Lots of Brooder Questions!!!

[rosemarythyme]

Don't get caught up on the name of the feed. Most all flock/flock raiser is similar to starter is similar to grower. The important thing is the nutrition panel, and the size of the feed itself (as small chicks would struggle to eat large food). I started feeding hatch-to-hen crumble before starter, as the starter I get is chunkier than I'd like. I only bother with the starter as I feed fermented as well as dry, so the starter is to get the chicks acclimated to fermented feed.

 

[Chickdeb7]

Also heating plates vs Heat lamps is a big question for me.

Heat lamps get hotter, ise more electric and are more of a fire safety issue.

 

[chickencoop57]

I found something that says chicks need 2 square feet of space? Is that true? Is it true for when they're 6 weeks old, right before you move them to the coop, or when they're babies?

I'm not sure about that but I had 6 chicks in a 3' above ground pen for 6 weeks. It was only about 2'6" wide and 4' long. I put a 2x2 in the middle of it for a roost. They did fine in it.

 

[chickencoop57]

Also heating plates vs Heat lamps is a big question for me.

As far as heating, I just had a heat lamp hanging at one end of the pen because it was cool weather when I got my first batch of chicks, that year. I also put plastic on the north side of the pen, as well. I just received some more chicks and of course its very hot here in Texas, now, so no heating required.

 

[Vicker]

I've never measured what I use for a brooder to give them a certain square footage of space. I usually start with a brooder small enough to fit in the space where I'm keeping them until they feather out. If it's too cold outside, I keep them in a tub or cage that will fit inside. If you have room to partition the brooder and expand it as they grow, that sounds great. If you start large, that's okay, but will just be more area to clean up after them. If the brooder is tall enough for you to add places for them to move up, that reduces the floor space you'll need. They do like to perch on things at an early age. As they grow, they'll start flying around and squabbling a little. They will show you if they need more space. Whichever heat source you use, make sure they have room in the brooder for them to move away from it if they feel too warm. I think a lot of people keep them too warm for too long. They will quickly start becoming more active and show you when they need more room. You're going to learn so much by trial and error. With hanging feeders and water, they bump into them and spill them; sitting on the bottom, they get shavings and poop in them and scratch out the feed. What works best for my time and energy is to set the water on a block to keep them from getting debris in it as quickly. Of course some will want to sit on top of it and poop in it when they learn to fly up. Don't be too anxious about following the perfect advice. Just use some common sense and have fun learning from your chicks.

 

[DSill]

I"m wondering how brooder sizing works? Do you have something big enough for them their entire time as chicks, and wall off part until they grow bigger? How much space does a 6 week old chicken need? Is there such a thing as too much space in a brooder? Too little? Do chicks need roosts in the brooder? starting at what age? Can you use shavings for bedding? Is it better to have a hanging feeder and waterer? Are heating plates or heat lamps better?Is there any enrichment you can give chicks? I am planning for some chicks in the spring and have never raised chicks before.

Everything I’ve read says 2 sq ft per chick. My brooder was plywood- 3x4x2 ft high, with a wire top and door. I also have cats. My 6 chicks were in it for about 6 weeks and it wasn’t until then that they seemed eager to get out. They begin wanting to fly about then, too. I used a 11” brooder heater that was perfect when they first came, but by 6 weeks, they wouldn’t have fit under it. I kept it in the brooder and just kept raising it. I also used a red heat lamp because it was pretty cold for the first month, even though the brooder was inside the coop. Put a thermometer in so you can keep the temperature right . I put some little boards my grandson nailed together for them to hop around on. They are 14 weeks old now, and looking pretty much grown, and spend most of their time in the 32x16 covered run my husband very nicely made. The little chick stage is over so fast!! But we find them very entertaining and relaxing now to sit and visit with! Good luck with them.

 

[DSill]

I"m wondering how brooder sizing works? Do you have something big enough for them their entire time as chicks, and wall off part until they grow bigger? How much space does a 6 week old chicken need? Is there such a thing as too much space in a brooder? Too little? Do chicks need roosts in the brooder? starting at what age? Can you use shavings for bedding? Is it better to have a hanging feeder and waterer? Are heating plates or heat lamps better?Is there any enrichment you can give chicks? I am planning for some chicks in the spring and have never raised chicks before.

I really liked using the heater plate. When the chicks first came they were huddled together and so quiet I wasn’t sure they were ok, but the plate gives them security and natural day/night lighting. They came out to run around, eat and drink, and then they’d run back under (like mama hen, I guess) if they got afraid. One drawback is the expense, since you don’t use it for very long.

