Brooder for broilers with ventilation. Options for making your own brooders for chickens with drawings. What materials and tools are needed to build a brooder?

Poultry are very sensitive and vulnerable to changes in temperature, low light and high humidity. The first weeks of their life should be spent warm and comfortable conditions. Otherwise, there is a risk of hypothermia, illness and death.

To maintain the life of chicks, experienced poultry farmers use brooders. Having the drawings and dimensions, their production will only take a few evenings. What is a brooder and how to make it depending on the type of birds being bred?

A brooder is a place or room designated for the life of chicks. It should have accessible space for feeding, drinking and heating the chicks.

Primary requirements:

dry, non-slippery floor;
good ventilation and absence of drafts;
reliable coating that protects against precipitation;
presence of a heating system. A heater is installed and;
sufficient lighting. To allow ultraviolet radiation to pass through, some walls are made of mesh, and at night they are covered with fabric to reduce heat loss;
the presence of a separate removable tray or container under the floor for excrement;
The design should be easy to disinfect and clean.

Necessary materials

To make a reliable brooder with your own hands, you need to use high-quality, wear-resistant materials. It is desirable that they withstand exposure to humidity, light and heat. You can use the following materials:

plywood or OSB sheet - for the base of the structure and its walls;
wooden blocks and slats - for frames, doors and other elements;
galvanized mesh with 10×10 mm cells – for protection from other animals;
slate sheet - for protection from precipitation;
hinges - for doors;
sheet of tin, pallet, oilcloth or plastic panel, mesh - for excrement.
The mesh is taken depending on the age of the chicks. The smaller they are, the smaller size grid cells;

screws or nails;
incandescent lamp from 25 to 60 W;
reflector;
lamp cable and plug;
thermometer;
heater;
thermostat - to regulate heating, as well as automatically turn off and turn on the incandescent lamp.

When designing a brooder, you must not forget that the chicks will stay there for up to 2-3 months. And per chick there should be at least 0.1 m2. Therefore, it is worth considering how long you plan to keep the chickens in the brooder. And from their number calculate the size of the structure.

Tools needed

To mount the structure with your own hands, you will need a certain set of tools:

Screwdriver or drill.
Hacksaw.
Screwdriver.
Roulette.
Metal scissors.
Hammer.

Tip: it is better to install the brooder on the south side of the house to reduce the impact of cold wind.

How to make a brooder for chickens

A brooder for raising chickens differs in design from that for other birds. The table below shows 4 characteristics of such brooders.

How to make a simple brooder:

Make an approximate design drawing, depending on the number of chickens.

Tip: try to use a ready-made structure, such as a drawer or bedside table. This will make your work easier and help avoid errors in calculations.

Mark the plywood according to size and cut out the side and back walls.
From the bars, cut 6 strips for the walls of the same length (stiffening ribs). They are fastened by retreating a few centimeters from the edge.
Do the same with bottom, observing all dimensions. Otherwise, the bottom and the bowel tray will not be able to slide out easily.
Drill a hole for the wiring, stretch the wires, attach the socket, lighting fixture and heater.

Optimal brooder sizes

Interesting: if there is not enough light from one lighting fixture, you can also install an infrared lamp.

All walls can be insulated with foam plastic to avoid drafts and retain heat inside.

Attention: if you simply cover the walls with foam plastic, the chickens will perceive it as food and peck at the white balls. Therefore, it is advisable to sew the foam plastic on top with cardboard.

Bring all parties together. If everything is done correctly, the grooves on the bottom wall will coincide with the side ones.
Cut out the front wall from plywood and attach hinges to the side for future doors.
Make a hole or window in the sheet from a strong mesh for observation of the chickens and ease of maintenance.
Cut a sheet of metal or plywood for the lid.
Make a pull-out tray from a material that does not get wet or rot. Secure the pallet with wooden blocks.

Advice: it is better to use sand with small pebbles as filler in the tray. Sand quickly absorbs moisture, and pebbles promote good digestion for chickens.

Set up dishes for food and water.
Warm up the brooder and let the chicks in.

Step-by-step making of a wall-mounted brooder with your own hands (personal experience)

According to the drawing, we assemble a timber frame and attach it to the wall

We lay a mesh on the floor

We sheathe the partitions, inside which we run cables to sub-units and cartridges

Cover the top with polycarbonate

We also make doors from timber and cover them with mesh. Putting it on hinges

The incandescence of the lamps is controlled by a special regulator, which can be purchased at any electrical store. You can set any brightness, thereby regulating both the lighting and the temperature inside.

Pull-out trays are located under the floor to remove droppings

The brooder is ready to receive chicks!

Quail brooder

To prevent the quail from getting sick, the brooder must be kept clean. You should not put cardboard on the bottom, as it is fire hazardous, fragile and does not withstand treatment with an antiseptic. For this case, plywood or boards from 20 to 30 mm are suitable. They must be treated with safe disinfectants. The removable litter screen needs to be cleaned regularly.

