![]() Location: Keep the brooder somewhere protected from the elements, such as indoors, or in a garage that won’t be subject to extreme temperature swings.We have also used puppy pads, taped down into place. They stay put better, make less of a mess, apparently are super absorbent, and are easy to clean! We plan to use these the next time we have chicks. An option I learned of more recently are wood, sawdust, or paper pellets. It is slippery and can cause a condition called splay leg. Newspaper is less messy, but isn’t a good choice. Chicks will fling them into their feed and water, which has to be kept as clean as possible. One issue with pine shavings is that they make a hot mess. Do not use splintery wood chips, bark, or any material made from cedar. The most common choice is fine wood shavings made of pine, which can be found at your local farm supply or pet store. Litter: The brooder will need litter on the floor.Then at 3-4 weeks old, we remove the divider and give them free reign of the whole place – a 16 square foot chick palace! For the first few weeks, we keep a divider in the middle, making their space half the size. When we set up a brooder, we make a 4×4 plywood box, 2 ft tall. More Space: Once they’re 4 weeks old or larger, it is best to upgrade to about 4 square feet of space per chick.So if you had four small chicks, you’d want a minimum of a 4 square foot space. Remember, they need room to move around, plus space for food and water. Space: When they’re still tiny, an ideal brooder size is about 1-2 square feet per chick, minimum.We usually place wire fencing securely over the top of the brooder. Lid: A cover for the brooder, to keep them in, or keep your other animals out! They get pretty flighty around week three, and can jump out of most brooders if you’re not careful! The cover must be breathable.In the past, we have used a plastic tote (which they grow out of), as well as homemade plywood boxes with cardboard covering the floor. This could include a large plastic storage tote, plywood box, portable crib (like a Pack N Play) or a dog playpen. Structure: A brooder is made from a sturdy container.Here are the essential elements of a good chick brooder: We’ll talk more about that in the temperature section to follow. This is their home for the next month, or longer! The duration they are inside the brooder will depend on the time of year and temperature outside. You should already have a brooder set up and waiting. They’ve likely been on a stressful journey! I know it is really, really hard to resist – especially for the kiddos – but it is in the chick’s best interest. ![]() Once they’re in their brooder, try your best not to handle them for the first day. Providing slightly warm water instead of cold water helps prevent their internal body temperature from dropping too much. One of the most common causes of lost chicks during the first days is dehydration and cold. This shows them where their water is, and helps to trigger them to start drinking on their own. When they arrive, before setting them loose in their brooder carefully dip each chick’s beak in their clean, slightly warm water. Ensure you have all of their necessary supplies ready and waiting, including the brooder, heat source, food, and water.
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