Growing a bird is a troublesome business. But, despite this, in almost every courtyard of private households and even in small summer cottages you can find not only well-groomed hens and males, but also other animals. There are several ways to breed birds. One of them is breeding it in brooders. In this method, a daily bird is acquired for growing immediately after incubation. You can also buy two or three month old young animals. Before purchasing chickens, you need to think about where they will be kept. The question is how to make a broiler for chickens.
There is the possibility of acquiring special devices for keeping young animals. But very often, practical owners equip the premises on their own. A home-made broiler for chickens should provide all the necessary conditions for keeping the bird. Daily chickens are very vulnerable and require special care. After purchase, they are kept in containers or drawers equipped for this purpose.
Lighting and temperature in a chicken brooder
Successful poultry rearing is due to the proper care, feeding and compliance with the optimal temperature and light conditions. Non-compliance with the conditions of young animals will lead to his death. The temperature in the first week of life of chickens is twenty-seven degrees Celsius. In the second, it can be reduced to twenty-five degrees Celsius. Lighting should be around the clock. Over time, the illumination is reduced. Thus, making a brooder with your own hands, for the chickens you need to provide the above conditions.
Providing comfortable conditions for young animals
Before you build a comfortable place for the chicks, you should decide on the amount that will be placed in it. Permissible density standards for young animals are 25 pieces per square meter. Drawings of the broiler for chickens will be determined by this parameter. For a small number of chicks, an ordinary box will be enough.
Very often for these purposes use a cardboard or plastic box. However, it will be difficult to comply with the necessary cultivation parameters. A design made of more durable materials will be suitable.
We make a brooder with our own hands for chickens. Sizes and materials
The design of the boxes for growing chicks may be different. The easiest option is an adapted cardboard box or a plastic container of sufficient size. Knowing the number of alleged young birds, determine the size of the box in which they will be raised. First of all, it should provide the necessary conditions of detention, as well as be convenient for maintenance.
More practical and convenient will be boxes of certain sizes and designs. For their manufacture, you can use moisture resistant plywood. From this material, an excellent body is obtained, providing structural rigidity. The top of the box is covered with a removable mesh cover.
The dimensions of the broiler for chickens will be:
- length - 1 meter;
- height and width - 0.5 meters;
- internal height - 0.45 meters.
Assembly assembly
Making a brooder with your own hands for chickens, use a wide variety of options. First of all, the design itself may have small modifications. These can be drawers with hinged doors located on top or in the side. Use transparent plastic for windows or mesh partitions. The master can make these improvements at his discretion. At the same time, the basic principles remain: reliable heating and ventilation, the absence of drafts, lighting and protection from predators. After acquiring the material of the right size, which will correspond to the number of chickens, they begin to manufacture the structure. Make a case of appropriate size.
The side walls must be firmly fixed and have a rigid structure, which subsequently allows the installation of lighting fixtures on it. The bottom of the box is made of the same material as the side walls. It is also securely fixed. This ensures the movement of the box. In sunny weather, ultraviolet baths are useful for chickens. With reliable fastening, the boxes can be freely moved.
For convenience, the upper part of the drawer is equipped with a hinged mesh cover. It will not impede the access of air and will become a reliable protection against predators. This design is convenient when caring for chicks. Daily bedding and bird feeding provide for constant access to the crate. Before placing the equipment, the inside of the box must be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The bottom of the box is covered with clean paper, which is changed as they become dirty.
Thermal conditions and lighting
Making a brooder with their own hands, the necessary heating and lighting are organized for chickens. If ordinary cardboard boxes or plastic containers are used, heating and lighting are provided by ordinary table lamps. Brooders of a more complex design are equipped with infrared lighting devices. They do an excellent job of heating and lighting the entire brooder.
You can also use heating warmers placed at the bottom of the box. In this case, ordinary incandescent lamps are used for lighting, which are mounted in the upper part of the box. Adequate thermal conditions and lighting provide the chicks with comfortable conditions. Young growth freely moves on a brooder. The temperature inside the box can be controlled by a mounted thermometer. Igo is mounted on the side wall.
Feeding troughs and drinking bowls for chicks
In addition to heat and light, chickens need feeding. A self-made brooder for chickens is equipped with a convenient feeding trough and a drinking bowl.
This simple inventory is easy to make. Do not use glass feeders. It is better to make small but roomy wooden ones. The design of the drinking bowl should prevent the chicks from getting wet. It can be made from a deep saucer and a liter jar with a plastic lid with holes. It is filled with boiled water. Cover with a lid. Next, turning over, set in a saucer. Chickens will have constant access to water.
Feeding chicks
The first diet for chicks consists of a weak glucose solution and a finely chopped steep egg. In subsequent feedings add greens, vegetables, millet and low-fat cottage cheese. It is necessary to ensure that there is always fresh water in the drinker. The feeders are well lit. Dry feed provides constant illumination. When using wet mixes as food, the light duration is reduced to seventeen hours. Vitamins A, B, E will be useful in the diet. They are added to the feed at the rate of 1 drop per 1 chicken. Fish oil also contributes to good growth.