I was planning to brood the chicks in a spare dog crate, but then I started building shelves for storage and my folks suggested that it would be easy to build in an isolation/brooder shelf. So I did! (The brooder table I made can be used for nesting boxes, so no wasted work.)

I covered the asphalt paper and OSB board with plastic cardboard to protect the surface from the chicks and vice versa. My eldest helped me make wood frames for the doors (she is learning to use power tools), and then I stapled chicken wire on the doors and the open end. We put metal rods (threaded was cheaper than non-threaded) inside to hang the water and feed containers.

I made wood latches to hold the doors closed (I used the band saw, band sander, drill press, and compound miter saw today, it must be a good day!), and used nails to hold them in place so they will still turn easily.

The brooder area is about at counter height, to make it easier to access and to not freak out the chicks by swooping down from above. There is still lots of storage space above and below (doors will come later, but before the chicks have free run of the coop.)

I used another piece of plastic cardboard to make a draft barrier. My eldest and I worked together to line the brooder with paper and rubber shelf liner, and we put Press and Seal on the top and plugged in the warmer to make sure it works.

I have chick starter, electrolytes and probiotic to add to the water, more paper, more shelf liner…there is still quite a bit to do before the chicks are older, but I think we are ready for chicks.

Now, will they come this week? I turned on informed delivery with USPS and there are no notifications. Hmm.