6 Best Plastic Brooder Tubs For Small Farms For First-Year Success

That first chirping box of day-old chicks is a milestone on any small farm, a moment filled with excitement and a little bit of anxiety. The decisions you make in their first few weeks directly impact their health and your future flock’s success. Getting the brooder right is non-negotiable, and choosing the right container is the foundation of that success.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Plastic Tubs Excel for Brooding Chicks

Cardboard boxes get soggy and fall apart, and wooden brooders are a nightmare to sanitize between batches. This is where plastic tubs shine. Their non-porous surfaces make cleaning with a simple vinegar solution or disinfectant incredibly effective, drastically reducing the risk of diseases like coccidiosis carrying over to your next group of birds.

The solid walls of a plastic tub are also a key advantage. They block drafts, which can be deadly to young chicks, and they do an excellent job of containing the inevitable storm of kicked-up pine shavings. Unlike wire cages, they provide a secure, enclosed environment that mimics the feeling of being under a mother hen, reducing stress on the new arrivals.

Most importantly, the rounded corners found in many stock tanks and totes prevent a dangerous behavior: piling. Frightened or cold chicks can crowd into a sharp corner, with the ones on the bottom suffocating. The gentle curve of a plastic tub wall eliminates this risk, making it an inherently safer design for your vulnerable flock.

Tuff Stuff 110-Gallon Stock Tank Brooder

When you need a brooder that’s practically indestructible and can handle a decent-sized flock, this is the gold standard. A 110-gallon tank provides ample space for 25 to 30 chicks to grow for several weeks without becoming overcrowded. This size allows you to create a proper temperature gradient, with a warm zone under the heat source and a cooler area for them to explore.

The real value of a Tuff Stuff tank is its long-term utility. After the chicks move to the coop, this tank doesn’t go into storage; it becomes a water trough for livestock, a massive planter for potatoes, or a tub for washing produce. It’s a one-time purchase that serves your farm for years.

The main tradeoff is its bulk. It’s heavy, awkward for one person to move, and requires a significant amount of dedicated space in your garage, barn, or mudroom. But if you have the room and plan on raising more than a handful of birds each year, the investment in durability and size pays for itself quickly.

Rubbermaid 50-Gallon Structural Foam Tank

This is the smaller, more manageable cousin to the 110-gallon giant. It’s built with the same rugged, foam-injected plastic, making it incredibly durable and resistant to cracking, even in cold weather. It’s the perfect size for a typical backyard order of 10 to 15 chicks.

The thick walls of the structural foam provide a small amount of insulation, helping to stabilize the internal temperature. Its smaller footprint means it can be tucked into a corner of a utility room or a small outbuilding, making it ideal for farms with limited indoor space. It’s also much easier to dump out, clean, and move around by yourself.

Like its larger counterpart, this tank has a life beyond brooding. It’s an excellent water source for goats or sheep, a feed storage bin, or a tool carrier. For the small farmer who values multi-purpose equipment but doesn’t need to raise 30 birds at once, this is a top-tier, versatile choice.

Sterilite 50-Gallon Stacker Tote Brooder

Sometimes, the best tool is the one you can get right now without breaking the bank. The common 50-gallon storage tote, found in any big-box store, is a perfectly functional brooder for a small batch of chicks (around 10-12). It’s lightweight, incredibly cheap, and easy to acquire.

The primary downside is durability. The plastic is thinner and can become brittle, especially if left in the sun or used in a cold barn. The straight sides and 90-degree corners are also less ideal than a stock tank’s rounded design, though for a small number of chicks, the risk of piling is lower.

Think of this as the entry-level option. It gets the job done for a first-timer who is testing the waters of raising poultry. If you decide raising chicks is for you, you’ll likely upgrade in a year or two, but this tote will have served its purpose without a significant upfront cost.

Behlen Country 100-Gallon Poly Stock Tank

This is another heavyweight contender in the large brooder category, very similar in function to the Tuff Stuff tank. Made from food-grade, UV-resistant polyethylene, it’s designed for outdoor agricultural use, which means it can certainly handle the rigors of an indoor brooder. Its smooth, rounded interior is safe for chicks and simple to scrub clean.

The Behlen tank is an excellent choice for raising 20 to 25 meat birds or a future laying flock. Its generous size ensures chicks have room to exercise, which is crucial for leg development, and prevents the bedding from becoming soiled too quickly. This means less frequent clean-outs for you.

Choosing between this and another large stock tank often comes down to local availability and price. Both are fantastic, long-term investments that will become indispensable pieces of farm equipment. Focus on the heavy-duty construction and rounded interior; either brand will serve you well.

Petmate Giant Kennel Plastic Replacement Pan

This is an unconventional but brilliant choice for the first one to two weeks of a chick’s life. These large, shallow pans offer unparalleled access and visibility. You can easily see every chick, spot any that are lethargic or "pasting up," and reach in without disturbing the entire group.

The low walls are both a pro and a con. They make it easy for you to manage the chicks, but the birds will be able to hop out much sooner than they would from a deep tub. This makes the kennel pan a specialized tool, perfect for brooding very small batches (under 10) or for use inside your home where constant observation is possible.

It’s also an excellent solution for quail or bantam chicks, which are much smaller and can be intimidated by a massive stock tank. Once the birds outgrow it in a couple of weeks, you’ll need to move them to a larger brooder. But for that critical initial period, the easy access it provides is a significant advantage.

HDX 55-Gallon Tough Storage Tote Brooder

Found at home improvement stores, the HDX tote is a significant step up from a standard Sterilite bin. It’s made from thicker, more pliable plastic designed to withstand job site abuse, making it far less likely to crack. This tote hits a sweet spot between affordability and durability.

Its 55-gallon capacity is a great fit for the hobby farmer raising 12 to 18 chicks. It provides enough space for their first few weeks while remaining manageable for one person to clean. While it has corners, they are often more rounded than a typical clear storage bin, slightly reducing the risk of piling.

This is the ideal middle-ground brooder. It costs a fraction of a stock tank but offers much better longevity than a basic storage tote. If you’re committed to raising chicks each year but don’t have the budget or need for a 100-gallon tank, the HDX tote is a smart, practical, and resilient choice.

Brooder Setup: Bedding and Heat Sources

The tub is just the container; what you put inside is what makes it a home. The right setup encourages healthy growth and minimizes problems. Your goal is to provide warmth, food, water, and clean, dry footing.

For bedding, large-flake pine shavings are the industry standard for a reason. They are absorbent, provide good insulation, and give chicks something to scratch at. Avoid cedar shavings, as their aromatic oils can cause respiratory issues, and avoid newspaper, which is slippery and can lead to leg problems.

When it comes to heat, your two main options are a heat lamp or a radiant heat plate.

• Heat Lamps: These are cheap and effective but carry a significant fire risk if they fall or are not secured properly. They also create a single, intense hot spot.
• Heat Plates: These are more expensive upfront but are far safer. They mimic a mother hen, allowing chicks to huddle underneath for warmth and venture out to eat and drink. A heat plate is a worthwhile safety investment.

No matter the heat source, the key is creating a temperature gradient. Place the heater at one end of the tub. This allows chicks to move closer to the heat if they are cold or farther away if they are too warm, letting them regulate their own body temperature.

Choosing the right brooder tub isn’t about finding a single "best" option, but about matching the tool to your specific goals, budget, and scale. Whether you invest in a stock tank that will last a decade or start with an affordable tote, a safe, clean, and draft-free environment is the first and most important gift you can give your new flock. Get this right, and you’re well on your way to a successful first year.