Tip: a mesh with cell sizes depending on the age of the chicks is placed on the bottom. For example, for quails up to 5 days - a 5x5 mm mesh, up to 2 weeks - a 10x10 mm mesh, up to a month - a 25x15 mm mesh. In the first days, you can put two layers of fine mesh so that the chicks’ legs do not fall through.

Brooder for ducklings

Do you use a brooder for poultry farming?

You can't go anywhere without himNo, not needed

Photo: DIY brooder options

It is a box or a fenced off part of the room. Conditions have been created inside that allow day-old chicks to replace their mother hen and help the chicks survive the stress of the first days of life. A brooder can be made with my own hands at home. In terms of its parameters, it will not be inferior to factory analogues. Poultry farmers share their experience and step-by-step instructions with photos and videos on how to implement this.

To ensure that chickens develop normally and do not get sick in the first days of life, the poultry industry came up with the idea of using a brooder - the first home for the little inhabitants of the chicken coop. Typically it consists of:

feeders;
lighting systems;
drinking bowls;
devices that will control the level of humidity and heating;
bedding;
ventilation.

Chick brooder

The chicks live in the brooder until they are one month old. As a basis for similar device on a quick fix A cardboard box or other similar containers will also do - this is the most cheap option. But behind the apparent savings lies impracticality. Therefore, if such containers are used, it is only for one generation of chickens:

boxes tear quickly;
they do not fully protect against drafts;
it is difficult to disinfect cardboard without losing its durability;
cleaning of droppings and debris is made difficult by the design.

A good reusable brooder meets the following requirements:

The floor covering always remains dry and non-slippery.
It is advisable to equip the structure with a tray for collecting and disposing of excrement.
There should be free flow inside the brooder. Fresh air. But drafts are contraindicated.
Increasing humidity is not advisable.
The heat source should not overheat the chicks. It is better to place it in a place inaccessible to birds.

Attention! If you follow the drawings exactly and step by step algorithm, then even a novice master will take 2-3 days to assemble the structure.

Do-it-yourself brooder: what material will be needed

For the base homemade device You need a durable, wear-resistant material that will retain its properties under the influence of moisture, heat and light. Fiberboard and chipboard - not the best the best option for this. Plywood good quality- exactly what is needed. You will need sheets 25 mm thick and a bar 30x30 mm.

The bottom of the brooder should be made of a fine-mesh grid. It does not have to be made of metal. Just check the strength of the mesh. The width is suitable for 10 mm cells. They are wide enough to allow droppings to fall through and are comfortable for the chicks. Take the gratings for future use. They will also come in handy on box doors.

All surfaces must be easy to clean

Excrement should not fall onto the floor of the room, but into a prepared tray. It is better to make it from plastic or metal - it will be easier to clean and wash. Of the most simple options pay attention to PVC ceiling or wall panels. Also, before work, prepare:

infrared lamps of any type;
thermostat;
two hinges for the door;
self-tapping screws;
lamp socket, wiring.

Assembling a home brooder: technology features

The dimensions of the future structure directly depend on the number of chicks. The norm is approximately 200x100x50 cm (length-width-height). Make a design drawing, taking into account the placement of all elements. On inside Before assembling the side and rear walls, it would be a good idea to make guide strips for free movement of the grille:

The slats will be located at the bottom and top. The length is 2 cm shorter than the length of the side wall itself.
Secure the lower strips at a suitable height, 1 cm away from the side cuts. These are the grooves for the tray.
The upper stripes are located 3 cm higher. These are the grooves for the grating.

Attention! Keep the distance between the brooder parts exactly. This is the key to the normal functioning of the moving elements of the box.

The next step is to attach plywood blocks to the sides. They will perform the function of stiffening ribs. The top edge of the element should be at the level of the cut side walls, the bottom should be 3 cm higher than the top rail. After you assemble the plywood sides, lattice and tray together, all the parts should form an even and stable structure.

Brooder assembly

The front opening must be covered with a plywood door. Cut out a suitable piece of material and attach it to the hinges. You need to make a window in the panel for a third of the area for ventilation. It can be located in the center or adjacent to the edge, be square or have rounded corners. Use a jigsaw for this. Cover the window with a plastic net and watch the brood.

Advice. You can install a latch on the door.

Next, assemble all the remaining parts: install the removable tray and grid floor, then the ceiling. Between the floor and the tray external walls there should be no gaps. They can be covered with wide strips that are attached to self-tapping screws. They will prevent drafts and the spread of unpleasant odors.

Brooder Electrical System Installation

The comfort of the chicks inside the brooder is ensured by a system of infrared lamps that illuminate and warm the brood:

Cut a hole in the ceiling of the structure.
Pass the cable through it. Secure the cartridge.
U outside the wiring should be secured.
Attach a plug and a dimmer to the opposite end of the wire.

Advice. Full-fledged brooder equipment requires the installation of thermometry.

Screw in the lamp. It is very important to choose the right power. The norm is 0.28 kW per 1 sq. m. Whether you made the right choice can be assessed by the behavior of the chicks:

Place the lamp at a safe distance for the chicks

low temperature - kids gather in groups;
too warm - a lot of droppings and difficulty breathing;
optimal heating - chickens eat and drink well.

