I want to build a brooder.

[PepsNick]

Quote:
Yes, yes, yes!

 

[koakritters]

i just made mine today, i'm thinking i should have put my post here now instead of under hatching... oh well


i had an old rabbit cage, some wood, some paint, poof! instant brooder with plastic bottom to clean easily! lol.

 

[WhySayWhat]

I used mostly left over vinyl tiles for my coop, but had to purchase a few to finish it off. They were 36 cents a piece, and are 12"x12", so a nice size for any project that is "square"-ish.

Here's a picture of the coop floor....they sell these at Home Depot and Lowe's, they are the cheapest of all we have around here (I think they're around 25 cents each at Lowe's).

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

here are what materials i have: chicken wire, plywood, screws, eye hooks, latches.

 

[shellshocked]

Do you have a brooder lamp? If not you may want to make a trip to the hardware store. I did not have enough scraps to completely make my brooder. Instead of going with a regular clamp-on brooder lamp, I made my own using a porcelin light fixture - ($1.57 @ Lowe's), a pvc junction box (.97), a light switch ( prices vary depending on what kind of switch you use starts @ $1.45. + .25 for a single gang junction box. I used a dimmer switch so I could control the temp in the brooder, it was $8.00), and I used some leftover white Romex wire to connect everything. I also put a 2x4 across the middle of my brooder to nail the junction box for the light fixture to. You can use an old extension cord to run from the light switch so you can just plug it in when you're ready to use it. I would post pictures but not sure how. If you decide to do this just be sure to build it in a way that it allows you to move it through a door way in case you want to store it in a shed or somewhere else when not in use. This all sounds like a lot of work just for a brooder when you can use a cardboard box or plastic tub, but It wasn't hard at all. I just enjoy making things. I will probably build another one in the future and I will surely use different dimensions & lighter material (It's 4' x 4'. I used 2x3's, 1/2 inch waferboard & plywood and it's very heavy!).

 

[angi]

Quote:
This. it's the only way i've ever done it.

 

[ILoveChickens11]

yeah just get a plastic container

 

[Ivywoods]

You want to build one? Here's what I suggest.

2x4 frame-you choose the size according to how many chicks you want to raise. Put it on legs so that it is up off the floor at a comforable working height. That saves a lot of back aches.

Hailscreen floor-no larger than 1/2" holes.

Plywood of up to 1/2" thickness. A lot of times this can be salvaged from other projects. Use this to enclose the sides.

1" material to build the frame for the lid. Use hailscreen or similar to cover the lid.

Heatlamps as necessary for your climate. I put my 2x4 legs extended up high enough that I can put another board across between them to hook the heatlight on so I can raise or lower it as necessary.

Take a look at John Blehm's website. www.chickhatchery.com I belive is the website. Somewhere on there he has pics of his brooders.

After saying all of this, my last brooder was a big cardboard box.... until they got big enough to fly out of that, then they were moved to an oblong stock tank out in the shop with a welded wire lid to keep the shop cats from having a chicken dinner.

We built several brooders like this a few years back. Unfortunately they were left behind when we moved. Much of how my projects turn out depends on what materials I can salvage for them. It's not too tough. Have fun with your project.

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

Quote:
This sounds like a good plan.. Except what it hailscreen? Also.. no pics on that website of brooders

 

[Ivywoods]

http://www.chickhatchery.com/PhotosHatchery.html

The picture at the top right is his brooders on legs. This isn't exactly how I did mine, but similar.

Hailscreen is a welded wire screen with 1/2 holes or smaller. Do not use screen door screen. The poop won't fall through it. You can even put a ledge under the brooder with a platform to catch the poop, but I usually just let it fall to the floor and sweep it up off the cement. The brooder stays clean.

If you don't want them on the wire at first, you can always put paper or some other material over the hailscreen until you are confident they are okay on it.