Do you want to hatch your own chickens, well than you need a brooder right? And when do you move baby chicks from incubator to brooder you ask? As soon as the newly hatched chicks' plume are totally dried, it could be a few hours up to 48 hours, but no longer than that. They need food and water and better air circulation.
It can be a lot of fun to hatch your own chickens and have control over the entire process, from selecting the eggs to watching them grow into healthy baby chicks in your new brooder. With the right brooder, it’s easy to do – and you can even raise different kinds of poultry.
We’ve done all the hard work for you and found the perfect brooder for anyone who wants to hatch their own chickens and watch them grow. This brooder is reliable, easy-to-use, and perfect for any homesteader or chicken enthusiast. So what are you waiting for? Get started today! So without further ado, below please find the 3 best brooders for a regular chicken keeper on a farm or a little homestead. Purchase chicken brooder now on our website!
How We Choose The 3 Best Chicks Brooders After Hatching Poultry Eggs
You've probably seen a lot of different chicken brooders on the market, but it's hard to know which one is the best for you and your farm.
It can be tough to make a decision when you don't know what you're looking for. Do you want a brooder all enclosed or one that's mom friendly see through? One with a lot of features? Or are you just looking for something basic?
After researching several on the market, we've found our favorite choice. This brooder is easy to use and has all the tools you need to hatch a healthy batch of fertilized eggs, weather chicken, duck, or Quail, and is made from wonderful materials, and has lots of great features.
Chick Brooder, Brooder Box for Chicks, Brooder Heater Warms up to 25 Chicks (23″x17″x14″)
HKDQ - $109.99 & FREE SHIPPING
Why we love it
Don’t know what to do when and where to place them from the incubator to a brooder after you hatched your precious baby chicks? Brooders are a great way to keep your chicks warm, safe and secure, while easy to clean and reach your babies. And, the most important aspect is in my opinion visibility! I want to be sure when I sit down with a cup of coffee in my hand I can watch and enjoy my little chickadees.
When you take the hatched chicks out of the egg incubator to the brooder, which is after the 21 days of incubation and maximum 48 hours after that, you need to chose a brooder and they come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find the perfect one for your new family members. Remember to name them soon, but not too early, because a female name can quickly turn into a cockerel’s name. Not only does a brooder make it easier for you to keep an eye on your baby chicks, but they also help to protect from your other pets in the house, except from our little budgie who loves to fly in with them and play with them while snatching their little morsels out of their mouths.
A brooder is a must have for your baby chicks, you could theoretically use a box, a large tub, a large metal animal waterer and buy a lamp, a heating mat, etc., but by the time you get all these things together, going from store to store, gas, time, stress, etc., it cost you more than just ordering one that is a professional brooder safe and constant right here today, believe me you won’t regret it. I have been through it and had one mess after another and learned my lesson.
What is interesting
When you moved your baby chicks from the egg incubator to the new brooder you will realize that 25 chicks are too many to put in a small brooder like this, max I would place for a 4 week period is 12. The adjustable light of the transparent board for you to observe chickens. Can be opened and closed at the top and side, convenient to take out the chicks. The brooder box uses odor-free materials, and has two holes for ventilation. More suitable for 1-45 days chicks/duckling or else. The temperature control switch, the sun lamp is used to add sunlight to the chicks, Pet Pee Pads can help keep the brooder clean.
The material of the brooder egg incubator is easy to clean and with knobs that can control light and temperature. The house structure makes insulation effect better, keeping the baby chicks warm and cozy beneath their feathers. The cute chick house heater, let your poultry has their own small houses. The package contains: a brooding box, 4 heating lamps, and 2 bulb bases. Not included (wood house, water feeder, etc.)