Advice. A reflector attached to a lamp works effectively in a brooder. This allows you to create two thermal zones inside. The chickens will be able to choose for themselves: to bask under the mirror or cool off in another place.

In the first 3 days of the chicks’ life, it is important to create a climate for them with a humidity level of about 60-70%. During the same period, the light bulb in their home should not be turned off for 23 hours a day. The work is completed by securing the drinkers and feeders. Proper assembly of the brooder will help you repeatedly raise full-fledged bird offspring.

Do-it-yourself chicken brooder: video

Little chicks are extremely susceptible to change external environment. Temperature fluctuations, high air humidity, lack of lighting or drafts are serious stress and risk of disease for them. The solution to the problem will be a do-it-yourself brooder for chickens made according to the drawings.

The design is not at all complicated; with certain skills and the availability of simple materials, its construction will take no more than two evenings, but the young animals will henceforth have a comfortable house equipped with a heating and lighting system for growth in the first month of life.

Features of the design of a brooder for chickens

Beginning poultry farmers often use packaging boxes, crates, or other suitable containers that are at hand instead of a real brooder. These temporary solutions are easy and cheap, but cannot be used permanently:

due to natural wear and tear of the structure;
due to aging of the material;
due to the inability to carry out high-quality disinfection and cleaning between batches of young animals.

In addition, cardboard or other temporary brooders resist drafts less well, cool faster, and are more difficult to establish the required temperature and humidity conditions, provide high-quality lighting and a removable tray for collecting litter. It is also worth considering that chicks constantly need water when growing, as well as wet food at first.

Considering all the pros and cons, the poultry farmer should take care of building a chicken cage with his own hands, which has an enviable margin of safety and is equipped with:

adjustable heating system;
lighting;
feeders and drinkers according to the number of chicks in the brooder.

In addition, the structure should be easy to wash and clean, adequately withstanding both the residence of chickens and these mandatory procedures.

Materials for making a brooder for raising chickens with your own hands

Repeated use of the brooder suggests that for its manufacture you should take wear-resistant, durable materials, which are not afraid of either moisture or exposure to heat and light.

At home, preference can be given to plywood, a thin board up to 25 mm thick, and a 30 by 30 mm block for making a frame and other structural elements. The walls of the brooder can be made of fiberboard or chipboard, but their density and wear resistance are lower than that of high-quality plywood.

To prevent droppings and food residues from accumulating on the floor, its surface is made not solid, but lattice. The smaller the chicks, the smaller the cells of the mesh used should be. Most often, a mesh with 10 mm cells is used; the same material is useful for the manufacture of mesh parts of doors.

When droppings fall through the mesh, they must end up in a special tray. It is more convenient if it is not wooden, but metal or plastic, for which, for example, PVC wall or ceiling panels are used. In this case, the container is easier to clean, wash and maintain proper hygiene.

For heating, infrared incandescent lamps of various types are installed.

By providing a thermostat, you can react sensitively to changes in external conditions and adjust the temperature in the chick brooder.

Besides, home handyman You will need to stock up on self-tapping screws, a pair of piano hinges for fastening the doors, an electrical cable and a socket, as well as a plastic mesh for the doors.

Making a brooder for raising chickens with your own hands

Before you make a chicken cage with your own hands, it is important to calculate its dimensions, outline a diagram and prepare everything Consumables. The size of the brooder depends on the number of livestock being raised, as well as on how long they will be kept in such a comfortable cage.

For a do-it-yourself chicken brooder, the drawings should include such structural details as:

a box for chicks with doors for access to the inside of the brooder;
mesh bottom of the cage and a tray for collecting litter and other debris;
box lighting and air heating system.

The work begins with cutting a sheet of plywood according to the completed drawings.

On the sides and back wall cages made from strips of plywood or timber make kind of guides for the lattice removable bottom.

To do this, prepare 4 strips of equal length for the side panels and two strips for the end. The length of such parts should be two centimeters less than the length of the brooder walls. Fastening of the lower planks is carried out along the edge of the walls, departing from the side sections by 1 cm.

When the lower strips take their places, strictly above them, at a distance of 3 cm, another strip is attached in parallel. When building a brooder for raising chickens with your own hands, it is important to accurately maintain the distance between the parts of the improvised sled. Only in this case will the removable bottom and litter tray move without difficulty.

Then, pieces of timber are attached to the sides, which are designed to play the role of stiffeners. The size of the bars is calculated so that their upper edge is flush with the edge of the side walls, and the lower edge is 3 cm higher than the top bar.

Now you can put all three sides together. The correctness of the do-it-yourself manufacturing and the drawings of the brooder for chickens is indicated by the complete coincidence of the grooves in the lower part of the structure.

The front panel is cut out of plywood, the parts are assembled according to the drawings, and hinges are attached to the sides of the frame for subsequent hanging of the doors.

Blind parts for two doors are cut out of a sheet of plywood according to the dimensions of the frame and screwed into place.

