New brooder built (pic heavy)

[ColoradoPip]

It was supposed to snow this weekend so I built a brooder instead of working on my coop.

The goal was simple, big enough for 25ish chicks for ~2 weeks and it must be modular/movable. My plans are to brood many birds and many types (ducks, quail, maybe others) over time so this should be in use a lot. We will see! I took the idea from here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-stowaway-brooder-pic-heavy.1164735/

I'm not nearly as good at building things and wanted something bigger so I made this 4x4, 2' tall brooder using a lot of the pallet wood I have. Thinking it over, the chicken wire and plywood were both free also!

The end result

The base, made from 2x6s with pallet slats around three sides to provide a slot and support for the bottom of the wall.

Legs go in these slots, easy to assemble

Wrapped the bottom board with a tarp to protect it, had these plywood pieces sitting around. I always keep leftover pieces for things like this

The top keeps the walls in place

Here's how it looked when I built it. I used pallet slats on their side to create the wall slots.

I will hinge this so it swings open but don't have any hinges. For now a single screw holds it in. I made it this way for easy cleaning.

Quick and easy access from the front

I used twist ties to attach the upper door to the roof and found the star shaped clip in a drawer.

All that's left is to build the waterers!

 

[N F C]

Nice! If you want to make it really movable, add some wheels to the legs

 

[ColoradoPip]

Nice! If you want to make it really movable, add some wheels to the legs

By making it 4'x4' it will not fit through any doors, therefore "mobile" ends up meaning I can take it apart and move it easily, lol

If I didn't have the plywood I could have built the sides/frame with 2x4s and chicken wire, then made the top just like the bottom with slots for the 2x4s to sit in. I really like to idea of everything just fitting together in slots. I can modify it repeatedly without effecting the overall structure.

I also could replace the floor plywood with pallet slats. Another free option

I really, really am enjoying making these things, even though I'm not very good at it haha. Wish there was a market for me to make and sell them for fun!

 

[Kaiser5000]

Wow! As someone who is currently cursing our flimsy, cardboard brooder, this makes me so envious. Question: What will you do at 2 weeks? Do you then move them to the coop?

 

[ColoradoPip]

Wow! As someone who is currently cursing our flimsy, cardboard brooder, this makes me so envious.

Hah, I was prepared to do the same!

I really wanted something more reusable. It was going to take more than one box (I did find 4x4x4 super thick pallet boxes for $25) which meant taping, flooring, and laying things out. Seemed like more pain for a temporary solution than building this. Once I saw the BYC60586's thread detailing that slotting for the walls and legs, I knew it was just the information I needed!

Question: What will you do at 2 weeks? Do you then move them to the coop?

That's the plan! They'll have a 4x8 section of the coop (maybe a bit more for this brood) where they can see and talk to the older hens It's a mobile coop so I can park it near an outlet to keep the heat plate running.

 

[Kaiser5000]

Wonderful! Well, great job. I shall admire it from afar. Our babes are 2 weeks as of yesterday and are already jumping out of our brooder and making the entire loft of our house their own personal toilet, hahahaha! We are considering moving them to their coop but we don't have any full grown hens and I worry about them being too cold on our chilly nights. This is my first try at raising chicks, though--- Would it be alright to move them to an enclosed coop?

 

[ColoradoPip]

Wonderful! Well, great job. I shall admire it from afar. Our babes are 2 weeks as of yesterday and are already jumping out of our brooder and making the entire loft of our house their own personal toilet, hahahaha! We are considering moving them to their coop but we don't have any full grown hens and I worry about them being too cold on our chilly nights. This is my first try at raising chicks, though--- Would it be alright to move them to an enclosed coop?

LoL, I read your post! I think you should move them out!! These will be my first to move out so early. I'm committed to it though

I've repeatedly read how people move them out as long as they still have their heat source. Just like in the wild, little chicks go play in the cold then run under mom's wing to warm up, and repeat. Based on this, people have been raising chicks outdoors in subzero temps. Search this forum for "outdoor brooder" and you will spend the rest of the night reading success stories of it

 

[Kaiser5000]

Wonderful! I really wanted that advice as we are ready to move them out, for sure. They are sweet and lovable but, holy SMOKES, they are trouble haha.

Thank you SO much and have a great day!

 

[rosemarythyme]

We are considering moving them to their coop but we don't have any full grown hens and I worry about them being too cold on our chilly nights. This is my first try at raising chicks, though--- Would it be alright to move them to an enclosed coop?

Since your location isn't listed what are your temperatures like right now (days/nights)? Have you begun acclimating them to lower temperatures (example it's 30 degrees outside and 70 where they're at in your house, that's a pretty sharp difference)? Chicks can be raised outdoors from the start as long as they have a draft free brooder/coop and a heat source, though I'd use caution if it's still very cold where you're at.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Added a water bucket with hirizontal nipples and one feeder. I will add another bucket with 4 nipples and will also use 1-2 smaller water stations to start.

Will this 20" double sided feeder be enough for 25ish chicks for the first 2 weeks?