A home brooder is the least expensive way to take care of a few chicks.
To build a home brooder:
- Take a cardboard box and cut off the top so that it has four sides and a bottom
- Line the box with chick litter, or even paper towels
- Put a chick feeder inside the box and fill with chick starter
- Put a chick waterer inside the box and fill with water
- Cover half of the box with a piece of cardboard to limit draft while allowing air circulation
- Hang a light bulb with a reflector in the middle of the box
- Ensure light bulb in far enough away from cardboard and litter so it does not start a fire
- Adjust the height of the light bulb to reach desired temperature
- Add a thermometer around ground level to monitor temperature
- Begin your brooder at 90-95° F for week 1
- Reduce the temperature by 5° F each week by raising the light
- Refresh the litter every other day and ensure it is always dry
- Refresh water daily, clean and sanitize waterer every few days
- Refresh food supply as it is depleted
- Throw your home brooder box away after 4-6 weeks when you introduce chicks into the flock
Here are a few items you may want to consider purchasing for your home brooder:
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