How much area needed for pullets in brooder?

[raylor]

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!

 

[comp6512]

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.

 

[tracyork]

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.