Brooder Box

For a small flock of 3 to 6 chicks, you want something large, like a 45-gallon (or bigger) storage container that you can later store your food and other supplies in. You can also use a cardboard box or make your own container out of wood. But keep in mind, by 8 weeks, they’ll be staging a coup against their cozy digs, ready for a coop upgrade! Exactly when they move into the coop depends on the weather and how much their feathers have filled out. Unless you have very high sides, you might want to construct a lid out of hardware cloth or chicken wire to keep the chicks from flying out. Always keep your brooder in a safe area away from household pets like cats and dogs. Safety first, peeps!

Litter

For the first few days, paper towels are good to line the bottom as they can be refreshed and replaced regularly. By about the third day, you may want to begin using pine shavings to absorb the waste which will help keep the chicks clean. Keep the brooder clean by changing the shavings as often as needed.

Food and Water

Day-old chicks through 18 weeks old require starter crumbles which don’t require grit to digest and contains a high percentage of protein to accommodate their fast growth in the early weeks.  If your chick has not been vaccinated then you should buy the medicated brand. Quart sized food and water feeders are a good size for chicks, and although they will outgrow them quickly, you may find they come in handy down the road. The food and water feeders are best elevated on something like a brick or 2 x 4 board so the chicks don’t spill or walk in the food and water. As they get bigger, they can be elevated even more using a shoebox or other pieces of wood. Pop in a board on its side, and voila! Your chicks now have a VIP roosting spot. Even very young chicks have the natural tendency to roost.

Heat Lamp

You can use a brooder heat lamp with 150-watt red infrared heat bulb. The red bulb is less stressful on the chicks than a white light which can keep them from sleeping. There are also flat heating plates on the market which allow the chicks to go under the plate just as they would with a mother hen. The plate can by moved up and down to adjust to the chick’s temperature needs.

Temperature

Remember to purchase a thermometer so you can monitor the heat in the brooder. Baby chicks need to keep warm so make sure you are continually monitoring the temperature. If the brooder is large enough, the chicks are allowed to move away from the heat source if they are too hot and get closer, or huddle together, if they are too cold. This is your biggest clue for adjusting the heat.

You can learn more about caring for your baby chicks by going to Main Street Chickens.