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

2 Comments

phoenix_schmidt3d 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.

the_hannah2d 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.