Plywood brooding box (help)

[xyzcornelia]

Hello, I recently built a plywood brooder box and I’m wondering what would you all add to it?

I put newspaper on the bottom and then filled like 10-15 cm of shavings that I normally use for my horses. I will look what measurements it is bc I forgot.

My dad (I don’t rly trust him) he said they need ”ventilation” holes on the sides also but the whole lid is a net so do I need to add that?

This picture was taken before the lid was built but just to get an outside view of it.

Feel free to give me tips and PLEASE LMK if I’m doing something wrong I’m new and still learning everything

Tell me if u wanna see more pics of it too

 

[DobieLover]

I'd add windows to all the sides and a perch or two.

 

[nuthatched]

They need ventilation holes on the side, your dad is absolutely right. For air flow. You can replace a long side with screen so they can see you coming and they aren't scared of you and your hands. Depending upon how many birds are in there, it's only big enough for the first two weeks.

 

[perkolator]

Dad is right, more ventilation is a good thing. Cool idea and great project execution, but is IS quite small and will be outgrown quickly. Dunno what you have for a coop setup, but I could see this box getting repurposed as nesting boxes. Good luck!

 

[WingItRanch]

Another positive in having "windows" in the side is that baby chicks tend to be scared when we reach down from above. Think predator evasion instincts (hawks). Having a side window will allow you to interact with them more on their level.

Chicks are VERY messy so consider adding hooks to the underside of the wood so you can hang up the feeder and waterer (once they grow a bit). Hanging it up helps keep thing *slightly* cleaner.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined! From looking at that newspaper I'll guess Sweden.

A brooder needs food, water, predator protection, ventilation, and a warm spot. There are different ways to do any of these. To reduce trash in them, raise the food and water to the height of their backs. Predator protection depends on where it is. Inside your house that may be a cat, dog, or child.

I'd be happy with a screen on top. I'd think it would be enough. Ammonia is lighter than air so it will rise up and out if it forms from the poop. Warm air rises and carries more moisture than cooler air so that should keep the moisture level down. Carbon Monoxide is heavier than air. If you have a source of carbon monoxide you may want a vent down very low. Do you use natural gas or propane?

Baby chicks need a spot to warm up if they get cold. They also don't need to get too warm. The ideal brooder has a spot warm enough in the coldest of conditions and a spot cool enough in the warmest conditions. If your house is climate controlled that is not too hard to manage. If you are outside that can be challenging with the temperature swings.

Another issue is size. Chicks grow very fast. How big that is and how many chicks you will have determines how fast they will outgrow that. I don't have any rigid requirements for that, just that if they get overcrowded you can get behavioral issues. So keep an eye on that.

The brooder needs to remain dry. A wet brooder can be unhealthy and stink. It can get wet from poor ventilation (their breathing and poop), from spilled water, or from their poop building up to a thickness where it doesn't dry out.

Those are my thoughts on brooders. Good luck and once again,

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Nice job on the building, btw.