How to Build a Brooder House for Chicks

A well built brooder house produces happy, healthy chicks.

Having a warm, well-built brooder house affords newly hatched chicks with the best opportunity for exceptional health and growth during the first crucial weeks of life. According to the University of Florida Animal Science Extension, the key to a successful brooding is providing the correct temperature, draft protection and ventilation. If properly built, a chicken brooder can last several broods and produce healthy chicks year round.

Things You'll Need

• Drawer liner
• Large plastic tote
• 250 watt heat lamp bulb
• 10-inch brooder heat lamp with clamp
• Empty plastic sour cream/butter container with lid
• Scissors
• Hot water
• Brooder thermometer

Instructions

1. Cut the drawer liner to size using the scissors, and fit on the bottom of the tote.

2. Insert the bulb into the heat lamp.

3. Attach the heat lamp to one corner of the tote, using the clamp.

4. Cut four holes (equally spaced) around the rim of the plastic container and one in the center of the lid, using the scissors.

5. Fill the plastic container with hot water to create humidity. Do not fill past the holes.

6. Secure the lid on the container and place in the corner of the tote directly under the heat lamp.

7. Place the thermometer on the floor of the tote on the same side as the heat lamp.

Tips & Warnings

• If chicks are huddled closely together in a group, check your temperature. This may be a sign they are too cool. Likewise, if they are spaced far apart they may be too hot. Chicks in a group, but not tightly packed, are comfortable.

• Replace the hot water about every 6 hours to keep a consistent level of humidity.

• Maintain the brooder temperature at 96 degrees by raising and lowering the lamp.

• Place food and water on the opposite side of the tote as the heat lamp. Chicks can move under the heat lamp to get warm or over to the other side to drink water and cool down.

• Build one brooder for every 10 to 15 chicks.

• If possible, keep your brooder indoors.

• Cleaning the brooder two or three times a day.

• Do not keep newly hatched chicks in a brooder for longer than two weeks.

• Overcrowding your brooder can cause chicks to overheat and lead to fatalities.

• Do not use anything taller than a jar lid to water chicks for the first week. Deeper water may cause drownings.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Care of Baby Chicks; Christopher DeCubellis De
• Ithica College; Tips for Incubating and Raising Chicks with a Mother Hen; John R. Henderson; May 2011
• Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources; Management of Baby Chicks

Resources

• Backyard Chickens; The Basics of How to Raise Chicks