Brooder
I usually let a broody hen hatch and raise my chicks, but when I bought my Ameraucanas I had to use a had to use a brooder. I had a dog crate that I bought for my Labrador Retriever when he was a puppy to house train him. It was sitting in the attic not being used so I used it. I used some Plexiglas on the door because my cats were curious and wanted to stick their paws through the door. I used bricks to elevate the feeder and waterer to reduce the amount of debris kicked into them.
Rather than using a heat lamp, I used a piece of garden fencing to create an arch and draped a heating pad over top of it. I had to make sure the heating pad wasn’t the type that has a timer that turns it off. I put an old towel on top of the heating pad.
I moved them outside when they were about 6 weeks old and when it was warm enough. I used a coop that I bought from Tractor Supply.
