I absolutely love using broody hens to hatch chicks to grow my flock, but let me tell ya...

​I've been through one too many flimsy cardboard boxes and over-sized dog crates as make-shift brooder boxes.

​ I never had a durable option with everything I needed to make my broody hen feel completely safe and secure.

So finally I asked my engineering husband:
​
 Could we build a brooder box from just *one* piece of plywood?

After talking through all the necessities, spending some time designing on CAD, and a trip to Menards - we built the perfect DIY Brooder Box from one piece of plywood - and you can too!

The Brooder Box Perks:

  • With the bulk of the building materials coming from one piece of plywood, you save money and keep things simple.
  • You can build the brooder box in about 3 hours.
  • We've hatched out four clutches at this point and each have had an 80% hatch rate in the brooder box.
  • Everything your broody hen needs is in one place, keeping her from forgetting where her eggs are and spooking her off the nest. So much less of a headache!

The build plans come as a PDF and are downloadable, printable, and include all the information needed to get started:

  • ​Complete materials + tools lists
  • 17 pages of step-by-step instructions with detailed diagrams, drawings, and pictures
  • A bonus section with tips and tricks we implement to make the Brooder Box work to our benefit
​While most of the Brooder Box can be built solo, a second set of hands will definitely make a few steps much easier.

​The Brooder Box includes:

  • Nesting box with built-in box-in option
  • Dust bathing spot
  • Foraging/feeding area
  • Optional leg construction with 2x4s to save your low back from having to bend down!

​Brooder Box Specs:

  • Dimensions: ~3'L x 2'W x 2'H
  • Total materials cost: $85
  • Total build time: ~3 hours (unpainted)

​Download the Brooder Box Build Plans and get everything mama hen needs from just one piece of plywood!

Spread the Chicken Love!

With every purchase of a Brooder Box Build Plan, we donate $5 to The Chickens and Littles Program at Loveland Acres Farm.

​This farm program seeks out willing teachers and families that desire to hatch eggs so their students and children can experience the miracle of chicks firsthand. Participants are set up with an incubator, instructions, and eggs to start their own hatching experience. Upon hatch, the chicks are returned to Loveland Acres Farm to become part of next year's laying flock. This program nurtures and educates our next generation of chicken lovers!

Download the Brooder Box Build Plans and support Loveland Acres Farm!

Got questions? Don't hesitate to send me an email!

Want to learn more about how we care for our broody hens and use them to hatch chicks?