DIY Chicken TV Brooder

Brilliant name, simple design and inexpensive. Love it.
K0k0shka
K0k0shka
Thank you!
Nice way to provide an enriched environment for both chickens and children. Did you have trouble with them kicking bedding out onto the floor? Were you able to reuse the brooder or was it one and done disposable?
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K0k0shka
K0k0shka
Wow, I don't know why I'm only seeing this now! Sorry about that. Yes, they did kick some sand out onto the floor, but only because, for some reason, they preferred to dust-bathe right in front of the door. They only kicked sand out while dust-bathing in that particular spot, not when scratching generally.

I could have reused the brooder, if I'd bothered to save it. I'd lined the bottom with plastic, so the cardboard wasn't damaged. I didn't think I'd be hatching again anytime soon (ha!) so I threw the box out. The door was too nice to throw out, so I kept it, thinking I'd repurpose it somehow.

And here I am, a year later, hatching chicks again! I'm glad I didn't save the brooder though, because now I have an excuse to make an even bigger and better one! Which I did, out of a chest freezer box. It's huge and it's even more awesome! I'm putting together an article about it right now. This time I'll save the brooder though. I'm addicted to chicks and can't imagine this being my last hatch...
I am getting chicks for the first time and wanted an inexpensive option. I’ve got a radiant heat panel that I plan to use, and I’ve already got the box! I’m getting 4 babies the first week of April. As a bonus, this design is disposable afterwards! I live in the city and can only have a limited number of hens, so brooding every year will not be happening. Thank you so much for the well written article with lots ofinformational and adorable photos!
I call this the Chickquarium!
Excellent idea for a chick brooder, if you don't mind a little dirt on the floor. The best way to raise friendly chickens that like to interact with you, love to perch on your arm and lap without fear.
Very well written article with plenty of pictures, showing all the important details.
I always wanted to build something like this for ducklings, but they would outgrow this within less than two weeks and also make too much of a mess,
K0k0shka
K0k0shka
Thank you! Haha, I love that name - Chickquarium! Yep, there was some sand on the floor, but nothing too bad. The kids were eager to help, so I had them sweep that up. And yeah, the chicks outgrew the brooder after about 2 weeks. Mostly because more of them hatched than I anticipated when I was building the brooder. We kept them in there for an additional, third week, only because we loved having them in the house so much that we didn't want to let them go!
Simple, easy build. Great way to see into and interact with chicks!
K0k0shka
K0k0shka
Thank you!
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