Quick question on brooders...

[steiggy]

Hi all!

I am beginning to gather things in anticipation of getting chicks in the spring. After lookin around BYC, I see a lot of people use Rubbermaid containers for brooders and I think this would work well for me. I plan on getting a 35 gallon container...but am unsure if this will be big enough to keep the chicks in until they can go in the coop. I am only getting 4...two light bramhas, two Orpingtons. Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can’t help you on your specific question since I do it differently, but do you have adult chickens in your coop? Do you have electricity to your coop? If you can, why not put your brooder in the coop? That way you don’t have the noise, dust, or smell in your house.

I built a brooder in my coop. If I tried to raise chicks in the house, well, I want to stay married to my current wife. I raise them in the coop.

 

[steiggy]

This will be my first batch of chickens actually. I am planning to get them in the spring (late April) and it will be far too cool out yet for them outside (I'm in Wisconsin). I won't be brooding them in my house, they will be out in my heated attached garage.

 

[write2caroline]

They should be fine in the heated garage with a heat lamp.

Caroline

 

[steiggy]

I am just wondering if they will outgrow a 35 gallon tub?

 

[LTygress]

Four of them? Not until they are ready to go outside, no. Anymore, and I would say yes.

 

[steiggy]

Wonderful, thank you! Yes, I plan to keep them indoors only long enough for them to feather out enough to head outside.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

another thing you can think of using is a baby play pen. that's what I use, it's really easy to find used ones that are really cheap. so far it's working out great and is plenty big enough for 2 to 4 chicks. I only suggest this because after a couple weeks you might have a problem with them jumping out of the rubber made lol. play pens have high walls so it's not as easy for them to fly out.