is it big enough

[bagendhens]

the box ive got set aside for the brooder is 24" x 36" and 36" tall.
it will be housing 11 chicks to start, and then well be rehoming some hoping to have 8 by about 2 1/2-3 weeks old.

i know it wont be big enough for long and i have a dog playpen that ill be setting up for them once they arnt as suseptable to drafts...but will the box be big enough for the first 2-3 weeks? for 11 babies (assuming all survive)

there supposed ot ship out today, no word yet form the hatchery, will call if i havent heard anything by 4pm to make sure they did.
got to call the post office and let them know theyve got incomming and to call me as soon as they arrive too...

off to TSC this afternoon to pick up the last little bits and peices needed

this is me...

oh add a question...

when should i give them a roost? and how big a diameter shoud it be...
i know for full grown hens a 2x4 works perfectly, but while there in the brooder, when should i add a roost pole. i was thinking of using a 1" dowel, but could just as easily get a peice of 1" x 1"

 

[noitulover]

i would say that your brooder will be okay for about 2 weeks, but remember, overcrowding can lead to cannibalism, feather picking, and fights... I always go just a bit bigger than I think I will need.

My current brooder is about 3' x 4' and I used that to house 4 LF chicks and 2 bantam chicks for about 5 or 6 weeks. At that age they didn't need the lamp anymore (it was 80 degrees outside), and they went outside.

Personally, I would get something just a tad bit larger so that you can keep them inside for 4+ weeks, which will be about the end of april and just about the last chance of any frosts outside...

 

[triggfamily5]

I was wondering the same thing last night, I just built our last night. It is about 37" wide x 72" long. I am hoping to pick up chicks on Friday at the Mercantile and was trying to figure out how many babies I could get. They would have to be in there for about 4 weeks before I put them outside with a heat lamp in their lean-to (Still chance of frost here until June) but it hardens them up.

 

[bagendhens]

well its all we got for now... ill try and find bigger before they get too big...im hoping to get them into the coop with a good heat lamp at about 4 weeks.
and ive got an interested party for some of the spare girls so the extras could be gone much earlier than the 2 week mark lol.

got the confirmation that they shipped this morning
stopped by the post office this afternoon and let them know ot expect them and to call me as soon as they come in (even if it is 4:30 am lol)

im so excited.
now im just adjusting the lamp to get the right temperature lol, ive got a 150w brooder bulb on a reflector with a dimmer added.

unfortunatly i coudl ONLY get a white bulb (i looked everywhere for red, even TSC are out and dont expect to have any more for at least 2 weeks as their distributor is out of stock!
i even whent to petco and scoured the reptile section but even they only had white...and i dont realy want to ship off the website so...
i got a white brooder bulb...
the brooder has a definate "cool end" but most of the box is fairly evenly heating...
so im thinking about putting a peice of cardboard over part of the warmer end of the brooder at night to give them a darker spot to go for night time.

either that or trying to get a large feather duster to give them a "broody" to snuggle under.

 

[cluckcluck42]

I think you will be fine, just watch them closely and you will know when it's time to upgrade LOL

Grats on the babies

 

[sherrydeanne]

That's plenty big, no worries