What size brooder / Would glass tank work

[ParkfieldFarm]

I put five chicks in a 20gal aquarium with a mesh lid for the first two weeks. Then I moved on to a big rubbermaid. It worked great--and actually was too cool initially, so I had to raise the floor by putting Yesterdays News underneath some puppy pee pads. That was only for the first week, then I moved them onto the floor with the pee pads. Once they moved into the larger bin I just stuck with the yesterdays news. It worked great!

 

[lemongrass]

How long depends on their development and the weather outside. Its getting warm here and mine seem to be fully feathered, so they'll be out at 5 weeks. I know some wouldn't do it that early, though.

As far as the size... again, it depends. At 4 weeks, my chicks are about 4-5 times (rough estimate) as big as when they were born. Some are smaller, some bigger. They need room to run. They like to try and fly everywhere, so they need a lot of room cause they'll bump into everything. Even if you just have six chicks, they may "fit" in a crate-sized brooder but they could get pecky and start picking at each other if they get too bored.

I'd have a back-up plan for inside if you're worried about them going out. Maybe save up in case you need to buy a second dog crate and divide them up per brooder. Not saying you'd have to do that, but it might be necessary, so be prepared.

 

[spotstealer]

Quote:
Excuse me if I'm wrong, but this seems rather condisending to me. I am not a child and I know chicks grow quickly. I am not getting them because they are cute and fuzzy, I want to raise them for eggs.

With that said, thank you for the rest of your post. I have been looking online for info, but hadn't been able to find anything for what size to use.

Thank you to everyone else who has posted so far.


The options I have on hand are:

large wire dog crate (2ft x 3ft)

large glass tank (2ft x 4 ft) *Will be inside in a room with no windows. So no threat of sun over heating the tank.


Options I can easily get for free:

large appliance boxes, such as for stoves, 'fridges, etc.

Fred's was just being helpful,don't be so easily offended. I too am new to raising chicks, and your question showed your lack of experience. What he said was they don't stay small and fuzzy long. The will literally grow noticeably overnight. I was amazed by how much they change in such a short period of time. The folks on the website are quite knowlegable and more than willing to share with you. One other thing I liked about this site was the lack of sarcam you find on many sites out there. Of course you'll find light hearted ribbing on occaision.

 

[spotstealer]

One thing to also consider, is that a brooder can also be used down the road if you need to isolate on of your girls if they come down with a sickness. The second and larger brooder I built is large enough for a full sized chicken just in case i need it for that, plus there's no way these will be the last chickies I pick up! Good luck!

 

[Rooster61]

I'm new to all this myself, and when I got my chicks 5 days ago I was using a cardboard box, and continued to read on here and ask questions and by the 3rd day I knew I was going to have to do something and fast. So I went to Menards and spent $60 and built a brooder that measures 4'L X 2' W X 3' H and should last me until the chicks are ready to go outside at about 6-8 weeks.

 

[Aemelia]

I have my 1 week old chicks in an extra tall aquarium. They have been in there for 5 days now. I initially had a lower watt heat lamp on top (it has a heavy duty screen that fits the top perfectly) because I couldn't get it warm enough at floor level. I only have 3 chicks and they have quite enough space for the time being. Once they are big enough not to get out of our cage style dog kennel I will move them in there. Thus far they seem happy moving in and out of the light side of the tank and always sleep right under the light cuddled up with each other.

I'll subscribe to this and let you know if I manage to kill my chicks in the tank or not. Hot air rises and thus cooler air is moving in, so there is more air flow than one might think in there. I really doubt a cardboard box has any better ventilation. At least they won't burn up in a cardboard box which is one of the horror stories I have heard about those.

 

[Aemelia]

The paperwork my chicks came with said they need 1/2 a square foot from 0-4 weeks. My 3 chicks have three times that. 4-8 weeks it suggests1 square foot.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Quote:
Per chick. Minimum. If you want them to be happier, they need at least double or triple that.

 

[Chickengal505]

Quote:
Excuse me if I'm wrong, but this seems rather condisending to me. I am not a child and I know chicks grow quickly. I am not getting them because they are cute and fuzzy, I want to raise them for eggs.

With that said, thank you for the rest of your post. I have been looking online for info, but hadn't been able to find anything for what size to use.

Thank you to everyone else who has posted so far.


The options I have on hand are:

large wire dog crate (2ft x 3ft)

large glass tank (2ft x 4 ft) *Will be inside in a room with no windows. So no threat of sun over heating the tank.


Options I can easily get for free:

large appliance boxes, such as for stoves, 'fridges, etc.

Fred's was just being helpful,don't be so easily offended. I too am new to raising chicks, and your question showed your lack of experience. What he said was they don't stay small and fuzzy long. The will literally grow noticeably overnight. I was amazed by how much they change in such a short period of time. The folks on the website are quite knowlegable and more than willing to share with you. One other thing I liked about this site was the lack of sarcam you find on many sites out there. Of course you'll find light hearted ribbing on occaision.

First of all OP

Second of all, the poster who offened you was trying to say that they grow, and they grow FAST. You can see the new feathers the day after they hatch. Your new, We try to inform every new member as if they have never held a chick. Some new members have not held a chick. Some members here ARE children and some DON'T know that they don't stay fluffy for long. As for your booder question, Because the room will have no windows the temp. should stay with in range. If you feel you need to you can cut card board to cover the glass. You could also take a fridge box and lay it on the widest side so you have the wide side up and the wide side down and the "short" side on the sides. Duck tape the opening ends shut. Use a packers knife or a normal knife and cut off the wide side facing up.

 

[Chickeninthemeadow]

I'm glad this discussion is here. I keep debating what I want to do for a brooding box. Build one from plywood, buy a huge rubbermaid 50 gallon box for 20 dollars, use the old dog crate in the garage, or kick one of my girls out of their larger 36 inch crate and put them in the old one in the garage and set up the larger crate for the 6 birds I've ordered.

I have a feeling I'm going to have one grumpy dog when the chickens come.