How to Build a Sturdy Chick Brooder

Protect your baby chicks from the elements and predators by building a simple brooder.

Baby chicks need extra protection and warmth, but their home doesn't need to be fancy. You can build a simple brooder for baby birds of any type in an afternoon, with a few basic materials and little construction know-how.

Things You'll Need

• Sturdy container (old water trough, wood box or feed tub)
• 2 two-by-fours the width of the brooder
• 2 two-by-fours the length of the brooder
• 4 L-shaped metal brackets
• 2 sturdy hinges
• 1 two-by-two board the width of the brooder
• Chicken wire
• Wood saw
• Drill
• Metal and wood screws
• Staples and staple gun
• Feeder and waterer
• Bedding material
• Heat lamp

Instructions

1. Choose a container that can be easily cleaned, has a solid bottom and sides, and provides adequate space for your chicks. (You will need 10 square inches per chick for the first two weeks.) Wash the container thoroughly with a dish soap and warm water solution. Rinse well, then rinse again with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, and allow to air dry.

2. Make the perch. Attach the two-by-two board to the inside of the brooder crossways with screws, 10 to 12 inches from the bottom and at least 6 inches from either side.

3. Make the lid. Connect the broad side of one short two-by-four to the narrow side of one long two-by-four at the corners, using an L-brace. Reinforce with screws from the outer side of the short two-by-four going into the long two-by-four. Repeat the process with the other short and long two-by-fours, and then connect the two pieces to form a rectangular lid. The long sides of the lid should sit on top of the brooder, with the short sides hanging down on the outside.

4. Line the inside of your lid with chicken wire, attaching the wire to the wood frame with staples. Trim off any excess wire.

5. Attach the lid to the back of the brooder using the two hinges. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it's very nice to be able to open and close the lid without having to take it off and put it back on each time when you are tending to your chicks several times a day.

6. Prepare your brooder: Line it with clean bedding material such as wood shavings -- you may want to cover the bedding with paper towels for the first day or two to encourage the chicks to eat their feed and not the bedding. Set up a clean feeder with chick starter and a waterer with fresh water.

7. Don't forget the heat lamp; it must include a wire cage to prevent the bulb from touching anything, which could start a fire. Wire the lamp either to the top of the brooder lid or to a support inside of the brooder, depending on how much heat you need inside the brooder to maintain the desired temperature (95 to 100 degrees F for the first week, then 5 degrees lower each week after that).

Tips & Warnings

• Heat lamps get VERY hot and are a fire hazard. Do not skip the wire cage, and make sure the lamp is securely wired to its support to prevent it from falling.

References

• PoultryHelp.com: Cheap and Easy Chick Brooders
• "Mother Earth News"; Get Started With Chickens; Jenna Woginrich; April 2011