Brooder box vs stock tank

[xchelseareneex]

I was considering purchasing the 100 gallon galvanized stock tank from my local tractor supply for baby chicks. They’re the ones they use to sell baby chicks out of BUT my question is... how many will it hold as they get bigger before being coop ready (5-6 weeks) and will it be too short??

 

[Missbc]

Seems a bit expensive for a brooder, frankly. I mean, you could use cardboard boxes with the same effect. It’ll be just as hard to clean too.

You need a cover (screen, hardware cloth) pretty darn quickly because they start flapping around and using their water and food containers as perches.

I used a large dog crate with a dog pen. All covered. I put them out at 4 weeks. I bought the crate, figuring we will use it in a few years for a dog. The dog playpen was something I already had and have used for several years as a temporary pen.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I was considering purchasing the 100 gallon galvanized stock tank from my local tractor supply for baby chicks. They’re the ones they use to sell baby chicks out of BUT my question is... how many will it hold as they get bigger before being coop ready (5-6 weeks) and will it be too short??

I use one since I get chicks nearly every year. They are usually only a $70 investimant. It’s 1/2sqft per chick until 4 weeks then 1sqft per chick afterwards. I would be more generous than that and do 2sqft per chick at all times.

 

[aart]

It’s 1/2sqft per chick until 4 weeks then 1sqft per chick afterwards.

One of those minimal 'rules of thumb'.

I would be more generous than that and do 2sqft per chick at all times.

Logic and common sense.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

One of those minimal 'rules of thumb'.

Logic and common sense.

Yeah those minimums in books are ridiculous to me. Most books only recommend 2-3sqft per chicken when that won’t do at all.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would be more generous than that and do 2sqft per chick at all times.

I aimed for that as well and by 3 weeks or so the chicks decided that was still too tight for their liking.

To OP: Are you planning on brooding chicks regularly? I could see making an investment if you plan on using it repeatedly but not as a one time use thing. And yes it'll need to be covered, by the 6 week mark the chicks can easily fly up 2 to 3 feet, and they'll happily use things like the waterer as a launch point as well.