Small Brooder Question. Will This Work?

[juliect]

I only have 8 Salmon Favs chicks on the way, so I ordered this small-lot brooder for up to 12 chicks.
http://www.strombergschickens.com/images/brooders/SBR_L.jpg
Turns out it is just a plastic kitty litter box with a thermometer and light fixture added...it measures 19" x 15" wide x 16" high with 7" x 7" opening
It seems REALLY small. Will that be enough room for 8 chicks for 3-4 weeks?

 

[aBRG2far]

Maybe for a week. I use a huge plastic tub or cardboard box with a heat lamp and seem to run out of room in two weeks.

 

[ranchhand]

I don't think so, and frankly I wouldn't pay a nickel for it. Perhaps you can cancel the order?

It's much easier to get a big plastic tote/storage box and hang a lamp over it for warmth. Two or three cheap thermometers will help keep track of the temp in various areas.

Congrats on the coming chicks!

 

[juliect]

Thanks for the advice!
I should have read the dimensions a little more closely before I ordered. I don't even buy the litterboxes that small for my cats, I get the jumbo size....on the plus side my male cat seems to like the idea of a lightbulb in a litterbox, he thinks it would make reading the newspaper easier

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Too small ..use some large cardboard boxes with a heat lamp above and you have a cheap broader. They will not peck through it I did this and as they grew I added another box and cut a large arch through both boxes and attached the 2 together to make more space. Put a tarp under the boxes to keep any moisture from going any where. This was good for 6 weeks(coop was not ready) and I had 25 birds. Toward the end I had to put a chicken wire cover over the top but made a PVC frame and attached the wire so i could lift it off. Good luck !!

 

[becky3086]

My brooder is made from one of those covered kitty litter boxes with a door we attached to the front. Works great and will definitely hold 8 chicks for 2-3 weeks, then mine are moved to the outdoor brooder..

 

[cmom]

This is pics of my brooder.

Here are pictures of all sizes and kinds of brooders. Maybe they will give you some ideas.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6233

 

[write2caroline]

I used a Walmart special smaller plastic bin that is about 18 inches tall by 1.5' wide by 2.5' wide for the first two weeks, then I could see my girls were cramped so I switched them to a 1.5 x 4" by 18 inch high for two more weeks then out to the coop they went. I also used a small roosting pole I made from the scraps from their roost in the coop with little blocks of wood for feet - they loved it. I just used chicken wire for the lid. The girls were threatening to jump out and did the day they were to move into the big girl coop. I got both plastic boxes for under $7.

I got a lizard thermometer and used velco to stick it to the side wall so I could monitor the temp. That I paid $29 for because I went for quality - I needed something accurate. - I considered a under tub heat mat they use for the lizards but I was able to maintain the temp pretty well.

I raised them in my son's bathroom he had a double sink and wide counter. I taped a 2X2 to the mirror so I could raise or lower the heat lamp as needed to control temp.

So far my girls only complaint is Mom puts them to bed too early! Ah Mom the sun is still up!

They need remedial chicken ladder lessons to put themselves to bed.
Cal
Jax FL

 

[popcornpuppy]

I agree with the other posts, that they will out grow it in 2 weeks.