Question: can the brooder be too big?

[Sperticus]

picking up first chicks today, I have a brooder I built and read that basically every two weeks or so you should increase the size of the brooder; but Is there a reason why they cannot just have the full size of the brooder right away?

 

[nuthatched]

Nope, it's just that a lot of people start small for easy cleaning indoors.
Chicks double in size every week, so they'll be 8 times bigger in 4 weeks, if your brooder can hold birds that size, for a month, start them there.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Depends what full size is.
As long as they can find the heat source, food and water it shouldn't be too big.
I've used 4' X 8' but sometimes when it was just a few chicks I used a makeshift divider to limit the space.

 

[DobieLover]

Is there a reason why they cannot just have the full size of the brooder right away?

None whatsoever. They know where the heat source is and will go to it when needed.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I have used a refrigerator appliance box for about ten chicks and they still outgrew it quickly so I say no.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

No. I brood my chicks in a 10’x10’ room in the barn. As in the entire room is my brooder with shavings on the floor and they have access to all of it. The only time I divide it is if I have both chickens and ducklings brooding at the same time. They love all of the extra space and even when they are under a week old they will be running all over it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

picking up first chicks today, I have a brooder I built and read that basically every two weeks or so you should increase the size of the brooder; but Is there a reason why they cannot just have the full size of the brooder right away?

Not from a chick's perspective. You may have limits based on where you brood them but they can handle a larger brooder. Mine is only 3' x 6' and it works for 4 chicks or over 20.

I brood out of doors and use a heat lamp. Sometimes the temperatures are below freezing, sometimes in the 90's Fahrenheit. As long as I can keep one spot warm enough and another spot cool enough the chicks can handle it fine. I dip their breaks in water when I put them in and then set them down on a warm spot if it is cold. They manage the rest.