Loading…
9
Just realized a lot of folks are underestimating how much space their chicks will need in a month.
I started with a 2x4 brooder for six chicks last spring, but they outgrew it in under three weeks and started picking at each other. Has anyone else had to do a mid-brooder upgrade, and what size did you switch to?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
phoenix_schmidt5mo ago
That 2x4 brooder is a classic rookie move, we've all been there. The picking is a sure sign they're cramped. Honestly, you'll want to plan for the end size from the start. I switched to a whole sectioned-off part of the garage, maybe 8x8, with cardboard walls. They need way more floor space than you'd guess for just six birds, especially as those wing feathers come in.
7
the_hannah5mo ago
Phoenix_schmidt is making it sound like you need a whole barn. Six chicks in a 2x4 for a few weeks is pretty normal. They grow fast, sure, but a mid-upgrade is just part of the deal. I just added a second cardboard box taped to the first one when mine got restless. The picking stops once they have a little more room to walk around. You don't need to build a palace in your garage right away.
1