 

[black_cat]

I really liked using the heater plate. When the chicks first came they were huddled together and so quiet I wasn’t sure they were ok, but the plate gives them security and natural day/night lighting. They came out to run around, eat and drink, and then they’d run back under (like mama hen, I guess) if they got afraid. One drawback is the expense, since you don’t use it for very long.

Since I have decided to brood in coop I'd much better pay twice as much than risk all my bird's lives and my chicken coop with risk of heat lamp caused fires.

 

[oldhen2345]

I am planning for some chicks in the spring and have never raised chicks before.

Everyone has a different idea of the perfect set up. I can only speak for myself, so here goes. I think you can get a brooder the size you need the entire time they are in it. I don't wall any part off. I brood mine in the spare bedroom so I put the box on a tarp, to keep any leaks from affecting the rug. I usually use a dress box from Uline to brood my chicks. I put it on it's side and open the top. I cover the top with netting and put metal braces across the top to secure it. It is big enough for about 6 chicks. I have taped two boxes together with an opening between so they have more room, but that was for 8 chicks. I think that by the second week, the chicks can use a roost. I just put a dowel through the cardboard. I do use pine shavings in the brooder for bedding. I do not use a hanging feeder or waterer. I put those on a halfbrick to lift them out of the shavings and secure the waterer with a small bungi cord I bring through the cardboard, around the bottle and back out the cardboard. It keeps it from tipping over, they do like to get on top of it.. I don't use heat lamps any more. I use the Mama Cave- a wire frame with a heating pad secured and covered. I think you can find the instructions on this site somewhere. Each week I lower the temp of the pad one number until they no longer need the heat. By that time, they are ready to go outside at about 5-6 weeks old. I give them chick feed with a little container for grit. I start them on small snacks about 3 weeks old. I try to hold each one and spend time getting to know them every day- that way they get to know you- but they do run and hide when you first try to pick them up. Note: I change out the bedding when they are small once a week. After a few weeks, they really can poop and they reek. By the time they are ready to go outside, I am changing the shavings every other day.

 

[RebekahTN]

I was hoping that for a brooder I could get one of those big plastic storage bins, cut out the majority of the lid, and cover the opening in hardware cloth. I really need something cat proof, as my cat is an avid hunter of chipmunks and small birds. When is it ok to start holding them, aside from moving them into the brooder/under the heat plate?

We use the big CLEAR plastic storage totes for our brooders, right beside my little's chair in the living room. I did originally do the top as you were saying,(that would work great to keep cats out). However that didn't last long as the little needed to hold and cuddle her babies multiple times a day from the second they came out of the incubator. Especially before she went to bed. Holding and cuddling them from the second they leave the incubator/arrive at the Post office is perfectly fine. It keeps them warm in your hands and you can more easily realize when something isn't quiet right.
I found early on that I NEEDED clear totes. So I could see what was going on in there from across the room, it's hard to resist checking out those cute little chirps, instead of doing other chores. I would never get anything done if I had to constantly go over and look down on them. I like to see from the sides on their level what they are doing.

This year I got 2 different sized clear totes, the first was the shortest and longest I could find. Ended up with one you roll under the bed. It even has a flip top so that half of it can be closed at all times and the other half is folded back on it. I have the heat plate and feeder in there and then the nipple waterers that sits on top of the heat plate for less mess. They catch on instantly, the first time you show them how to use it and nothing gets in the water.

I got a second normal height clear tote for when they started getting big enough for them to jump out. When that happens they move down to this tote so they can't as easily fly out. (short one is on a table). We incubate with weekly hatches right now, so when a new batch hatches, the previous hatch (if we don't sell them first) move down and by the next week they are outside. We raise bantam and full size, we try to keep them together by size rather than age. The seramas are now 6 weeks old and feathering out but are still in the smallest tote. My little loves always having babies beside her, although she has her favorites of the grown and teen ones.

I used to coddle my babies until they were 8-12 weeks old in the house until we had a hen go broody and watched those teeny tiny babies rule the barn yard. I'm sure they thought they were scaring everyone away, but they had no fears and would wonder through the fence and away from their parents only to be hollered at to come back. They were SOOOO cute with the big ones at only a day old (and older of course). While I had big 8 -12 week old babies that had never touched grass..... I put them outside sooner when it is warmer, like within 2 - 3 weeks, in a chicken tractor away from the bigger animals, since they don't have a mommy to holler for them to come back at every second. I have a heat plate in there for them. If it is early spring we will sometimes bring them back in at night if it's going to get real cold, more because my little is worried about them than that they are in real danger.