When all the parts of a do-it-yourself brooder for raising chickens are ready, you can begin installing the structure, which is completed by attaching two ceilings cut from the same sheet of plywood.

The brooder frame is assembled, but the work is not complete. Now you need to make a removable mesh bottom and a tray for receiving litter slightly smaller in size than the plywood bottom of the device. This is necessary for the free but reliable movement of the trays.

The mesh is attached between plywood planks like a frame to make the structure durable and practical.

The litter tray is made similarly to the mesh bottom, only a light, hygienic plastic panel is used as the base.

A long, wide strip is attached to the front strip with self-tapping screws, covering the gap between the mesh and the plywood bottom. It prevents debris from spilling out and reduces the spread of poultry odor.

To make it more convenient for the poultry farmer to monitor the chickens and maintain the brooder, it is useful to make mesh windows on the front doors. To do this, use a jigsaw to select the central part of the plywood part.

A strong plastic mesh is attached to the resulting frame.

However, making a brooder for chickens with your own hands according to the drawings is not enough. For a comfortable stay for the chicks, they require a lighting and heating system connected to the electrical network.

The power and location of the lamps to maintain the temperature required for the chicks in the brooder is calculated depending on the size of the device, its location and the external conditions outside.

When ready for chicks to arrive, the box is equipped with feeders, drinkers, thermometers to control living conditions, and then warmed up. If you have to grow a large number of young animals, build multi-tiered cages for chickens.

A video on how to build a brooder for chickens using your own drawings will be a useful tool for a novice poultry farmer who has decided to independently raise healthy, strong young animals.

Chicken brooder video

Farmers, livestock breeders or summer residents who keep chickens often have to solve numerous problems. For example, a recently born chick needs a warm, bright atmosphere and regular feeding. In the natural environment, this is facilitated by chicken, and when kept at home, it is recommended to use a special room for birds - a brooder. It is very easy to build it yourself: at home or on a livestock farm. In this article we will take a closer look at how to make a brooder for chickens with your own hands.

Brooder for small birds - a special box or big box, in which chicks are kept (up to the first 60 days of life). The name of the design is derived from the English “brood”, which translates as “to bear”. Already from the name you can understand that this device is necessary to replace the mother for the chicks - it completely performs her job of warming the animals. Newly born chicks experience a lot of stress. Their incidence of illness increases, they get used to life without a hen, which is why it is necessary to make this period the most comfortable.

A properly constructed structure should include: a drinking bowl, a feeding bowl, equipment for maintaining the required humidity and temperature conditions, lighting devices, ventilation system and bedding for comfortable movement of birds. If you take into account all the operating rules of the device and the main requirements for its construction, you can make a brooder with your own efforts (using available materials).

It is necessary that the equipment has not only a comfortable temperature for small chicks, but also the correct planting density. Large chicken with good health, will grow only under ideal initial conditions.

Design Features

Every farmer who takes up keeping birds is faced with the need to equip a room for caring for them. But before purchasing or building this room, you need to know what characteristics it should have. The main design features include the following:

The floor is only dry and not slippery. If this condition is not met, the chickens may get sick;
If possible, make a special waste tray that will be located under the entire structure. It is necessary to remove excrement regularly, and it is undesirable to constantly disturb chickens, especially those who are not yet 50 days old;
The device must be equipped with good ventilation, but drafts are unacceptable (newborn chicks are very sensitive to cold). It is also necessary to maintain humidity, but not allow it to increase excessively;
The device responsible for heating should not overheat the animals. It is necessary to equip the heat source so that the chickens cannot reach it. A comfortable temperature for chicks in the first days of life is approximately 35 degrees, after some time it can be lowered to 30 degrees;
Each livestock breeder independently regulates the size of the brooder - specific indicators depend on the materials used. The average dimensions of the device are 1.5 by 1.5 meters.

Permissible density of chicks per one square meter– no more than 25 individuals. A standard “box” can accommodate an average of 50-80 one-day-old chicks.

Criteria for selecting a finished structure

A variety of livestock stores offer big choice finished buildings. If you purchase a design in a store, you can quickly solve the problem of placing chicks.

When choosing a ready-made brooder, adhere to the following behavior strategy:

Step 2. Carefully inspect the floor and touch it. Under no circumstances should it be slippery. It would be good if it was covered with a plastic mesh with compartments to prevent injury to the chicks' paws.

Step 3. Also, the structure should be equipped with a second bottom (pull-out tray) for collecting waste and excrement, check this too.

Step 4. See if the device is equipped with a drinking bowl and a good feeding bowl. This will make caring for the chicks easier.

Step 5. Check the ventilation and heating system - they should work well. Some new models are equipped with special air conditioners and heaters. If finances allow, you can purchase this option.

The most convenient system is a brooder with a high-quality plastic tray, several feeders, drinkers, and an adjustable lamp. You should give preference to a ceramic heater if you decide to purchase it in a store. Remember: good and high-quality buildings that will serve the owner for a long time are made from environmentally friendly materials tested by veterinary control.

