Is a brooder necessary

[goldenbeast]

For baby chicks?

 

[CCourson05]

They have to have heat for the first few weeks of their life, so yes.. Unless you have them with a hen...

 

[purelypoultry]

YES, a brooder is definitely necessary. The brooder does the job that normally a mother hen would naturally provide. Baby chicks MUST stay warm, dry, and kept in a draft free area.

 

[goldenbeast]

Is it easy to build or should I buy one? I'm average at building stuff if that helps.

 

[CCourson05]

I use a storage tub bought at walmart...

Here are some options....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6153042

 

[CrazyCatLady76]

Can you plunk down some shavings and food/water dishes in a cardboard box or storage container and hang a heat lamp? Then you can make a brooder.

Mine (and a lot of people's, there's a whole thread on them) is just a big dog kennel with cardboard around the walls to keep out drafts.

 

[justtoni44]

Hi.
I use caedboard boxes...........
Or for larger hatches...peg board put together with slip ties.......
Home Depot will cut the board to size........
I have 2x4 4x4
Good Luck

 

[WalkerH]

I have one made from a kiddie pool, two from plastic tubs, and my main one is a pine box that my dad got from his lab. 4x5. But anything works really, the most important thing is the heat.

 

[Judy]

I made both of them out of cardboard furniture boxes. duct tape and something plastic under the shavings. Some people use a bathtub in a spare bathroom. Knocking together some wood framing and wire isn't really too complicated and does not have to be perfect at all. A brooder thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6233

Like adult chickens, baby chicks need no drafts but good ventilation so they have plenty of fresh air. And they need enough space so they can move under or away from the heat; they do not want to stay in 90 or 95 degree warmth 24/7.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Mine is a rabbit cage. If your chicks are really small, you can tape cardboard on the sides to keep drafts down if you have them in a garage or other drafty area. Mine are in the bathroom, so no problems there.

They need food, water, pine shavings, a heat bulb & brooder fixture.
TSC has great info for first-timers:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/chicks/livestock_care_caring_for_new_chicks
http://www.tractorsupply.com/conten.../livestock_care_raising_poultry_expert_advice