Is This Brooder Big Enough?

[Laurajean]

I am so excited. My chicks are due to be shipped Monday (yay!), so I'm setting up the brooder box.

I ordered 8 Bantam chicks.

I have a large cardboard box that is 28" tall, so I'm sure that's plenty high, but it is 22" x 22" square. I'm planning to put the heat lamp at one side so they can move away from it if desired. I'm wondering two things about the size:

1. Is that large enough so they can get away from the heat lamp if they want to cool off?

2. Will they get too big for this box? I've never seen Bantam juvenile pullets, so will this box be too small once they grow bigger? If so, I might as well make it bigger now then, right?

I do have another box of similar size, I could cut & connect them I'm sure, but I don't want to take up a huge space if it isn't necessary.

Thanks!

 

[jerseygirl1]

It sounds OK, temporarily, just remember that cardboard tends to stink when it gets wet! I took a dog crate and put them in there, when they were bigger, I added the top but connected it together to make it double sized then put a screen on top so they couldn't fly out

 

[MissJenny]

I have 6 chicks in a brooder that is 24" x 48". Yours will be fine for the first few weeks -- how long are you planning for them to reside in their box?

Dp you have a thermometer under the light so you can tell the temperature. It might be difficult to funnel the heat in one area of a box that size while leaving another area even a few degrees cooler. That won't be an issue at first . If you plan to keep them in a box more than a few weeks you might want to keep your eyes peeled for a bigger box.

Jenny

 

[PunkinPeep]

Congratulations on your new chickens!

I think the answers to some of your questions might depend on how long you plan to keep them in the brooder.

And your light set-up might make a difference as to how much room they have to roam away from the light.

To me, the size sounds kind of small, especially considering the size of light i would use. Your set up might be fine. You could probably test it out and see. Set it up like you're going to have it for the chicks and then use a thermometer if you have it - or just your hand - and sense how much difference in temperature there is on different sides of the box.

If you're going to keep them in there very long, i think i would add the other box.

 

[Laurajean]

Ok, thanks so far for the input. I was planning to keep them in the brooder until they feather out and are ready for the hen house. This is my first time, so I forgot how long that is. Several weeks at least, right?

I can always make it bigger later, but my thinking is why not just do it now? Then I don't have to lock my cats in a room while I move them around to make a bigger one, etc. I'd like it to be big enough for the duration from the start.

What would be an ideal size for 8 Bantams, for the whole duration indoors?

One other option: Someone (sorry, can't see the name right now) mentioned cardboard getting smelly. I do have a large plastic "tray" for lack of a better term. It's 2' x 4' and has walls about 6 inches high. I used to keep my guinea pig in it with a cage that set on top of it. I could use the tray as a base, then cut and tape the cardboard around the sides for the walls?

Thanks for your continued feedback, I'm trying to get this put together this weekend.

PS: And yes, I do have a thermometer for them, I just haven't set it up yet.

 

[Cluck-a-Doodle-Doo]

It is my experience that the 2'x2' is fine for eight chicks. We put them outside at 4 weeks old.

But the 2'x4' tray you have would be great. Cut and tape cardboard just like you mentioned, the chicks will be very happy. Also, for a small number of chicks we use smaller light bulbs. Generally a 60watt bulb in our brooder light set 12" high will produce 105 degrees on the brooder floor so we know that it can do more than is necessary. It is usually set 24" high and produces 90 degrees.

 

[Hockeymom9]

I have the same question as well. I am getting 10 chicks on Tuesday. Planned on using a large plastic tote for a brooder is this a good idea?? How much room should you allow for each chick?

Thanks!