Prices for a ready-made brooder for chickens

Making a brooder with your own hands

Many farmers and bird owners are interested in the question: what is better, making a brooder yourself or purchasing a ready-made model in a special store? If you are not bothered by additional financial expenses and want to purchase an aesthetically beautiful device, you can opt for the second option. The cost of the device in stores varies from 6,000 to 10,000 rubles. More expensive options are equipped with additional devices that will make the process of caring for chicks easier: feeders, drinkers and other items.

Whether it is worth spending money on a ready-made model, each poultry farmer decides for himself. If you want to save money, you can make a birdhouse with your own hands - it’s not difficult, and material costs are minimized or completely absent. If you decide to choose self-construction, you will need some tools and material that will serve as the basis for your future bird house.

There are a lot of construction methods. If you wish, you can develop a brooder model yourself, having all the necessary materials at hand. The main requirement is that future chickens be comfortable, warm and dry.

Preparation of tools and materials

The list of tools that you may need for the job is quite simple. All of them can be easily found on the farm - you don’t need to buy anything. You won’t need some tools at all during the work process; it all depends on the construction method you choose. So, you need to prepare the following devices in advance:

jigsaw or saw;
tape measure;
hammer;
nails, screws;
screwdriver;
pliers;
wire cutters;
felt-tip pen or pencil for notes.

Prices for popular models of jigsaws

Jigsaw

Usually the most difficult part of the job is choosing the material. You can build a room from absolutely any material. For example, if you are doing everything from the very beginning, blocks of wood, cardboard consisting of several layers or QSB boards are ideal. If you want, you can use old drawers, tables, bedside tables, durable boxes, containers and wooden barrels. Some poultry farmers even keep birds indoors, right on the floor, closing the passage with partitions.

Use carton boxes, containers and ordinary boxes are possible, but experienced poultry farmers do not recommend - they are very difficult to create the right conditions. Small chicks are especially susceptible to housing conditions (temperature, light, humidity, lack of drafts).

Step-by-step instructions for building a brooder: option one

Step 1. Take a sheet of plywood of regular size (1.5 by 1.5 meters). Check its thickness: 1 centimeter. On the one hand, with the help hand saw separate a piece measuring 50 by 150 centimeters.

Prices for sheet plywood

Plywood sheets

Step 2. From the piece that remains (100 by 150 centimeters), measure 3 identical parts and cut them (pieces of 100 by 50 centimeters). From these structures the top will be made, as well as the back side and the bottom of the pallet.

Step 3. Saw off side partitions measuring 50 by 50 centimeters from a piece of 50 by 150 centimeters. Fasten them together. If you want, build it from a lath special frame to simplify the design.

Step 4. Make a frame from slats. It is necessary that it be placed under the structure. Its approximate dimensions are 98 by 49 centimeters. A free sheet of plywood (100 by 50 centimeters) must be placed under its bottom. Adjust it to fit required size and nail it to the structure. This is a waste tray. Place an oilcloth on it.

Step 5. After installing the tray, attach slats to the side partitions to support the floor. Make a frame for it (its bottom is made of galvanized mesh).

Step 6. The next step is the construction of doors. Their dimensions are 45 by 31 centimeters each. Make doors from slats and sew them with plaster mesh. Make a frame from a batten for the front and hang the doors on it (using hinges). If you want to further secure the brooder, install latches.

Step 7 Make a hole at the top (on the ceiling) for the cable. Guide it and install the cartridge. On the opposite side, connect the dimmer and plug. Leave room in the back for a temperature meter (if needed).

Step 8 Screw on the lamp and place additional items: drinking bowls, feeders. It is recommended to equip the lamp with a reflector so that the kids cannot reach it, and they can move around the brooder, choosing a comfortable place. The device for keeping chicks is ready.

Step-by-step instructions for building a brooder: option two

Step 1. The first step is to make a frame from timber. Make a base for the top and bottom areas, then fasten all the elements together using perpendicular beams. Approximate dimensions: 1.5 meters in length and 0.5 in height and width.

Step 2. Jumpers, which are also made of timber, must be installed on the frames located below and above.

Step 3. Take plywood and cut two pieces out of it for future walls and floors. Attach them to the frame using nails and screws. The front wall must be covered with mesh; to do this, measure the dimensions and cut out a piece, attaching it to the frame.

Step 4. Make legs and attach them to the sides of the frame.

Step 5. Make the upper doors from plywood. To do this, cut out a piece of the required size and fasten it to the frame using loops. If desired, install additional protection - latches.

Step 6. Install the light bulb by attaching it to the side wall. Ready! Making the frame with your own hands is completed. If you want, you can paint the walls, but this is not at all necessary.

Lay several nets on the bottom of the structure. Check the first one for hardness, place a nylon mesh on it, which then needs to be removed (after 2-3 days). Touch it first - it should not fall apart or crumble.

Video - Master class on making a comfortable brooder

Making a brooder yourself is easy and interesting. The video shows how to properly build it to successfully keep chickens. An experienced breeder tells how to build a frame, install walls and doors on a room for chicks. He advises on equipment sizes and also gives useful tips on assembly.

