For my first week raising my 11 chicks I'm going to keep them in this. Does it look big enough to you guys? They'll only be in this until I fashion a 4X5 brooder out of cardboard boxes and duct tape, hooray for ingenuity!
That's fine for a week. Just make sure it doesn't get too hot since there is very little room for them to escape the heat.
I would cover the shavings with papertowels for the first day or two. They will have better traction and learning their food rather than eating the shavings.
You"ll eventually need something to raise the feeder and waterer a little... They kick up shavings like crazy. Have fun with your chickies!
11 chicks need room. There also needs to be adequate room for large waterer and feeder. The chicks will quickly outgrow the equipment and the space, as shown. There is also little room to have a warm spot and a cooler spot for the chicks to regulate their body temperature. It is far too easy for the heat lamp to make the entire tub the same temperature; ie warm!!! My only advice is to get something much larger within just a couple of days. But... enjoy the chicks!!! And, yes. That 4x5 brooder will work for awhile, but they'll even outgrow that in an amazingly short period of time.
