A 4 x 8 ft plywood brooder pen, 24 in tall, with two hinged hardware cloth lids and a bar for the heat lamp.
Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
50Chicks
96 x 48 inFloor
32 sq ftArea
24 inHeight
4 to 6 hrBuild time
$189.78Materials
Drawings All dimensions in inches
3D viewfinishedFront elevationRight elevationPlan viewfrom above
Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted
Qty
Stock
Length
Part
Cut
1
2x2
48
Lid 1 rail front
laid flat
1
2x2
48
Lid 1 rail back
laid flat
1
2x2
48
Lid 2 rail front
laid flat
1
2x2
48
Lid 2 rail back
laid flat
1
2x2
47
Divider rail
laid flat, holds the lids
2
2x2
45
Lid 1 end
laid flat
2
2x2
45
Lid 2 end
laid flat
4
2x2
24
Corner post
1
2x4
54
Lamp bar
on edge, over the lid, screwed to the lid rails
Cut list: sheet goods
Part
Stock
Size
Note
Front
1/2 ply
96 x 24
Back
1/2 ply
96 x 24
Left end
1/2 ply
47 x 24
Right end
1/2 ply
47 x 24
Lid 1 mesh 1
cloth
22 1/2 x 45
Lid 1 mesh 2
cloth
22 1/2 x 45
Lid 2 mesh 1
cloth
22 1/2 x 45
Lid 2 mesh 2
cloth
22 1/2 x 45
Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim
2x2 x 8 ft
Divider rail 47Corner post 1 24Corner post 2 24
2x2 x 8 ft
Lid 1 end 1 45Corner post 3 24Corner post 4 24
2x2 x 8 ft
Lid 1 rail front 48Lid 1 end 2 45
2x2 x 8 ft
Lid 1 rail back 48Lid 2 end 1 45
2x2 x 8 ft
Lid 2 rail front 48Lid 2 end 2 45
2x2 x 8 ft
Lid 2 rail back 48
2x4 x 8 ft
Lamp bar 54
Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out
Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ftSheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ftSheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Shopping list $189.78 checked / $0.00 estimated
Item
Store
Qty
Each
Line
Note
2x2x8 furring strip
Home Depot
6
$2.97
$17.82
see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPF
Home Depot
1
$4.15
$4.15
see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheet
Lowe's
3
$32.26
$96.78
see sheet cutting diagrams
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 2 ft x 25 ft, 19-ga
Home Depot
1
$30.40
$30.40
uses about 180 in of the roll
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)
Home Depot
2
$6.60
$13.20
lids
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 1 lb box
Home Depot
2
$11.47
$22.94
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lb
Southern States
1
$4.49
$4.49
Total before tax
$189.78
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.
Build steps
Cut the four plywood walls from the sheet layouts and the 2x2 corner posts.
Screw a post inside each corner and the walls to them every 6 in, with the long walls outside the ends.
Screw the divider rail across the middle, flat, 3/4 in below the top edge.
Build two 2x2 lid frames laid flat and staple hardware cloth over them. Hinge each lid at the back.
Screw the lamp bar across the front lid and hang the heat lamp from it, 18 in above the litter. Never hang it by the cord.
Spread 2 in of pine shavings. Set the feeder and waterer on the cool side, away from the lamp.
Before you start
Sized for 50 chicks at 0.5 sq ft each through week 2. Past week 3, move them out or add a pen: they need 1 sq ft each by week 4.
Start at 95°F under the lamp and drop 5°F a week. Watch the chicks: piled under the lamp means too cold, crowded at the walls means too hot.
Heat lamps start fires. Clamp it twice, keep it off the lid and use a ceramic bulb or a radiant plate if you can.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.