A ready-made “box” for keeping chicks is not the whole structure. It is necessary to make a drinking bowl and feeder for the comfortable keeping of birds. Experienced livestock breeders recommend making a bunker-type feeder. If you give preference to this type, you will disturb the birds less - the food is added from the outside. At one time you can place required amount food and not worry that the chicks will remain hungry.

Step 1. Cut a hole in the front wall of the structure to place a feeder (its size is determined by the number of birds you keep).

Step 2. The feeders are fixed metal plates. When they are moved, the feeder can be easily removed and installed back.

As for drinkers and plates, it is best to avoid vacuum options. They carry infection, need constant cleaning, and unintelligent chickens can get inside and drown. Use nipple drinkers with special drip catchers (preventing dampness in the building) - they are the safest.

Lighting and temperature in the brooder

Chicks that have just been born need heating - their well-being and future life depend on the correct distribution of heat. You can warm the room using a simple incandescent light bulb, an infrared light bulb, or an infrared film carefully placed on the wall of the brooder. In the first three days, it is necessary to illuminate the birds 23 hours a day.

Instructions for self-construction of heating in a brooder.

Price for infrared lamps

Infrared lamp

The basic rule for raising chicks is a temperature regime that is convenient for them. For every square meter there is approximately 0.28 kW of heating. To assess the quality of the heating system, look at the activity of the chicks. If the temperature is set correctly, the chickens actively eat and drink; if the temperature is insufficient, they huddle together, trying to keep warm. If the temperature is too high, the chicks cannot breathe and die. On the first day, the relative humidity should be 60-70%.

Chick age (days)	Temperature under brooder	Room temperature
1-5	35-34	23-24
6-10	29-27	22-23
11-20	26-24	22-23
21-30	24-22	21-22
31-40	22-20	21-22
41-60	20-18	-
60 and more	18-16	-

Instead of doors, you can stretch plastic film, attaching it to the top crossbar and securing it with nails from below. As soon as the chicks grow up, replace the film with a mesh made of plastic or metal.

Video - Cost of making a brooder for chickens with your own hands

The video discusses the financial side of the issue: how much does it cost to build everything yourself? Is it better to buy ready-made equipment in a store, or is it more profitable to make it yourself? The master also gives general tips on manufacturing, gives an overview of the finished brooder and tells how much it costs short term You can build a room for chicks.

Comfortable raising of chickens is impossible without such a device as a brooder. This is modern equipment that helps to keep animals and care for them during the first period of their life. Buy the design or make it yourself, and your chicks will always be happy and healthy.

Raising young poultry is quite a troublesome task, because chickens need to be protected as much as possible from negative impact aggressive factors environment. Chicks require especially careful care immediately after hatching, so they are not kept in the same room as adults. As a rule, special brooders for chickens are used to keep young animals - special boxes equipped with everything necessary for the full development of young immature birds.

On modern market You can buy a ready-made design, but to save money you can make it yourself, because the design of such a box is not complicated. Naturally, to make and arrange a brooder for chickens yourself, you will need certain theoretical information, which you can find in this article.

Chick brooder

A brooder is a special structure, inside which stable temperature and humidity levels are maintained, necessary for raising young birds in the first days after birth (Figure 1).

Note: In fact, the structure is a kind of nursery for birds, because in the first few days after hatching, the chicks experience severe stress, need warmth and become more susceptible to various diseases.

To reduce the mortality rate of young animals, the brooder must be equipped with everything necessary:

Install a convenient drinking bowl and feeder so that the chickens have constant access to quality feed and drinking water.
Equipment must be installed inside the box to maintain constant temperature and humidity at optimal levels.
It is also necessary to equip the box with a ventilation system and install lighting devices, since the length of daylight directly affects the rate of development of the young.
Additionally, it is necessary to take care of the litter, and after the chickens move in, constantly monitor its quality and moisture level.

Figure 1. Design options for keeping young birds

It is important not only to properly arrange the box, but also to calculate the optimal size of such a structure. The fact is that the development of young animals largely depends on the density of chickens. If the chicks are too crowded, they will not be able to fully develop, so the size of the box must be calculated in strict accordance with the number of livestock.

Dimensions

The size of the structure depends not only on the number of individuals that will be contained in it, but also on the material from which it will be made. If you do not want to make such a box yourself, you can easily adapt an old bedside table or a large aquarium to suit the needs of the chickens (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Optimal size designs

On average, the size of a standard box is 100 cm in length, 50 in width and the same in height. In fact, this is the size of the old mezzanine, which was installed on Soviet-made cabinets. In such a box you can keep up to 50 chickens without any problems, regardless of whether they are a broiler breed or not. In addition, this design is considered roomy enough for keeping other types of poultry: ducklings, goslings, young quails and even turkeys.

Device and nuances

Quite often, novice poultry farmers do not use specially equipped structures, but old boxes or cardboard boxes. These designs have the right to life only if the farm has a small population, and the breeding of young animals is carried out no more than once a year.

