How to make a brooder for chicks
THE BROODER
A sheet of hardboard obtained from a local hardware store can be cut into 4 lengths (approx. 30 cm wide by 180 cm long).
Take 2 strips of hardboard, bend into a circle 
Join with two wooden pegs, (strips of wood approx. 25 cm by 3 - 4 cm with a groove cut(about 15 cm long) in centre, wide enough for 2 thickness' of hardboard) to make a circle about 90 cm in diameter.
Place newspapers on the floor under the circle and put at least 5 cm of dry white wood shavings on top of the newspaper.
Safely suspend an infra-red lamp above the circle (see table for height) to provide heat for the chicks. If you do not have an infra-red lamp make sure you are using an infra-red bulb and the box is clearly marked as such. (Some people have used an ordinary spotlight bulb thinking it to be an infra-red bulb. This resulted in the chicks being chilled and death.)
HEIGHTS FOR DIFFERENT BULBS
(measured from the top of the wood shavings to the base of the bulb)
If the chicks are too hot they will be around the sides of the brooder and may be panting - open the surrounds a bit to let them spread out, (this action may be required after 5 days as the chicks grow).
If they are cold they will be directly underneath the bulb and may be clambering on top of each other. If this happens lower the lamp by 1 cm and continue to observe their behaviour closely.
To be right the chicks should be settled well and sleeping peacefully without the chicks being directly under the heat.
Use a chick drinker purchased for the purpose. If a shallow dish or drinker on an egg tray partly sunk into the shavings to provide water for the chicks is to be used put pebbles in to stop the chicks paddling.
Again settle an egg tray well on top of the litter so that it is part sunk into the shavings for the meal (or use a proper feeder - recommended from Day 5).
The drinker / feeder can be purchased from most pet shops.
Raising the feeder and drinker by putting them on an egg tray stops the chicks contaminating them with shavings.
Brooder Safety
- MAKE SURE THE LAMP IS SUSPENDED BY CHAIN AND NOT BY STRING
- BE SURE THE LAMP CANNOT FALL ONTO THE LITTER AND START A FIRE.
- DO NOT SPLASH LIQUID ONTO THE BULB. WHERE POSSIBLE USE A "HARD GLASS BULB"
(this reduces to a minimum the possibility of shattering if accidentally splashed with liquids) - ALWAYS WASH HANDS AFTER WORKING WITH THE BROODER, LAMP AND CHICKS.