How do I set up a easy clean brooder?

[Haltey]

I am looking to set up an easy clean brooder that will hold up to 30 chicks.....how much room do I need?
I want to set it up inside my house because I live just outside of town on a regular property so I don't like people looking in on them, and i dont want them to be outside because the weather is horrible here (Rains a lot). So I have an old Guinea Pig cage that measure around 3ft by 2ft how many would that hold? Also my mothers main complaint from last year was the DUST! She told me I had to keep them in a room right by the door, there is a big amount of draft in the room.....so how could I make the brooder less dusty?
Thanks
HALEY!!!!!!

 

[donrae]

How long do you plan to keep them in the brooder? Most chicks are brooded until around 6 weeks, by that time you'll need about 60 square feet for that many birds--that's a lot of space. Your guinea pig cage might work for a week, but even at that they're going to be too crowded. You should look into cardboard boxes, they're the easiest imo. Get two large boxes and tape them together side by side and cut a little chick door between them. Put the heat lamp on one side, and the feed and water on the other side.

Can't help you on the dust--chicks just make dust, and with that many, I'd imagine you'll have a fine layer over most of the room each day. It's not from the bedding, it's from the chicks themselves, so not much you can do about it. That's why I always brood outside.

 

[Haltey]

I am thinking about selling them at about 1-2 weeks old......so idk......
Thanks

 

[cafarmgirl]

A 2x3 foot cage won't even get you to one or two weeks old with 30 chicks. Well not without problems anyway. 8 or 10 yes, not 30. No way around the dust either, no matter how many you have.

 

[Haltey]

OH ok,,,,I just measured again and it is 1-2 feet high, 3-4 feet long, and 2 feet wide
Thanks
Haley

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd be very concerned about the plan to "sell" some of them. Unless you have pre-orders, don't plan on people being interested in having chicks. At most, that guinea pig cage will brood 8 chicks. The more crowded they are, the harder they will be to clean up after.

 

[Haltey]

Im doing Seramas....at adulthood a trio or pair only takes up 3 feet by 3 feet of space.....the chicks are the size of a nine volt battery....

 

[alyxl02]

Baby chicks should have at least a square foot to themselves for growing up. I usually have a whole lot of pens with a few chicks in each one instead of having one huge pen.

Alyxl02