Note: The fact is that cardboard boxes for chickens are a cheap, but temporary solution, because such containers wear out quickly, and it will not be possible to raise several batches of young animals in them at once due to the impossibility of high-quality disinfection of the internal space.

You should also take into account that cardboard boxes cool quickly, and maintain optimal temperature inside temperature regime extremely difficult.

Taking these features into account, when making a high-quality brooder, the following nuances should be taken into account:

The walls of the structure must be strong enough so that they do not collapse over time due to high humidity or frequent use. In addition, the indoor and outdoor areas should be easy to clean and disinfect, especially if you plan to raise multiple batches of young stock in succession.
There should be no drafts inside, and it is advisable to place a special tray at the bottom to collect droppings. It can be covered with bedding, which can be changed later if necessary.
You should also make sure that there is enough space inside the structure to install heating and lighting devices. As a rule, an ordinary light bulb acts as a heating device, but to prevent the chicks from accidentally getting burned, you need to make sure that they have enough space and can sit at some distance from the light bulb.

Figure 3. Interior arrangement

Also, feeders and drinking bowls must be installed inside (Figure 3). It is advisable that they be protected from above by partitions so that chickens cannot climb inside and contaminate the water and feed with bedding or feces.

How to make a brooder for chickens with your own hands

At first glance, it may seem that making a brooder with your own hands is very difficult, because for this you need to take into account many nuances. In fact, installing such a structure is not particularly difficult, especially if you have prepared in advance all the necessary drawings, materials and tools for installation.

To make things easier for you self-production, we will provide detailed step by step instructions for assembling such a structure.

Tools and materials

When the design and its drawing are prepared, you can begin preparation necessary materials and tools. First of all, you will need a sheet of plywood 150*150 cm and 1 cm thick. This thickness is considered optimal, since the chicks will not be able to destroy their “house”, and its walls will easily withstand frequent washing and disinfection (Figure 4).

In addition, the materials you will need:

Rail 50*15 mm;
4 hinges for arranging an opening lid;
Galvanized mesh with cells measuring 10*10 mm. In this case, the size of the mesh itself should be 1 * 0.5 m so that it occupies the entire bottom. Additionally, it is necessary to prepare a piece of plaster mesh for the doors;
To make a tray for collecting feces, you will need a sheet of tin, several plastic panels and oilcloth.
To fasten all elements together, prepare nails or self-tapping screws.
To install lighting inside the box, prepare a piece of cable, a dimmer, a light bulb socket and the light bulb itself. For heating and lighting such small space One infrared lamp with a power of 40 or 60 W will be sufficient.

Figure 4. Materials and tools required for manufacturing

To connect the lighting device, you will need a plug, and for high-quality heating of the entire internal space, you need to attach a layer of reflective material to one of the walls.

Among the tools you will need a pencil and tape measure, a hacksaw for cutting material, a hammer, a drill, a screwdriver and a screwdriver for connecting the parts together.

Build process

To make the DIY assembly process easier for you, we will provide step-by-step instructions for making such a structure (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Initial assembly stage

Preparation and assembly of parts of the brooder for chickens is carried out in the following sequence:

On one side of the plywood sheet you need to cut a piece measuring 50*150 cm, and cut the remaining part into three equal parts of 100*50 cm each. These three parts will act as the top, back wall and bottom.
From the first piece of plywood (50*150 cm), we saw off two equal parts (50*50 cm each). In the future they will become the side walls of the box.
We fasten the walls together. If at this stage you have any difficulties, you can first make the frame of the future structure from a wooden batten, and then attach the building elements to it.
Now you need to make a tray to collect feces. To do this, we take a wooden strip and make a frame out of it, measuring 98*49 cm. We use a sheet of plywood 100*50 cm as the bottom. The dimensions of the sheet must be adjusted to the area of the frame and secured. At the final stage, we cover the plywood with a layer of thick oilcloth.
We install the finished pallet inside the structure. At a short distance above it, on the side walls, we attach pieces of wooden slats on which the floor will be fixed.
To make a floor, you need to make a similar frame from a lath, but it should be covered not with plywood, but with galvanized mesh. When the chickens are moved inside, it is better to cover the net with newspaper for the first few days to prevent the chickens from freezing.
Now let's start making the doors. Their size is 45*31 cm. The door frame is also made from slats, but we cover it with a plaster mesh.
We make a wooden frame according to the size of the front wall, attach hinges to it and hang the door.

If necessary, the doors can be equipped with latches. At the final stage, you need to make a hole in the ceiling, insert a cable into it and attach a light bulb socket to it. On the opposite side we attach the plug and dimmer. It is also advisable to install a thermometer on the back wall, which will help monitor the temperature inside the room (Figure 6).

To finally set up a box for keeping chickens, just install feeders and drinkers inside, and screw a light bulb into the socket.

Figure 6. Final manufacturing steps

Using this algorithm of actions, you can quickly make several boxes at once and form a whole battery from them to support a large number of young animals.

Heating and temperature in the chick brooder

The main role in the successful raising of chickens and other young poultry is played by the temperature regime inside. On average, one square meter of area should account for about 0.28 kW of heating device power.