Chick Brooder, Brooder Box for Chicks, Brooder Heater Warms up to 25 Chicks (23″x17″x14″)
HDKQ
Brooder Box for Chicks, Heat up to 15 Chicks with Heat Lamp Set Brooder Box, Suitable for Chicken, Duck, Bird, Lizard Heating (19" X 12" X 12"）
Fanxier - $109.99 & Free Returns
Why we love it
I love this one, because you can see the most of your newly hatched chicks and easy access to them, however, multiple lamps might be too much for the baby chicks, I found that one heat source should be enough, because they often run around outside the heat and if there are multiple lights they might be suffering from too much heat and stress because they can’t get away from it. Under a real chicken mom, they can crawl out if it becomes too hot. My Frizzy just left her three remaining chicks alone after about 3 weeks’ time, and they are hanging around the porch now.
What is interesting
The brood box is made of high temperature resistant board, which has strong bearing capacity and no deformation, which is very suitable for newly born chicks/ducks/kittens/puppies.
Plus the brooding box is designed with strip-shaped ventilation holes on three sides, which can form air convection, not sultry in summer, and the top can be opened and closed to check the daily life of the newly hatched chicks at any time. You can adjust the size of the heat preservation lamp through the stepless knob to control the temperature of the brood box from 0 to 30 degrees. (It is recommended that you do not need to adjust the temperature to the highest level every day, and adjust it according to the state of the baby chicks). The brood box needs to be assembled and after receiving the brood box, if you have any questions, please contact us them by email, and they will solve it for you within 24 hours.
Brooder Box for Chicks, Heat up to 15 Chicks with Heat Lamp Set Brooder Box, Suitable for Chicken, Duck, Bird, Lizard Heating (19" X 12" X 12"）
Franxier
Products Small Full Featured Brooder/Intensive Care Unit for Warming Newly Hatched Exotic Chicks or Sick and Injured Birds
Brinsea - $679.99 free shipping
Why we love it
The Brinsea brooder is advanced for better brooding of exotic birds, recovery of sick, injured or orphaned birds or mammals. Altricial species of birds (including all Parrots and birds of prey) are blind and helpless when they hatch and it is some weeks before they are able to move around, control their body temperature and feed themselves. During this period the young birds need to be kept in a clean, temperature controlled environment. The BR in sea tlc-40 advance brooder fulfills all these functions very cost effectively and can also double as a hospital cage/intensive care unit or recovery incubator for sick or injured birds and mammals.
The Br in sea TLC intensive care units/recovery incubators are also the best place for weak and fragile baby Animals to heal, hide and grow – especially for tiny babies who aren’t old enough to retain their own heat. The incubators provide a warm, clean, quiet, safe and reliable Haven for orphaned baby Animals. Many young babies need extra help to survive in those early days and a safe, secure, controlled environment gives them the Best chance to recover and thrive.
What is interesting
The tlc-40 advance provides digital Control and read-out of temperature and humidity, includes temperature and power Failure alarms and can be further supplemented by Brinsea optional TLC advance humidity pump for full control of humidity. With hygiene a top priority for your animals, The tlc-40 advance has been carefully designed to make cleaning as easy as possible. The lower half of the cabinet and door are removable allowing them to be scrubbed and immersed. It is also easy to wipe clean The high gloss finish of the ABS plastic upper cabinet and the fan guard is simply detached to allow access to clean the fan. Even the heater is encased in a metal tube making cleaning easy.
The control circuit is housed away from the chamber for reliability. The Airflow in the tlc-40 advance and has been carefully optimized to ensure consistent distribution of heat, so that all animals are at the same temperature but with the fan maintaining gentle Airspeeds so that down and dust are not blown around. Like all br in sea the tlc-40 advance brooder/intensive care unit/recovery egg incubator comes with a full 3 year warranty. A bit pricey, but hey, if you can afford the best go for it!
