Basic Chicken Brooder Design


basic chicken brooderThe second stage in raising chickens is putting the newly hatched chicks into a brooder house.  Chicken brooders range from a simple cardboard box with a light bulb to an elaborate metal bin with propane for heating.

The basic design is meant to give the chicks comfort, space and sanitation. One of the biggest concerns is the temperature. To address this matter, all brooders should have infrared heat lamps, floodlights or ordinary light bulbs to keep the chicks warm. This feature largely depends on how big the brooder is and how cold it is in your area. Using two lamps is good to ensure that there is always a heat source in the brooder in case one burns out.

Also, make sure that the light source is placed high enough so that the chicks can’t touch the bulb. Wrapping all the plugs with electrical tape and making sure that you use an outdoor type extension cord is best. After all, we don’t want our chicks to get an electrical shock in case these electrical Chicken Brooder Plansfixtures are exposed to water. The placement of the bulbs should be done in such a way that you can reduce the temperature by simply raising them. Switching to a lower wattage and using an inline dimmer can also be done.

Measurement of the brooder depends on how many chicks you intend to house there. For example, you would need approximately a 2ft by 2ft floor area for ten chicks. Most brooders are square or rectangular boxes. It encloses the chicks and provides them protection against possible predators.

All brooders should also have apertures that can be easily opened and closed. Accessing the food and water effortlessly is an important feature. It is also helpful if one is able to reach in easily to get the chicks. This is quite important if they are raised as pets. Children will be able to get their chicks simply.

The flooring of your brooder should be made of a surface that the chicks can get hold of with their feet. Newspapers are not advisable since it could be too smooth for the chicks to walk on. Wood shavings are also not good for the first few weeks since it could be mistaken for food and eaten. A four or five-layer stack of paper towels as flooring is ideal. One should keep the needs of the chicks in mind when choosing a chicken brooder design.