DIY Brooder
Make this Brooder in less than 15 minutes!
For a visual demonstration watch this video.
What is a brooder? A brooder is simply a heated enclosure for baby poultry. Chicks need to be in brooders as soon as they are born if they do not have a hen to sit on them and keep them warm. Chicks must stay in a brooder and under a heat lamp until they get their feathers. Then they are ready for the coop.
Supplies-Most of the supplies are things you will already have in your garage or can find easily at Walmart or a local hardware store.
Tote- Storage Tote 30 gallons or larger. Our favorite is the Sterilite brand with the lids that lock on both sides.
Grid- This can be hardware cloth, cattle panel, garden fencing, anything rigid enough to hold the weight of a heat lamp.
Grinder, bolt cutters or sawzall
Paper towels or puppy pads
Poultry Heat Lamp
Paint pen or sharpie
Drill
Zip ties
Follow these steps to make your own brooder to keep your chicks safe, warm and clean. This DIY Brooder can be kept in your house, garage or barn.
Lay the grid on top and mark where you need to cut. Leave at least six inches around the perimeter.
Grind or cut the grid.
Cut a hole in the top of the lid. Some totes have a rectangle groove that you may cut along.
Drill holes around the perimeter of the lid and zip tie the grate to it.
Add puppy pads, food, water and a heat lamp.
Cleaning is simple. Remove puppy pad, wash out tote, replace and start again!
