/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

How much area needed for pullets in brooder?

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by raylor, Sep 9, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Sep 9, 2009 #1
    raylor

    raylor Out Of The Brooder

    15
    0
    22
    Sep 3, 2009
    I need to build a brooder but nearly every design I see is for when the chicks are small. Do you know how big it should be to house 26 chicks the last few weeks when they are good size? How much space per bird is adequete?
    Also, is it ok to use 1/2" hardware cloth for the bottom, can they walk on that ok when they are little? Thanks!
     
  3. Sep 9, 2009 #2
    comp6512

    comp6512 Chillin' With My Peeps

    152
    1
    121
    Dec 3, 2008
    I am in the same boat. My 20 chicks are arriving 9/28, so now it's time to get busy building the brooder. I am planning on building a 4'x5' box to give each chick 1sf of space when they get to be one month old. The box will have a divider in the middle to keep them together prior to being one month. I will post pictures, promise.[​IMG]
     
  5. Sep 11, 2009 #3
    tracyork

    tracyork Out Of The Brooder

    41
    0
    30
    Jul 12, 2009
    Tillamook, Oregon
    I can't say what the correct size is supposed to be. I have 7 one month old chicks and a hen in a 4'x8' box and they are starting to get testy. We have them outside and move them regularly to new grassy patches. Based on that, I do not think a 4x5' box is going to be big enough for that many chicks for any length of time. If you are planning to upgrade them within weeks, it should be ok, but otherwise, I would build something bigger to begin with! Hardware cloth should be fine for the bottom.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2009

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by