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New Hover Brooder

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by mickt42, Mar 17, 2015.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Mar 17, 2015 #1
    mickt42

    mickt42 In the Brooder

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    Feb 22, 2015
    Hello!
    I am planning on building a couple new brooders as I have three batches of chicks arriving this spring. I am planning on building area brooders with hover heaters (Ohio brooders). The plans I see online and in Plamondons book are 4x4, and I was wondering how people feel about the efficiency and cost effectiveness of a smaller unit (like 2x3). A 4x4 unit is the most effective use of a sheet of plywood and a smaller unit will still use one piece (you cannot make two 2x3 units with one piece of plywood) you can however make two 2x2 heaters with one piece. I usually brood 10-25 chick batches at a time. Any thoughts?
     
  2. Apr 6, 2015 #2
    misfitmorgan

    misfitmorgan Ordure Heir

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    Nov 20, 2014
    Mikado, Mi
    I believe the 4X4 brooders accommodate 250 chicks

    4X4 = 16sq ft
    16sq ft/4 = 4sq ft

    2X2 = 4sq ft

    So.....
    250 chicks/4 = 62.5

    So a 2X2 ohio brooder in theory could accommodate roughly 60 chicks.

    The other way you can go is...

    7-10in space per chick

    2ft = 24in
    24X24 = 576in
    576/10 = Low Max 57 chicks
    576/7 = High Max 82 chicks

    Alternatively
    Since you only need room for 25 chicks you could make the ohio brooder 1ftX1ft and use one lower watt bulb however making a 1ftx1ft brooder may not save much in the long run material wise if you still have to buy a sheet of plywood.

    On a side note..you can make 2 4X4X2 ohio brooders with 3 sheets of plywood.
     

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