Things You'll Need:
- Large cardboard box
- Duct tape
- Newspaper
- Wooden board (wider than the box)
- Drop light with 40-watt bulb
- Waterer
- Feeder
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Step 1
Choose a box. When determining the size of the box, consider the number of chicks you will place in the brooder, the area where you will set your brooder and the space needed for water and feed.
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Step 2
Reinforce the bottom of the box by placing duct tape across the middle and around each edge. This gives the cardboard added strength when you move it and also helps prevent it from falling apart if it gets wet.
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Step 3
Line the bottom of the box with newspaper to protect the cardboard from droppings. Because baby chicks are very messy and smelly, it is necessary to remove the droppings once a day or once every other day. Having newspaper in the bottom of the box makes this a much easier chore.
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Step 4
Hang a drop light with a 40-watt bulb into the brooder to keep the chicks warm. The bulb should be at least 3 inches from the bottom of the box and centered to avoid starting a fire--it is imperative that the bulb is not placed close to or against the cardboard. To ensure that the light remains in the center of the box, place a board across the top of the box and wrap the cord of the light around it a couple of times.
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Step 5
Add a feeder and a shallow, enclosed waterer to your brooder. For best results, place these two containers on opposite ends of the box to help keep the chicks from scratching food into the water.
