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Yeah. There is quite a bit more space to the left of frame. Have some sawhorses that will be a stop gap. Only 30 birds get to stay over winter; have 43 now with the chicks. Considered not letting the broody try. Went with 5 rather than more eggs for this reason. Hoping they're all roosters -...

Thanks! Plamendon was suggesting they have light 24/7 for the first 3 days. Somewhere I saw Gail Damerow make the same suggestion. I *think* the idea being they should eat/drink every chance they get, and not have darkness or lack of knowledge of where things are impede them from that. Jury is...

Short update on my efforts. Installed some additional roost space today. This was waiting for me when I went to lock things down this evening. Had a hen go broody earlier this week, so I've given her her own nest, and 5 eggs to hatch. We'll see what happens.

I reduced my work hours last week so I could give more attention to the new chicks, and take care of other chores around the farm; as a result I spent much less time in front of my computer, so didn't provide any updates. So far so good. I left the heat lamp on overnight for the first 2...

Studies that were done on using old bedding showed lower incidence of mortality among chicks. They develop stronger immune systems. Still finishing my coffee, but I think they also acquired some vitamins/minerals they didn't otherwise get. That though was prior to the feeds we use nowadays.

And here's one more pic, that doesn't show a thing about the brooder setup, just because it's one of those days that makes you realize winter is really over. Never mind. Site not cooperating with my phone tonight.

Also, underneath the pine shavings is hardware cloth, and under that is old bedding, same as in the coop. Once the pine shavings gets fouled, I'll do a mix of the old bedding from the coop with more pine shavings, gradually using less of the fresh pine over time.

OK, here's some pics. Not real clear in the photos, there's a front door with a removable frame of hardware cloth. When removed, there are wooden dowel bars to allow the chicks to come and go while excluding the grown-ups.

I'll get some pics soon. Have videos I shared on Facebook, but they don't show the brooding pen very well.

Yep, they're doing well. Warm enough now that I've turned off the heat lamp.They still spend most of their time under the heating pad, coming out to eat and drink. Hens occasionally come over and look in, all curious. Act like they think they're supposed to know something about these things...

Got the call from the post office about 6:15 this morning. They're using the heating pad well. They come out to eat/drink, then dash back under to get warm. Had to pile a lot of bedding underneath so it was close enough for them to be able to press their backs against it. Right now I have a...

His own operation has 75 chicks to a brooder house. His work does appear to be directed at "small" producers of eggs for local markets, or that is where his experience is coming from and hence what his approaches are most applicable to. Not to suggest he has nothing of use to say about my...

Curiosity led me to buy his book for more information on his thinking. A link to where he mentions this on his website: http://www.plamondon.com/wp/prepare-care-baby-chicks/ I haven't finished it yet, but in his book...

If I understand what you're saying, sounds like you're about there already!

I agree with the idea. I still want to know more about his reasoning, though. We can't follow that logic forever without letting our chickens roost in trees and dispense with coops. I know that's not being suggested; just saying that we make some decisions for a reason, and now more than ever I...

Ok, yep, that's your article. Gave me the idea for my brooder cage. Haven't made my doors as adjustable as yours. But the principal is the same.

He doesn't go into much detail on his blog (on my phone or I'd provide a link), except to suggest that they should be able to find food & water anytime they want. I'm​ seeing three days as a good compromise for me this time. I can more easily prevent drafts, monitor them without the...

Thank you for the reassurance! I've ordered Dominique pullets from Cackle this time, rather than ordering through our local feed store. Feels like I'm spending a decent chunk of money, and using up a finite window of days, on a handful of fragile chicks, which I'm going to toss into one...

I have 18 new chicks being shipped on the 19th, that I'm going to add to my existing 1 year old flock, and I'm starting to second-guess my plans. My plan has been to brood the chicks under a heating pad in a 6' x 2' cage I've built, out in the coop with the existing flock from day one. The...