Size of brooder???

[CayceV]

I need to get started on building a brooder for my chicks that are supposed to be arriving in like a week and a half. I have time to do it today but I need to know what size should it be??? I don't want to have to build a bigger one in a few weeks time so I'd like to be able to leave them in it until they're ready to go outside. I'm getting 31 chicks - a variety of chickens - Wyandottes, Araucanas, Blue Andalusians... Just so you can get an idea of the sizes.

Help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[playswithfowl]

I would also like to know how big of a brooder is needed for this amount of chicks.

 

[howlingwoodsfarm]

Hello, I will give my two cents and also this will bump it up for you so hopefully some other people can help also. Do you want them to be 6 weeks and require no supplemental heat before they go outside? Or just a place to keep them for the first few weeks, then get them into a bigger coop with supplemental heat? My estimate would be that 4x4 would work for the first 3 weeks. If you want them grown until 6 weeks I would go more for 4x8 minimum. I just looked in some chick catologs and they say 1/2 sq ft for the first 2 weeks per chick. then 1sq ft after that until 6 weeks. So that pretty much correlates with what I guessed. Bigger is always better, and they will be happier for it.

Heather

 

[Badhbh]

I'm building mine 3'x5'x18". I'm praying that'll be big enouhg for about 25 chicks for 4 weeks