Products Small Full Featured Brooder/Intensive Care Unit for Warming Newly Hatched Exotic Chicks or Sick and Injured Birds
Brinsea
Following is our Summary and Favorite For You, FAQs, Benefits & Concerns
Now that you learned when to move the newly hatched chicks from the egg incubator to a brooder all is left is to order you one right here today. It is not hard to say which is the best, it is of course the Brinsea, however it is way out of range for the average family chicken keeper also used for so much more, and the other two brooders are the same price, however, the HKDQ Chick Brooder is larger which I find better, but I also like the Franxier because of its better visibility of the chicks seems clearer. So all in all the HKDQ is my runner up, because of size and looks nothing more. It seems this is a choice you have to decide how many chicks you will hatch. They are too similar its just looks really.
FAQ’s
What are the most important factors for the brooder box?
I would say the temperature of course with the right humidity, than the air circulation and the heat factor. And to make sure the flooring is completely dry.
How much room do chicken brooders need?
People say about 7 square inches, but I disagree its more like 10-12 in my opinion so that they don't crowed each other and can get away from too much heat or fighting over food and water.
What are the problems during brooding?
Most people state that the newly hatched chicks don't need food and water the first 48 hours, but I always give mine food right away when most are hatched in a particular batch. Problems during brooding mainly come from their droppings that end up in the food and water, that is why it is of utmost importance to clean their coop every day the first two weeks, then every 3-4 days. At the very beginning I put a small piece of paper towel over every poop they dropped, but I am over that. It is fatal not keep their food and water clean! Do not get any dishes where they could walk in or get on top of. Plus keep their bedding completely dry.
How long do chickens stay in brooders?
Most let the newly hatched chicks in the brooder between 4-6 weeks, which would be perfect if you have a growing brooder, but after 2 weeks they can fly to the top of the brooder if no lid, and they grow so fast that the space runs really thin. So I suggest to either get a larger brooder or a second one to split them up. If you are in a warm area after 3-4 weeks you can keep them in a cage on the porch or balcony where they are safe from predators until they have reached the six weeks.
What are the requirements for successful brooding?
The right size of brooder for newly hatched chicks, a heating system either above or below the chicks, since the brooder will be most likely in the house the air circulation is fine, but if outside in hot temperatures they could use a ventilations system for sure, yet keep in mind that chicks grew by themselves for hundreds and thousands of years without our assistance so I wouldn't worry too much about it, unless you can afford it and you extra extra care. Also, assure that the bedding is kept completely dry.
What temperature should a brooder be?
About 95 degrees Fahrenheit for regular layer chicks while the meat chicks need only about 90 degrees because they create their own heat by growing faster.
How often do you change brooder bedding?
I use paper towels because I can simply grab it and throw it away every day for the first two weeks, then the newly hatched chicks get to rumbunctious and tear the paper by scratching. Than you can change for nesting pads, or shavings at least a couple of inches thick and change minimum every week. Be sure to keep the bedding completely dry at all times or mold will grow.
How tall should a brooder box be?
For the first two weeks 12 inches will be enough, but after that you need a mash lid or a taller container at least 24 inches because they fly really fast. Mostly the roosters first.
When should I remove my brooder heater?
Depends on where you live. I live in Florida so I let mine outside without the heater after 3-4 weeks, but everywhere else if the temperature is below 75 degrees Fahrenheit keep them around the heat.
Benefits:
- The newly hatched chicks are very comfortable feeling secure and warm in the brooder
- Nice to be able to see the chicks at all times
- Easy access to take them out every day for cuddling time
- Easy to clean
- You always know where the chicks are
Concerns:
- The chicks are not visible all around, that is why I suggest a clear container
- Some brooders have too many heat sources, no way to hide for the chicks if too hot for them
Note: I will share a DIY brooder on another article after this one
Another opportunity for you to order your favorite chick brooder below:
Thank you so very much for viewing our review and ordering your favorite chick brooder. We hope you will join us for all your other chicken needs in the future and appreciate you Supporting our Mission.
Looking forward seeing you again real soon.
Have a fantastic happy chicken day.
Your friend,
Liane
Liane S. Page
