Building a Home for 30 Baby Chicks - Easy DIY Brooder

The Stone Chicken coop is done and it's time to raise up a new generation of chickens here on the homestead. Over the years we have used many different designs for brooders and here is the latest. Joins us as we share some tips and tricks for raising baby chicks and show you how to build a simple, cheap, larger brooder.
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[@Linda-td8hj]

They are so cute baby chicks◇◇◇◇◇◇ them naughty male goats are a handful in the video before ❤♡♡♡❤ baby goats is so adorable

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

When I was a kid, my dad owned and operated a TV repair shop, and would do contract work for other TV repair shops in the county. When we would raise chicks, we would use the cabinet from either a wooden floor model TV console, or a wooden projection tv cabinet ( Usually an RCA ) that had been stripped of all components ( picture tubes, wires, switches, plastic, screws, etc ), staple wire over the top of the cabinet, and have heat bulbs suspended above the wires. The chicks would be running around on heavy brown paper ( not sure where my dad got that paper from ) on a concrete floor and some pine shavings. About ever three or four days, we would gather the chicks up, place them into a box, pick up the cabinet, gather up the paper and liter which would be taken to the garden for compost, and place fresh paper and liter and "reload" the chicks back into the cabinet. Once the years chicks were raised, the cabinet would either be placed along the wood line where it was allowed to rot, or sent through the wood chipper and turned into dust, or in extremely rare years burned. Eventually the chicks would outgrow the cabinet, they would be taken out to one of a few exercise pens ( folding and portable dog type exercise pen with shaded and vented tarp ) where they would be moved around every other day to fresh grass. The chicks had their own chicken coop where they would kept segregated until such time as they were old enough to be introduced with the rest of the flock. We had a custom carrier on wheels constructed from 3/8" plywood, 2x3s and a few bicycle wheels that allowed my family to move large numbers of our growing chicks twice every each day.

[@liveandlearnwithmike]

I sure would like to see the outcome of mixing the breeds

[@dmark6699]

Very good Looks like the little chicks have a garage home. Also bird flu reported.

[@monkeymangonewild]

I’m from Indiana. We have the same weather an I just did almost the same thing today. I used an old piece of OSB and cut it into 2’x4’ and cut a 3k’ 2x6 into 4 pieces. Made a 4x4 square and put it on a tarp. I read that you don’t want a draft.

[@salmonhunter7414]

Mary was an ISA Brown. Kinda nice to see you have that breed again.

[@SSLFamilyMom]

Yes! I want to name them all Mary!!! 😍

[@casid9929]

I like that you are giving simple care advice. They don't have to go buy everything but can make do with a few necessary items.

[@karenhernke281]

Just picked up 30 meat and 15 layers to add to the 15 we have. Love having that meat in the freezer for sure! Have a wonderful day. Greetings from Wisconsin. Karen 🙂

[@ImLisaMoore]

I'm preparing for 30 (plus a few) chicks also.

[@staceywing9875]

I agree with SSL Mom, I am sure they were a bit cold and the added wood was a GREAT idea!

[@annjelley5363]

Thank you for this video, very instructive!

[@richfabian6534]

Todd I always enjoy the videos you put out and maybe one day I can do the same as you. I hope your leg is healing well and my prayers are with your family

[@EngineersHomestead]

My best purchase for brooding chicks was a plastic dunnage tote from a silent auction at work. Essentially a large plastic pallet (not quite 4'x4') with collapsible side walls about 2' high. I think I paid like $10. Great to hose out and collapse for storage. Ive also found used wood shipping crates locally that work great as brooders or planter boxes. About half the size of my plastic dunnage tote.

[@neildriedger637]

GREAT video Todd!!!!!!

[@marciaolson4878]

Love the chicken tractor, very cool and easy!

[@tmackie1694]

Aloha, Todd. Ahhhh, just when you and SSL Family Mom thought you had your garage back from Lily and Winter, the chicks move in! 😆 Just an idea from my chicken operation, my favourite indoor brooder is to get a free giant cardboard produce box from the big box store (C*stco) (for example the ones they get watermelons shipped in), or one of the local furniture stores (such as a box a loveseat or armchair gets shipped in). Very sturdy, cosy, and keeps in ALL of the shavings mess. When you’re done with it, the cardboard box can be torn up and go in the compost pile with the shavings. Very economical (free!) compared to the cost of lumber, hardware cloth and a tarp. Oh, some of the boxes come with a cardboard lid which can be modified with some chicken wire or hardware cloth for light and ventilation … comes in clutch once the chicks are fledgling and (annoyingly!) keep flying up to perch on the edge of the brooder.

[@SSLFamilyMom]

Hahaha! I love it that you noticed that! As soon as we got the goats out, in come the chicks! 😂 That is such a great idea to get a giant produce box! They can’t fly out of that very easily!

[@bearpuoo]

That’s exactly what I did using watermelon box from grocery store. I kept it in my garage and covered it with chicken wire for protection and ventilation. Enjoyed it so much! I ordered 32 chicks; 30 hens and 2 roosters. My mama hen is sitting on 10 eggs which’s been 10 days. I will have my hands full soon.. 😅

[@curtisharlan9230]

Morning brother

[@jantrewitt4058]

Nice bigger place for your chicks! Hope they do well in their new home.

[@moiracaruk5923]

Just getting ready to get laying hens & meat birds loved this video will be building this forsure.

[@debrasfrugallife3703]

I'm looking into getting chicken to . I love chicken 🐓.