Determine how comfortable the chicks are inside such homemade box, you can by their behavior. If the birds are warm and comfortable, they will actively eat and drink, and will not accumulate in one of the corners of the box. If it is cold inside, the chicks will begin to gather in large groups and move closer to the light bulb.

An increase in the temperature inside is also accompanied by certain behavioral characteristics: the chicks begin to breathe heavily and try to stay at the far wall of the box, away from the heater.

It should be taken into account that the temperature regime depends on the type of birds being raised. For example, for chicken and quail chicks, in the first few days after hatching, the temperature must be maintained at +35 degrees, and after 3-5 days it is reduced to 30 degrees. It is also necessary to monitor the humidity level inside the house. During the first three days after birth, it should be at a level of 60-70%, so there should be enough space inside to install a container of water, which will help maintain an optimal level of humidity.

The auto video shows in detail all the stages of making a brooder.

Blueprints

The simplest version of a brooder can be made from a sheet of plywood, dimensions 150*150 cm. After taking all the measurements and cutting the material, you will have a reliable box standard size: 100 cm long, 50 wide and 50 high (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Drawings and photos of a standard brooder

This design is considered the most common and universal. The fact is that such a box can constantly contain up to 50 newborn chickens, ducklings or goslings. It is better to populate chicks of broiler breeds of chickens or turkeys in smaller numbers so that all individuals have enough space and there are no fights or crushes between the chicks. If you are raising quail, a box this size will accommodate many more chicks.

To make it easier for you to make a brooder with your own hands from plywood, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the detailed drawing of such a design in the figure.

Polycarbonate chicken brooder

Recently, homemade brooders made of polycarbonate have become especially popular. It is lightweight and durable transparent material, which is easy to work with. In addition, manufacturing does not require a lot of polycarbonate, so this design can be considered cost-effective (Figure 8).

Note: The only drawback of this material is that it practically does not allow air to pass through, so ensure optimal mode ventilation in the usual way will be difficult in a finished brooder. To do this, you will have to drill several holes through which fresh air will flow.

Despite some disadvantages, poultry farmers often use polycarbonate brooders due to their many advantages. One of the main advantages is that this material is very easy to wash and disinfect. Plus, it's strong and durable enough that you won't have to re-make your chick box.

You can make it for reusable use with your own hands. To do this, you will need wooden blocks to make the frame, 2 sheets of plywood or fiberboard 2 mm thick, which will act as walls, a mesh and tray for the floor, and a small sheet of polycarbonate. For internal equipment you will need to stock up in advance infrared lamp(for heating the chicks), a thermostat, a foil reflector and a lamp for artificial lighting.

A classic brooder one and a half meters long can be made as follows:

First you need to cut the timber into frame elements. You will need 6 pieces 142 cm long, the same number of pieces 44 cm long and 4 vertical posts 60 cm each.
We connect the bars with self-tapping screws so that we get a finished frame. It should be taken into account that there are two levels of the frame at the bottom. The first should be at floor level, and the second should be 15 cm above it. The resulting internal space will be enough to install a tray for collecting litter.
The mesh is attached to the second level of the horizontal level using self-tapping screws. It is advisable to stretch a wire under the mesh that will support the structure. If you don't have a whole piece of mesh of the size you need, you can build a mesh flooring from separate parts, but in this case it should be taken into account that under the place where the pieces join, you need to attach another piece of the block, which will prevent the floor from sagging.
We cut out the walls, ceiling and bottom from plywood, fiberboard or OSB, and attach the ceiling part to the frame using self-tapping screws. It is at this stage that ordinary plywood can be replaced with polycarbonate. This material is easy to cut and easy to install.

Figure 8. Finished polycarbonate structures

At the final stage, you need to make a door, sew it up with mesh, attach hinges to it and hang it on the structure itself. Then all that remains is to connect the heating and lighting devices, and you can move in the chickens. Despite the fact that the entire brooder can be lined with polycarbonate, experienced poultry farmers recommend using this material only for the bottom and front wall. This way, enough light will reach the chickens, it will be easier to clean and disinfect the interior space, but a sufficient amount of air will penetrate inside through the plywood walls.

How to choose the right one and where to buy a brooder

Not everyone has the time or desire to make a brooder with their own hands. In this case the best way out The solution to this situation would be to purchase a ready-made, industrially produced structure.

To choose a quality brooder, you need to consider several nuances:

The structure must be equipped with a heating device (lamp) with a temperature controller. With its help, you can adjust the temperature in the box depending on age and general condition chickens. Models with automatic temperature maintenance, but they are not necessary for home breeding of chickens.
It is better to choose a brooder with special ceramic heaters that maintain the temperature well, but do not irritate the chickens with bright light.
You should also pay attention to the capacity of the brooder. This indicator is especially important for those who intend to raise large livestock.
To make it more convenient to remove litter from the box, it is better to choose models with a mesh floor and a special tray for collecting waste products.

In addition, a high-quality brooder is immediately equipped with several feeders and drinkers, so all you have to do is place chickens in it for growing.