First time outdoor brooder... am I forgetting anything ?

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I'm moving my 5 chicks outside tomorrow. They range in age from 1-2 weeks old. Currently they are in a cardboard condominium in my house and have a brooder plate. Since this is my first time outdoor brooding, I wanted to run my set up by those more expierienced than me to double (okay, it's quadruple) check that I haven't overlooked anything.

The chicks will be in a large metal dog crate. The crate will be kept inside the coop with the other chickens. The coop is well ventilated and does a great job of protecting from the elements.

The bottom half of the crate is going to be wrapped with 1/4" thick coated hardware cloth so the chicks can't get out through the bars. The crate doors will remain closed for now. I'm in Maryland, and have a small heater in my coop that keeps the coop about 10 degrees warmer than the outside temps. Right now it's in the 40s and current forecast shows a warming trend for the next week.

I'm inspired by the Mama Heating Pad system I've read so much about here, and want to do something similiar to that but with my brooder plate. I have the Tractor Supply Producer's Pride brooder plate. It doesn't indicate a minimum temp it works at, but I saw a post from someone who has used theirs in 20 degrees.

I use the deep litter method, so I am removing the tray from the bottom of the crate and just filling it in with pine shavings. When I need to clean, I can just pick up the crate and the shavings fall out into the coop (no crouching and crawling into the crate to clean!).

I can't make the brooder into a "cave" so I intend to move the current cardboard condo into the crate - at least at first. This way the brooder is inclosed on 3 1/2 sides but is not covered. This will trap in heat and protect from drafts.

I am going to cover the side of the crate that faces the pop door with Press and Seal to further keep out drafts from that door. I found an aswesome heated small animal nipple water bottle also at TSC that should hang on the crate nicely. (Bringing it indoors tomorrow to let the chicks practice before they go outside). They will also have feed & grit in the crate with them.

I think I've pretty much covered my basis. (I'm glad I am typing this because I just identified a problem with running the extension cord from the heated watere from inside to outside of the coop. I'll have to mull over this overnight. The only thing I have not figured out is how to keep the chicks off the top of the brooder. It says not to cover it with anything or place anything on top. And it doesn't get too hot. I just don't want to keep scraping poop off the surface. of the brooder plate. Anyone have advise for this?

Okay! Did I miss anything? Oh yes, I have more picturses! But they are on my other device, so I'll send them along when I ahve a chance.

 

[Tonyroo]

My only concern is with the brooder plate. It's more of a contact heat and ambient air can effect its temperature accuracy. Also if it stops working, would you know it?

Other than that your setup sounds good. Don't forget room for food and water.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The only thing I have not figured out is how to keep the chicks off the top of the brooder. It says not to cover it with anything or place anything on top. And it doesn't get too hot. I just don't want to keep scraping poop off the surface. of the brooder plate. Anyone have advise for this?

If those are the directions I'd follow directions, for safety reasons. Some plates come with a cover that you can put on top for easier cleaning. As I use a heating pad (not plate) I just put a piece of cardboard on top and throw it away when the chicks are weaned off heat.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

My only concern is with the brooder plate. It's more of a contact heat and ambient air can effect its temperature accuracy. Also if it stops working, would you know it?

Other than that your setup sounds good. Don't forget room for food and water.

Thanks for your reply. I'm hoping that by enclosing the brooder in a cardboard box (I know I promised pics but I keep forgetting and the pics are on my phone and I'm presently at my computer). The box the brooder is in, is exactly the same size as the brooder itself. So while the top remains open, it's enclosed on 3 1/2 sides (one side has an opening for the chicks to go in and out). I know this won't entirely contain the heat, but I'm hoping it will act a little like it's own "room" and keep the temps more stable.

The brooder plate has a light that indicates that it's on, and presently, I touch it each time I check on the chicks indoors. The plan will be the same for outdoors. I'm hoping to position it in such a way I can see the light from the coop camera. But even if I can't, the chicks will get checked on at 6 AM before I leave for work, 8 AM before Hubs leaves for work, at 4 PM when I get home, 6 PM to make sure everyone is in bed. The 8-4 stretch is the scariest because neither of us can leave work during the day if there's a problem. Overnight isn't an issue because I check the camera because I'm an anxious chicken momma! If I can't tell if the brooder is functioning on the camera, I can listen for distress peeping from chilly chicks. Hopefully it won't be an issue. With the warming temps, and the coop heater (which I may turn up a bit), I think the brooder plate should be able to function okay.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

If those are the directions I'd follow directions, for safety reasons. Some plates come with a cover that you can put on top for easier cleaning. As I use a heating pad (not plate) I just put a piece of cardboard on top and throw it away when the chicks are weaned off heat.

