Materials Used for Chicken Brooders

Commercial chicken brooders have metal panel sides, a metal panel top, a wire mesh floor and a thermostat controlled heating element. These can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. The DIY chicken keeper doesn't need to spend a fortune to have their own chicken brooder. The materials used can be found at your local home improvement and feed stores. Baby chickens only need a few things to ensure their needs are met. Once these needs are met, the chicks take care of themselves for the most part.

  1. Cardboard Box

    • Find a cardboard box that will provide 6 to 7 square inches of floor space per chick. Appliance boxes work well for large numbers of chicks. The sides of the box must be a minimum of 24 inches high to keep drafts from hitting the baby chickens. Close the flaps on one side of the box and tape them. Cut the flaps on the other side off. Set the box on the floor with the flap side facing down and the flap-less side facing up.

    Pine Shavings

    • Fill the brooder box with 2 to 3 inches of pine shavings. Do not use wood dust, because the particles can be ingested by the baby chicks. Use pine shavings that are completely dry. Wet pine shavings create poor living conditions for baby chicks and can lead to chilling or pulmonary problems. Remove soiled shavings and replace with fresh shavings on a weekly basis to help keep the brooder space free of ammonia gases emitted by the chick's manure.

    Heat Lamps &Pole

    • Have one 250 watt, infrared heat lamp per every 50 to 75 chicks. Run a second lamp as a back up in case one of the lamps go out. The heat lamps must be set 12 inches to 18 inches above the floor of the brooder space to supply adequate heat. Get heat lamps that have ceramic sockets and three-prong cords. The third prong ensures that the heat lamp is grounded. Keep the cord and heat lamp away from all water sources. Hang the lamps from a broom handle or wooden pole laid across the the top of the box sides. Use wire to hold the lamps to the pole. Some lamps come with spring clamps, but the wire acts as a fail-safe.

    Thermometer

    • Attach the thermometer to the side of the brooder box with duct tape. Place it 12 inches off the floor. Keep the temperature of the brooder at 90 degrees for the first week of the baby chickens' lives and then lower the temperature by 5 degrees each week thereafter. The heat can be lowered by raising the heat lamps further from the floor of the brooder. Chickens instinctively seek the amount of heat they like. If you see them huddled directly beneath the light beam, there isn't enough heat. If you see them along the sides and in the corners of the box as far from the light as possible, they're too hot. This means they're trying to get away from the heat. The perfect amount of heat is when the chicks form a donut-shape around the light beam of the heat lamps.

    Feeders &Waterers

    • Baby chicks need about 3-inches of feeder space per bird. Two, 3-foot long feeders will provide 100 chicks with sufficient feeding space for the first four weeks of life. Four 3-foot long feeders will provide 100 chicks with sufficient feeding space from weeks four to eight. Provide six 1 qt. waterers per every 100 chicks for the first week of age and two 2-gallon waterers from weeks two to four. Two,5-gallon waterers need to be supplied for 100 chicks from weeks four to twelve. Always keep feeders and waterers at shoulder height. This can be accomplished by setting them up on top of wood blocks. This will help keep manure and pine shavings out of the troughs.