How much room do Chicks need?

[catdaddy66]

I was told before that 1 sq ft has room for 4 chicks (6sq in) so my space of 5' x 2' would be good for 40 chicks (I have 30) up to 4 weeks. That is upon me now and I have already split them up 50/50 in another brooder. Now THAT space is shrinking...my coop will be done this weekend and they will go to "the Big House" and my Barred Rocks will be correctional officers!

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Not to nit the pick here but a square foot is 144 square inches so if you were told that a chick requires one fourth of that they were telling you that each chick requires 36 square inches.

You have since found out that was a load of horse manure. So what do you think of those suggestions now?

 

[sparrow.star]

That sounds like commercial growing operations

I have the "Dummies" book also, and I think where it says 6 square inches per bird, it should have read, "six inches squared per bird" (or 36 square inches, a 6 x 6 inch square for each bird). That's just my guess.

We are getting our first chickens (26) in May, and were thinking of building a 3' x 4' brooder. With the 6x6" square theory, that should hold 48 birds, so I'm hoping it will be big enough for 26. Perhaps it should be even bigger? I have no idea how big they get in 6 weeks.

We haven't built anything yet, so I'd be interested in others' opinions.

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