A brooder has two jobs: keep the chicks in and safe, and grow them fast and healthy. We build ours to do both — the same boxes we raise our own American Bresse chicks in, right here on Slaydenwood Road.
The frame is solid 2×2 lumber, wrapped in black hardware cloth — true 19-gauge × ½-inch, welded with dual-layer protection: galvanized, then coated in black protective PVC. It's the predator-resistant mesh that keeps out the things chicken wire can't, and the black coating earns its keep twice over: it practically disappears on camera, so photos and video of your chicks come out clear, and it's easier to clean than bare wire. The lid closes over the top, so curious cats, raccoons, and escape-artist chicks all stay where they belong, while air flows freely through every side.
And the part you'll thank us for: no cleaning it out every other day. Lay the included roll of paper end to end on the floor under the brooder and cover it with bedding. When the chicks need a freshen-up, just add more shavings on top and sprinkle with lime. When you want a fresh change, roll the whole liner up and throw it away — done.
- 2×2 lumber frame — sturdy, square, built to last seasons
- Dual layer protection — galvanized + PVC-coated black hardware cloth, true 19 ga × ½″ welded
- Closing lid — easy access for you, no way out for them
- Natural-light color bulbs included — wired and ready
- WiFi schedule adapter plug included — loaded with our special growth light schedule
- Roll-out paper liner included — skip the every-other-day cleanouts
- Add the Night Wrap and it doubles as an épinette for finishing capons
Each box is built fresh for you — allow 14 days for the build.
Order YoursPick your size
Same build, same materials — just more floor space.
4 ft Brooder Box
- 4 feet of brooder floor — a compact footprint
- Fits a garage, mudroom, or barn corner
- Natural-light bulb fixture included
- Great first brooder for a backyard hatch
8 ft Brooder Box
- 8 feet — double the floor space for bigger hatches
- Room to keep groups together longer as they grow
- Natural-light bulb fixtures included
- The size we run for our own monthly hatches
Why the lights matter
The bulbs aren't an afterthought — they're the growth secret.
Accessory: the Night Wrap
The off part of the schedule matters as much as the on part — dark cycles must be pitch dark.
For the light schedule to do its work, the dark cycles have to be truly dark — pitch dark. If your brooder room has light leaks (a window, a gap under the door, equipment LEDs), the Night Wrap blacks out the box itself, so the schedule stays perfect no matter what the room is doing.
It's a two-part blackout cover: one piece over the top and a wrap-around for the sides. Your chicks still breathe easy — air keeps moving through the air-flow pockets built in, while the light stays out.
- Blacks out the box for pitch-dark sleep cycles
- Two pieces — top cover + side wrap-around
- Air-flow pockets built in — blocks light, not ventilation
- Box + wrap = a ready-made épinette for finishing capons
- Made for rooms with light leaks you can't fix
- Sized for the 4 ft and 8 ft brooder boxes
Sewn fresh for your order — allow 14 days for the build.
Order YoursMade to order — available now
Every brooder box is built fresh for your order, right here on Slaydenwood Road. Allow 14 days for the build.
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