The 21st of last month my chicks started hatching. I noticed a hen standing near the window and watching intently. Like "I hear chicks, but who's setting". About a week ago the chicks went outside to the brood house, and I got caught by a hen I call Moma. Her head held high and definitely watching me. She came up close, and watched the chicks a while, now the flock comes by for visits. The chicks will come as far as the door to go outside, but have yet to venture out.
Brood house, a 12X16 (feet) shed with dirt floor, and a 4X16 (feet) run, with home built brooder, also roosts up to 6 feet high.
The home brew brooder is 24"X24" with 2 45 watt spot lamps, this one with some mods
http://www.plamondon.com/wp/build-200-chick-brooder-two-hours-20/
I dropped the horizontal 2x2s, did not crop the corners of the top. Instead I cut the 2x2 legs 12", leaving a 4" space at the top. Once assembled I then used duct tape to seal the edges and corners, dropped in 5 pieces of closed cell foam, and sealed that in with duct tape
1- 24"X 24" X 1/4" plywood
4-12"X24"X1/4" plywood
4-2X2X12"
2-4" ceiling fan boxes (they are shorter than normal boxes)
2-ceramic light sockets
2-45 watt spot lamps (called for 40 watts, all I could find were 45w)
1-power cord
A few staples
5-24"X24"X1/2" close cell foam (cut from a 4X9 foot sheet)
I had most of this and only had to buy the boxes, lamps and fixtures.
Once built, I plugged it in, the ground under it dried up nicely, and I let it break in for 2 weeks. It was nice and warm under it, and the chicks have been happy.
Brood house, a 12X16 (feet) shed with dirt floor, and a 4X16 (feet) run, with home built brooder, also roosts up to 6 feet high.
The home brew brooder is 24"X24" with 2 45 watt spot lamps, this one with some mods
http://www.plamondon.com/wp/build-200-chick-brooder-two-hours-20/
I dropped the horizontal 2x2s, did not crop the corners of the top. Instead I cut the 2x2 legs 12", leaving a 4" space at the top. Once assembled I then used duct tape to seal the edges and corners, dropped in 5 pieces of closed cell foam, and sealed that in with duct tape
1- 24"X 24" X 1/4" plywood
4-12"X24"X1/4" plywood
4-2X2X12"
2-4" ceiling fan boxes (they are shorter than normal boxes)
2-ceramic light sockets
2-45 watt spot lamps (called for 40 watts, all I could find were 45w)
1-power cord
A few staples
5-24"X24"X1/2" close cell foam (cut from a 4X9 foot sheet)
I had most of this and only had to buy the boxes, lamps and fixtures.
Once built, I plugged it in, the ground under it dried up nicely, and I let it break in for 2 weeks. It was nice and warm under it, and the chicks have been happy.
