Brooder

[John]

Materials needed:
(4) Legs, 2x4s (actual size 1 ½  x 3 ½) x 48” (may be shorter if using pre-cut studs)
(1) Top Back, 7/16” OSB, 48” x 10”
(1) Door - Top Front, 7/16” OSB, 48” x 16”
(3) Hinges, 2” or whatever
(1) Front, 7/16” OSB, 51” x 10”
(2) Supports - bottom, 1x4 (actual size ¾ x 3 ½ or 3 5/8) x 51”
(1) Back, 7/16” OSB, 51” x 16”
(1) Bottom, 7/16” OSB, 48” x 27”
(2) Sides, 7/16” OSB, 25” x 16”
(4) Supports – inside front & back, 1x4 (could even use 1x3) x47”
(4) Supports – inside on sides, 1x4 or 1x3 x 23 ½”
(1) Support – inside divider, 1x4 or 1x3 x 23 ½”
(1) Window – acrylic, ¼” (or whatever) x 6” x 24”
(1) Support – door, 2x4 x 45 ½”
(1) Droppings Pan, galvanized, 6” x 26 ½” x 46 ½”
(1) 33” Brooder Heater, #5040 thru Cutler’s Supply
(3) Pan Slides, 1x4 or 1x3 x 26 ½”
(1) Hardware Cloth, 24 ¼” x 46 ¾”
(3) ¼” x ¾” Wood Strips - sides, 25” long
(2) ¼” x ¾” Wood Strips – front & back, 45 ½” long
(1) ¼” x ¾” Wood Strip - center, 23 1/2 “ long
A bunch of 1” drywall screws

Full photos can be emailed upon request.

[Blue Egg Acres]

Thanks John - Dick is planning to build one of these for me! Oh by the way, I\'m keeping my incubator and hatcher.

[John]

He might as well build two at the same time.  I think three sheets of 7/16 OSB will be enough for two.  The expensive parts are the heating elements and galvanized pans.  As I recall it cost $30 each to have the pans fabricated.
I used hardware cloth with 1/3\" spacings.  It is great for bantams for the first week or two.  1/2\" hardware cloth is more common and can be covered with \"Deotized Animal Cage Board\" for the first week for bantams.
I cover the bottom of the droppings pan with wood shavings.

[Blue Egg Acres]

How long do you leave the chicks in the brooder before moving them to an area with heat lamps?

[John]

Last year I used heat lamps for the first time.  It really shouldn\'t matter.  Whether you use lamps, a box brooder like this or some other broodering system.  They all are brooders and do the same basic job.  
During hatching season I have hatches coming out every week.  I have two of the box brooders in my hatchery and the chicks go directly into them from the hatchers.  After about 6 days the chicks are moved to similar box brooders out in the barn to make way for the next hatch.  The box brooders in the barn have 1/2\" by 1\" welded wire floors instead of hardware cloth.  The chicks stay in these brooders for about a month.  When the box brooders get overcrowded I move the biggest chicks into pens with a homemade brooder that they can go under or use the heat lamps.  

In next months issue we\'ll disscuss \"Bantam Condos\". :p

[Guest]

Thanks very much John

That was very interesting. It\'s great to see what other folks are doing. We use similarly sized brooders, but most of ours have wire mesh covered sides. We staple heavy gage plastic sheeting to much of the sides. The plastic is fairly adjustable to accommodate changes in the outside temps and the needs of the chicks. Of course our weather in Western Washington is pretty mild compared to others.

I\'ll look forward to your information on the bantam housing.

Warmest regards,
Lisa and Gary Cree
http://creefarm.fateback.com

[Guest]

Those are very nice! Thank you for posting them!  B)

[Guest]

Beautiful job! Goodness, I\'m tempt to build me one like that!