft., so 2 birds/sq. ft. 10 sq. ft of brooder space will hold up to 20 chicks (I believe to be correct.)

 

[Uzuri]

6" square is actually 1/4 a square foot. 1/2 foot square and 1/2 square foot are not the same thing. And 6 square inches is yet something else!

Yea geometry

 

[RAWR]

...i am completly confused........