chick brooder build

I have had chickens for about 20 years now.  We usually don't have a rooster, so every 2 or 3 years I get I new batch of chicks. I got chicks last year, and thanks to a persistent raccoon I'm getting chicks this year too. I have been using a large tote in the house to start them out for many years. It a total pain. I'm short, so it's difficult to reach, and care for the chicks. They also fill the water with the bedding immediately. I'm always fighting to lid, and the heat lamp.
I decided I wanted something more functional. I built a brooder. I'm not a carpenter, and there are lots of mistakes. I also used a lot of repurposed wood. I bought 6 fence pickets, hinges, screws, and some paint. Everything else was pallet wood, or wood given to me from no longer needed stuff. It cost me about $70.00. 30.00 for the pickets, 18.00 for the paint, and 10.00 for the bottom tray, and around 10 to 12 for the hinges and screws. I already have the hardware to cloth.
I'm quite pleased with it. It cost more than I wanted to spend, and took a lot longer to build then I thought. I think it's going to be so much more functional.
I bought a dog crate tray, and built it around the tray. I made a door to easily remove the tray to clean. I made a door in the front because I'm short and have a difficult time tending the chicks. There's a small elevated section on one end for the food and water in hopes of keeping them from filling with the bedding. That end also has a door for quick and easy food and water maintenance. The top is removable with 2 screws. ( if I end up needing to remove the top more than I think, I will put hinges on it). The legs are a very basic frame, and not attached. There's hardware cloth under the tray. when it's warm I can take the brooder outside, remove the tray a the chicks can play safely in the grass.
I don't have the chicks yet, so we will see, but I think it's going to be a lot nicer for them, and a lot easier for me.

Hi Jen,
That looks great! I can tell you worked hard to alleviate issues with brooding the chicks. Could I ask how many you are planning to have in there at a time? My only question is if there was a large number of chicks, whether you have room for the feeder and waterer and chicks up on the balcony? If it got crowded, I'll bet you could figure out how to add a little shelf just outside the door so the chicks could access the food and water without the containers taking up space on the balcony.

The max I get is 12 at a time. I was actually thinking about that yesterday. I can extend the shelf if I need to. You have a good idea, I might have to think about that. I have already discovered a few flaws, I wish I had done differently. That's just the way it is. Live and learn.

That is a handsome setup. Far better than anything at TSC or Rural King.

Thanks, it has been so much easier to use than the large totes I used in the past. The funny thing is the biggest mistake is also the best feature. The raised feeding shelf is a total game changer. The feeder and water stay pretty clean. The old system I had to check the water as soon as I got home from work because it would be full of wood chips.  The down side is the hardware cloth under the feeding station.  What a mess!!!  My thought was it would be easier to clean, and no build up of food to end up in the water and it does work, I just need to add a small bin that slides under the area to catch the mess.  I was worried the feeding station was to small. I ended up with 9 chicks. I got them in a 3 week span( something I've never done before, but this year couldn't be helped)  It's just not a problem. They are all healthy well fed and hydrated.
Now that they are older I took out the ramp. They don't need it and it gives them more room.
Overall it needs some tweaking, but I'm super happy with it. It was totally worth the time and money, I only wish I would have built it years ago.