How to make brooders for raising chickens step by step, drawing with dimensions

Small chicks adapt worse than adult birds to changes in environmental conditions. Temperature fluctuations, increased air humidity, lack of lighting and other negative influences create stressful situations and increase the risk of illness. A self-made brooder for chickens helps to solve problems.

Types of brooders and their main characteristics

The brooder is a device for raising and heating chicks in the first weeks of their life. Placing broilers in a brooder is not a prerequisite, but it greatly simplifies the maintenance process and allows you to raise healthy chickens with high productivity.

Structures can be divided into 2 types: portable and stationary. The use of the first option is common in private backyards, where a small number of chickens are raised. Stationary structures are often installed in industrial poultry farms, where the volume of raised poultry is much higher.

Requirements for brooders

The design for keeping chickens must meet a number of requirements. In particular, these include:

1. Strength. The floor inside must be strong and withstand the stress of bedding, equipment and chickens. The roof must be securely fixed so that it does not fall from wind or other impact.
2. Favorable microclimate. Fresh air and a comfortable temperature should be kept inside. It is also important to exclude blow-through and loud equipment operation.
3. Stocking density. Depending on the free space, you need to calculate how many chicks should be placed on one square so that the chicks do not interfere with each other.
4. Equipment. Inside the house, you will need to supply various equipment for heating, dispensing food and other assistance, so sufficient space should be provided.

Justification of sizes

A brooder 1 m long, 35 cm deep and 45 cm high is considered universal in size. This design is designed for approximately 30 chicks. If there is a need to breed 50 chickens or more, you can build a house up to 70 cm deep and 1.5-2 m long. For the convenience of cleaning and maintenance, it is recommended to put structures at a height of 80-110 cm from the floor. As a rule, the largest structures are designed for a maximum of 100 chicks.

Materials

To independently make a brooder for keeping chicks, you need to prepare a set of building materials. To erect a structure you will need:

1. Oriented strand board 9 mm thick. The material is subject to processing with a primer and oil enamels, it is easy to saw with an electric jigsaw and a circular saw.
2. Polycarbonate leaves for cladding the house. Hollow panels have internal stiffening ribs and are coated with a protective UV layer.
3. Penoplex for thermal insulation of the structure, which is especially important when located outdoors.
4. Plywood 6-8 mm thick, usually in the form of sheets. If necessary, the smooth surface can be coated with waterproof paint or clear varnish.
5. MDF boards in the form of panels with a thickness of 8-10 mm. The dense material is suitable for outdoor use when primed.

Take a look also

The device of homemade incubators with automatic egg turning and how to do it yourself

Blueprints

Before proceeding with the direct manufacture of the structure, you need to prepare detailed drawings. The diagram indicates the dimensions and name of the building materials used, the exact dimensions of the finished structure, the height of placement, the presence of additional elements. In addition to the drawings, a cutting plan is formed, and then, on special equipment, blanks are made for the main parts of the brooder. Drawings must be drawn up regardless of which chicks will be raised in the house - daily or weekly.

Selection criteria for the finished structure

Specialized livestock shops offer a wide variety of pre-built buildings. Thinking about purchasing a design, you need to consider several criteria. Including:

Estimate the dimensions of the structure. Depending on the number of chicks, a brooder of the appropriate size must be selected. It is especially important to provide room for fast growing broilers.

1. Inspect and check the condition of the floor. The coating should not be slippery to avoid injury to chick paws. The best option is a plastic mesh with compartments.
2. The presence of a second bottom. A special pull-out tray at the bottom of the structure is required to collect waste and excrement.
3. The presence of feeders and drinkers. Chicks should always have access to water and feed, so if there are no feeders, they will need to be installed separately.
4. Condition of ventilation and heating appliances. All internal equipment must be in good condition. Modern types of brooders are equipped with air conditioners and automatic heaters.

How to make a do-it-yourself brooder

There are many ways you can make your own brooder. If you want to build a structure, you need to prepare materials, tools, draw up drawings and act according to one of the proven methods. The main requirement is that favorable conditions for breeding chickens are created inside the finished building. The use of boxes, containers and boxes for keeping young stock is not recommended as it is difficult to create a suitable environment in them.

Take a look also

Optimal temperature values ​​for raising day-old chicks

Preparation of materials and tools

To carry out the work, you will need to prepare a standard set of tools and materials. Depending on the chosen method of constructing the brooder, the need for some tools may disappear. It is recommended to prepare the following accessories:

• circular saw or jigsaw;
• roulette;
• a hammer;
• screwdriver;
• pliers;
• nails, screws, screws;
• felt-tip pen for marking.

Construction stages

During the manufacture of a brooder, it is enough to follow the step-by-step instructions. A common construction option involves the following actions:

1. First of all, a frame is constructed from a bar. The easiest way is to make a base for the upper and lower areas, and then connect the elements using perpendicular beams.
2. The jumpers made of timber are attached to the jumpers located on the lower and upper parts of the frame.
3. Blanks for walls and floors are cut from a plywood sheet. Details are attached to the frame using screws and nails. The front wall is covered with a net.
4. Legs are harvested and fasteners are fixed to the frame.
5. The upper doors are made of plywood. To do this, cut out a segment suitable in size and fasten it with loops on the frame. The design can open like a chest, or have 2 doors.
6. Inside the structure, a grid divided into cells is laid, lighting and heating devices are installed.

Lighting and temperature control

In the first days of chickens' life, the ambient temperature should be maintained at 30-32 degrees, then gradually lowering to 20-22 degrees. Heating and lighting inside the brooder can be done with infrared lamps. Lamps emit light and dissipate heat. The disadvantage is drying the air, so you will need to put a cloth soaked in water inside and keep the humidity within 55-70%.

You can also use standard 15-50 W incandescent lamps for heating. A brooder with such heaters is easier to regulate even without installing a special thermostat. The heating level and light intensity are controlled by reducing or increasing the supply voltage.

Arrangement of a brooder

In addition to heating equipment, additional elements must be installed in the bird brooder. Even the simplest design should be equipped with ventilation to circulate fresh air and eliminate unpleasant odors. Also an integral part of the device are feeders and drinkers, which are recommended to be equipped with LED lighting that functions in the dark. Deep containers should not be used as drinkers, as chicks may drown in them. The best option is nipple drinkers with a built-in drip catcher.