Is there such a thing as a brooder that's too big?

[azygous]

Brooding outdoors with a heating pad cave keeps chicks safe and warm down into the low 30s. When I brood in springtime, it can get into the 20s some nights. I just toss a folded wool blanket over the heating pad cave to be sure the heat is focused downward and doesn't get lost rising into the frigid air. I haven't had a chick freeze to death yet.

After years of all kinds of brooder designs and brooding indoors, I finally made the leap to outdoor brooding. I will never go back. Baby chicks really do know what to do with all that wonderful outdoor space. They grow up to be much different than indoor brooded chicks in ever positive respect.

 

[renenchan]

Hi everyone,
I'm brand new to raising chickens. My chicks will be delivered in mid April, so I'm trying to prep ahead of time and learn as much as I can. I have 8 chicks comes, 3 different varieties of Wyandottes and a few Speckled Sussex pullets. I will need to keep them in the brooder for at least 4 weeks, the indoor portion of the coop will be completed before the chicks arrive. My husband and I are building the run and he is a CPA so he will be out of commission until the beginning of May, so I don't want to move them outside until they have a run.

So my question is: Since I'm keeping the chicks in my house for a few weeks, how much space will they need in a brooder/grow up pen? Will I need to provide them with a mini roost in the brooder box at some point as they grow? Will a 52 gallon bin be big enough for them? Can anyone share pictures of their DIY brooder boxes?

Thank you so much in advance!
-Devon

We are using a 2 * 3 foot old wire dog crate with some panels zip tied all the way around to keep them in. Just remember where the door is so you can easily get the water and food in and out. good luck

 

[Dhkoenig]

You need to take into consideration the growth rate of chicks. They double in size each week, and their space needs also double each week. What starts out as plenty of space quickly becomes cramped. A basic guideline is as follows
Week 1- 1/4 sq ft per chick
Week 2- 1/2 sq ft per chick
Week 3- 1 sq ft per chick
Week 4- 2 sq ft per chick
Week 5- 4 sq ft per chick
Week 6- 8 sq ft per chick
The problem with plastic bins is that they are too small to use past a week or two and they tend to become ovens, not being big enough to allow for both a warm and cool zone.

Hi all. Thank you so much for this information though it was for somebody else, I’m finding it helpful myself. I was just about to head out and buy a Tupperware tub for my brooder but now I’m rethinking what I use. Meanwhile… We are planning on putting day old chicks under our broody hen on Wednesday. When the chicks arrive, I’m not sure, am I supposed to just put them under her before they’ve had anything to eat or drink? Or do I need to feed them first. I’ve been told that doing it in the evening is the best bet where I can still observe them, but it’s close to bedtime , so if they arrive in the morning, do I need to put them under of brooding plate until I put them out there? Any information on this transition between arriving in the mail and putting under my lady would be amazing.

 

[azygous]

Hi all. Thank you so much for this information though it was for somebody else, I’m finding it helpful myself. I was just about to head out and buy a Tupperware tub for my brooder but now I’m rethinking what I use. Meanwhile… We are planning on putting day old chicks under our broody hen on Wednesday. When the chicks arrive, I’m not sure, am I supposed to just put them under her before they’ve had anything to eat or drink? Or do I need to feed them first. I’ve been told that doing it in the evening is the best bet where I can still observe them, but it’s close to bedtime , so if they arrive in the morning, do I need to put them under of brooding plate until I put them out there? Any information on this transition between arriving in the mail and putting under my lady would be amazing.

You would benefit greatly by starting your own thread on this. So many different folks can give you the benefit of their experience if you have your own thread set up to discuss this topic, tailoring it to your unique circumstances.

It's always a good idea to water and feed new chicks you've just brought home or received by mail. It's always good to have a larger brooder, the larger the better, as long as it's secure.

Plastic totes make convenient, but terrible brooders for so many reasons.