When setting up your brooder, you will first want to consider what you type of container to use.
It’s important that you don’t overcrowd the brooder, as this can lead to illness and unhealthy behaviors in your chicks.
To ensure they are able to run around and not be always on top of each other, a good rule of thumb is ½ square foot (roughly 450 square centimeters) per chick. So, if you are planning to buy 6 chicks, your brooder would need to be a minimum of 3 square feet (about 2,800 sq cm).
Remember that this is the minimum. My most recent brooder was 8 square feet (roughly 7,400 sq cm) giving each chick more than twice the recommended minimum space. This accommodated the chicks’ rapid growth very nicely.
To calculate the size of your brooder, measure length and width in inches. Multiply width by length, then divide by 144 for to get the square footage. For metric, measure in meters and simply multiply width by length. If you measure in centimeters, multiply width by length then divide by 10,000 to get square meters.
Here are some popular choices for a chick brooder:
1. Galvanized Stock Tanks
This is what feed stores typically use to brood chicks. Durable and easy to clean. They also retain heat, meaning you may need to have your heat source a little further away from the chicks so they don’t get too hot.
2. Ready-Made Kit
These are convenient and often very affordable, but keep in mind that most of these kits do not contain a floor.
3. Cardboard Box
A large cardboard box is economical and a good way to repurpose a disposable resource. But be aware that chick poop may make its way to the bottom and soil the box. This can then weaken the floor of your brooder.
4. Plastic Tote
If you use a plastic tote, bear in mind that using the lid can cause the tote to overheat pretty quickly. Cut vents in the sides and lid for good airflow. Then, cover all openings with hard cloth.
5. Dog Crate
A dog crate makes a great brooder because you can close it up tightly while also allowing plenty of air flow. As with a tote, you’ll want to attach hard cloth.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to be creative and you want to build your own brooder, do a search on Google Images or Pinterest. You’ll see lots of great ideas.