[@PatrioticHomesteader]

Clever idea for a brooder. And just in time as I need to get my babies out of the house as well. I don’t have a garage so I’m trying to figure out if I can make this work in the coop which currently does not have electricity. We’re a work in progress. Thanks for taking the time to make videos so we can all learn from your experience!

[@office1055]

The rule for heat that I was told is 95 the first week then reduce it by 5 degrees every week .So 60 would be ok if they are 7 weeks old.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Directly under that heat lamp it is probably 90, they will cuddle up also to stay warm since there are enough of them

[@hereholdthiswillya]

Yea, I just lost (4) 3 week old chicks this month. I felt awful, but that light burnt out on a really cold night. 🥺

[@shannonswyatt]

I suggest you get a pneumatic narrow crown stapler. Price of screws is so much, and for little things they hold great.

[@jerrysalgat3406]

I remember those fist ISA browns. I bought a few after that just to add a little different color to the flock, very nice birds. It seems like you are not as excited with this group of chickens as you were with those first ones.

[@jerrysalgat3406]

I also set up my brooder the same way.

[@SSLFamilyMom]

We loved our first ISA’s! They will always have a special place in our hearts! We are loving this new batch of chicks, especially because they’re ISA Browns, so they’re getting held a lot and spoiled! I want to name them all Mary 🤣🤣

[@aohmit1]

Hi! I’m new to your channel and I LOVE your videos! I’m new to raising chickens and we’ve had goats and just starting the breeding our female goat… this week actually 😂. Question: will you do a video on how you introduce your baby chicks with your adult flock? Thanks so much! God bless.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Yes I will do a video when I put them together, thanks for watching!!

[@margochmelik9562]

Love your channel! Saw a couple of your chicks have pasty butt. Dunno if you saw that or not. Good luck with your new chicks. 🙂

[@francis8255]

Hey man! Love your videos! I was wondering if you had any tips for protecting a garden from raccoons and the like from eating everything. We are just starting our own little garden and are looking for solutions!

[@joycemastaw910]

Cats

[@pamwolfe2903]

We are building a raised bed enclosed garden because we have raccoons, opossums, many squirrels, gopher turtles, birds, etc. It will be the only way to keep our plants safe.

[@PS-zx9km]

Looks like the brooder could be flipped and make a mobile chicken tractor for them to learn to scratch during the day

[@d.j.robinson9424]

This is awesome, are these new ones meat birds ? Last year we did Cornish cross and they did very well. But we're looking for dual purpose for breading, maybe the American bresst and another breed not sure yet for central Illinois'weather. Maybe some marans. And definitely 2 new roosters..👍👍💚🐔🐔🐔🐔

[@HallHomestead]

Is this where you were parking your tractor? Or this another garage?

[@SSLFamilyMom]

The tractor is in our other garage. Our cars sit outside 😂

[@lovenotes5299]

Chicken Math! LOL

[@grandn8646]

Are the plans still available for the suburban chicken coop?

[@SSLFamilyMom]

Yes! Available on SSLFamilyFarm.com for download, free of course! ☺️

[@LDhusky]

I built this coop, working out great. Highly recommend it!

[@william7268]

hi im new to chickens... want to build my first coop and run but was wondering as to the dimension should a coop be for 15-20 chickens 1 rooster included. any help is appreciated

[@PatEm10]

You need 2 square feet per bird of ground space in the run. And at least 6 inches of roosting bar length per bird inside the coop. So for 20 birds your run should be around of 40 sqft and you need about 10 feet of roosting bar length.

[@william7268]

@@PatEm10 it would be safe to say 4x8 coop is best bet. In case I get a little nuts with them?

[@PatEm10]

@@william7268 Well, of course you have to take in to account "chicken math"! Whatever number of chickens you start with, that number will always increase! Lol!

[@william7268]

@@PatEm10 yes I’m aiming for 15 to start.

[@heatherk8931]

@@william7268 do you mean 4x8 for sleeping? I've got 7 in a 4x8 and they always want O U T! loud and busy

[@triciasklodowske5653]

Looking good. God bless.

[@jessekk9721]

Will you process these chickens yourself or do you usually take them in?

[@debbiewelch4073]

❤️🐥🐔

[@ImLisaMoore]

What wattage on the bulb?

[@susanlee9532]

Where did you order he chicks from?

[@vaitheeswaranp3452]

what is the size

[@katelynsk9s354]

Do your 4 rosters fight with each other?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Because they’re still young and were hatched together, no, not yet. Because we have these thirty new chicks (all hens) we should be okay with the number of roosters we have. But we will see!!

[@johngorman50]

Won't the baby chicks eat the shavings and get sick? I heard of this happening.

[@donnaa2180]

I have bantams for the first time this year. Are there any special needs that you are aware of concerning their housing that I may need to modify?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I would treat them just like any other baby chick, food, water, and warmth and you should be good to go

[@robinnorman1170]

Do baby chicks need grit?

[@PatEm10]

Not really if you're only feeding them crumbles. They only need grit if they're having to break down food. The processed crumbles and pellets are already broken down.

[@rebeccamunoz4596]

🤗👍❤

[@sunshine3914]

Link to the bulb doesn’t work. Needing one, my roommate’s cooking his chicks with a heat lamp. Even melted the feeders.

[@SSLFamilyMom]

So sorry about that! It looks like that one is out of stock. Try this link and let us know if you still have trouble! amzn.to/3JHakXm

[@skrtskit1521]

💖🐱‍👤

[@99corncob]

I vote no on the music. It's irritating.

[@jimmyponds5504]

Just 50 chickens? How did you stop at 50? ha