Brooding the chicks is a critical step in the rearing of chickens. In Central Oregon we have the added challenge of huge temperature swings – 40/50 degrees difference between day and night. We started our chicken adventure with metal brooders. They work okay for layers; however, broilers out grow them well before they are able to survive out on the pasture. This left us thinking we should make a two stage brooding system – one week in the metal box and then out to deep-bedding brooders outside for the final 2 weeks. Then we came to the realization that this was silly and we should not turn a chick’s world upsidedown any more than necessary.
So we set a couple objectives: brood the chicks from day 1 to 21 in the same brooder; control temperature during the extreme swings, eliminate the crating step between brooder and pasture, and, finally and paramount, provide a healthier brood for the young chicks via deep-bedding. Our solution (at least, for now) is a 4’x8′ rolling brooder. We hope to start the chicks in the heated shop, then roll them outside to finish their time in a less controlled environment. Then we can hook up the brooder to the golf cart and roll them out to the pasture. With deep-bedding we can reuse the brooders for the next batch with beneficial bacteria already working away in the brooder- giving the next batch a better chance coming out of the gate. We just sprinkle pine shavings over the old and in with the new batch. Our heat source can move up as the depth of the bedding increases. Also with the 12″ pneumatic tires we hope to make it out to pasture in one piece.
Frame is built up from 5/8" sheet of plywood
We used 5/8″ plywood on the bottom to hold the wheels in place. The sides are 2′ OSB and the frame is just 2″x2″. The heater in connected to 2″x2″ across the top. In the photo the heat is in the highest position. The roofs are just corrugated sheet-metal and plastic. We feel better with the sheet metal over the heat source, but we need to let light in with the plastic panels. We have no other light source for the chicks- they will rise and shine with the sun. The temperature of the brooder is only important at chick level. This is why we drop a wireless temperature sensor to regulate the temperature. This was the big problem with the metal brooders- the controls are at the heat source. So once you set the desired temperature it would hold fine; however, ambient temperature would change so much that the system would yo-yo the chicks. Even in the heated shop the metal brooder couldn’t maintain a steady temperature. This style holds temperature much, much better.
We used 12" wheels so we can roll directly to the paster without having to crate the chicks
Home at last!
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