Thank you for your reply. I won't cover it. I just don't know how to keep the chicks off of it. I guess it's not a big issue. I can't find any vents or anything on the top that toes could get stuck in or poop could get in to. I just don't want to deal with cleaning it, haha! It is sort of tough for them to get on top of it currently because the cardboard box it's in is nearly the exact size as the brooder so they have to squeeze around the edges.

 

[Iluveggers]

I can’t think of anything you’ve missed. Good luck, and please update with photos when you can! I’m contemplating something similar when I get my chicks.

 

[igorsMistress]

I'm moving my 5 chicks outside tomorrow. They range in age from 1-2 weeks old. Currently they are in a cardboard condominium in my house and have a brooder plate. Since this is my first time outdoor brooding, I wanted to run my set up by those more expierienced than me to double (okay, it's quadruple) check that I haven't overlooked anything.

The chicks will be in a large metal dog crate. The crate will be kept inside the coop with the other chickens. The coop is well ventilated and does a great job of protecting from the elements.

The bottom half of the crate is going to be wrapped with 1/4" thick coated hardware cloth so the chicks can't get out through the bars. The crate doors will remain closed for now. I'm in Maryland, and have a small heater in my coop that keeps the coop about 10 degrees warmer than the outside temps. Right now it's in the 40s and current forecast shows a warming trend for the next week.

I'm inspired by the Mama Heating Pad system I've read so much about here, and want to do something similiar to that but with my brooder plate. I have the Tractor Supply Producer's Pride brooder plate. It doesn't indicate a minimum temp it works at, but I saw a post from someone who has used theirs in 20 degrees.

I use the deep litter method, so I am removing the tray from the bottom of the crate and just filling it in with pine shavings. When I need to clean, I can just pick up the crate and the shavings fall out into the coop (no crouching and crawling into the crate to clean!).

I can't make the brooder into a "cave" so I intend to move the current cardboard condo into the crate - at least at first. This way the brooder is inclosed on 3 1/2 sides but is not covered. This will trap in heat and protect from drafts.

I am going to cover the side of the crate that faces the pop door with Press and Seal to further keep out drafts from that door. I found an aswesome heated small animal nipple water bottle also at TSC that should hang on the crate nicely. (Bringing it indoors tomorrow to let the chicks practice before they go outside). They will also have feed & grit in the crate with them.

I think I've pretty much covered my basis. (I'm glad I am typing this because I just identified a problem with running the extension cord from the heated watere from inside to outside of the coop. I'll have to mull over this overnight. The only thing I have not figured out is how to keep the chicks off the top of the brooder. It says not to cover it with anything or place anything on top. And it doesn't get too hot. I just don't want to keep scraping poop off the surface. of the brooder plate. Anyone have advise for this?

Okay! Did I miss anything? Oh yes, I have more picturses! But they are on my other device, so I'll send them along when I ahve a chance.

Looks good, this is basically what I do but just in a separate coop. If the temps are cold/windy you can put the plate at an angle, lower in the back, higher in front, then tuck some straw around the edges to block wind if needed. ETA I wipe the plate down daily, otherwise it gets pretty gross because they do like to sit on top. My newer one didn’t come with a cover like the old one did.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I can’t think of anything you’ve missed. Good luck, and please update with photos when you can! I’m contemplating something similar when I get my chicks.

Will do!

 

[Morrigan]

I like outdoor brooding and I've been putting chicks outside from day 1 for a few years now. Fingers crossed, I haven't had any issues.

I converted an old rabbit hutch into the brooder -- insulated on the top and three sides and placed it in a sheltered area in the chicken run. I use a heating plate, and in really cold weather, I put a sweeter heater along one side. I've had chicks out there in below freezing temperature. I've found that they feather up and harden off really fast.

As far as keeping them off the plate, I put a piece of plastic shelf liner on top, with a rock holding it down. I also hang one a remote temperature gauge inside the brooder (just inside the brooder, not under the heat plate) and another outside that I can check from my living room. As long as the inside temperature reads at least 8 -12 degrees warmer than the outside sensor, I know the heat is working.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for your reply. I won't cover it. I just don't know how to keep the chicks off of it. I guess it's not a big issue. I can't find any vents or anything on the top that toes could get stuck in or poop could get in to. I just don't want to deal with cleaning it, haha! It is sort of tough for them to get on top of it currently because the cardboard box it's in is nearly the exact size as the brooder so they have to squeeze around the edges.

Eh just wipe it off daily, if needed, and don't worry about cleaning it off until you're done with it. I was just pulling my heating pad set up out and tapping it on the ground to dump the poop off, and that was enough for the 4 weeks they needed it.