How to Make a Chick Brooder

A chick brooder provides shelter for baby chicks and other baby birds, such as quail. The light over the top provides warmth for the inhabitants. While chick brooders are expensive to buy, you can make one quickly and easily.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Large, clear storage container and lid
• Staple gun and staples
• Pliers
• ¼ inch hardware cloth
• 85-watt red bulb
• Flood lamp reflector fixture
• 16 inches plumber's pipe strap
• Tin snips
• Drill and bits
• 4 machine screws and nuts
• Water container
• Feeder
• Paper towels
• Bleach
• Water

1. Use the utility knife to cut out the center of the lid for your storage container. You can leave part of the lid in tack to provide a covered area. You need to leave space around the hole to connect the hardware cloth to the lid.
2. Attach the hardware cloth. Measure the amount you need by laying the hardware cloth over the hole and marking where to cut. You should have at least a ½ inch overlap. Staple the hardware cloth to your lid and use the pliers to bend the sharp edges under.
3. Make feet for your flood lamp by cutting your plumber's pipe strap into 4 equal pieces. The opening for the flood lamp should sit over the lid for your chick brooder. Drill 4 holes at the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the opening. Attach the plumber's pipe strap in these locations with small machine screws and nuts. Bend the strap to make legs for your lamp.
4. Prepare the chick brooder for the baby chicks. Mix a cup of bleach into a gallon of water and clean the storage container. Rinse the container with bleach and dry it. Use several layers of paper towels to line the bottom of the storage container if you have new chicks. Put the water container and feeder into the chick brooder.
5. Put the lid onto the storage container and set the flood lamp on top of the hardware cloth. Adjust the temperature based on the age of the chicks and their reaction in the chick brooder. You can adjust the temperature by hanging the light and raising it until the proper temperature is achieved.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a flood lamp with a wire guard to avoid drilling holes.
• A clear storage container works best.
• Don't overcrowd the chick brooder. A 90-quart storage container houses 25 baby chicks.