4+ week old chicks have outgrown brooder but coop isn't ready!

[Pater est Pullis]

I found some pallets in good condition and used them to make a larger space to house them a couple more weeks until the coop and run are complete!

Love it! Pallets are easy to come by, I'm adding some to my coop and run.

 

[jthornton]

I found some pallets in good condition and used them to make a larger space to house them a couple more weeks until the coop and run are complete!

Wow you have 4 chickens in a 4' x 4' space! I have 10 in a 2' x 4' brooder and they are happy.

JT

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wow you have 4 chickens in a 4' x 4' space! I have 10 in a 2' x 4' brooder and they are happy.

JT

Best to get them more space before they start pecking each other. Once it starts it can escalate rapidly. The only times I have had problems is when I didn't get them moved out quick enough.

 

[lazy gardener]

Wow you have 4 chickens in a 4' x 4' space! I have 10 in a 2' x 4' brooder and they are happy.

JT

They will seem happy until you suddenly realize that you have a huge behavioral problem on your hands from the crowding. Overcrowding can also cause health issues and will definitely make it more difficult to manage the heavy fecal load produced by the birds.

 

[jthornton]

They will seem happy until you suddenly realize that you have a huge behavioral problem on your hands from the crowding. Overcrowding can also cause health issues and will definitely make it more difficult to manage the heavy fecal load produced by the birds.

We headed that problem off with several daily group therapy sessions starting the day they arrived, followed by the obligatory play time recess not to mention the 4:30 cricket rodeo once they reached 2 weeks old.

Cleaning the brooder has never been a problem.

It was obvious that they could not stay cooped up in the brooder all day once they got to 4 weeks of age. The last 2 weeks they stayed in the brooder they got to free range in the garage and had several places to go up and down ramps to goody feeding spots and places to explore along with a very dusty dust bath box (that was a mess). They ended up staying in the brooder for 36 days (they were 2 days old when they arrived).

They are very well adjusted and I can sit in a chair with my legs up on a bucket and have 8 chickens on me in a heart beat just coming up to say hi.

JT

 

[Sassysouth]

Last year, when my chicks were older and I didn't have my coop ready either, I put them in a small chicken run (currently it is in my big chicken run with new chickens). During the day I put it outside and night I put it on my screened in backporch (on top of cardboard and shavings).
While outside, more than once, I found a hawk sitting on top of their small run! And I kept a heavy brick on top because we have foxes too. They are at your mercy for protection.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you find your self with chicks who have outgrown their brooder, but your coop is not ready for them, there are several improvisations you can do:

1. If you have a shed, garage, shop, basement, get an appliance box or two. You have an instant brooder that can then be covered with chicken wire, bird netting or old window screens.

2. Spend an afternoon banging together a chicken tractor. You can do standard construction with 2 x 2 or 1 - 2 x 3's, and cover sides and part of the top with 1/2" hardware cloth. cover 1/2 of the roof with plywood or some other solid material so they will have shade. You'll find plenty of use for your tractor after your coop and run are finished. You can also put up a cattle panel tractor/coop in a fraction of time that it would take to build a standard coop. Just be sure what ever construction method you use, that it's predator proof. I built a tractor as my first brooder. That bought me plenty of time to finish their coop.

3. Let them spend their days in a covered run. They will need a run anyways.
So spend a bit of time getting that finished first. You can then put a covered crate in the run so they will have a resting place and shelter from the weather if it gets rainy.

4. Just as soon as the coop is closed in, move them in... even if it's not finished. Chickens really enjoy inspecting the building process. You just have to make very sure that you don't drop any nails, screws or wire bits, or they don't make a mess of your tool box.

 

[Heavnlydove]

I was using I inexpensive plastic type fence for a run for our 5 week old chicks until our little stinker pony plowed right through it. Time to build them a real run!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

What I did when my chicks outgrew the dog crate they were in, I set up one of those metal dog fences to expand the area. I had the food and water in the dog fence, and the heater was in the crate. I covered the dog fence with cardboard, and it was enough space for them until the coop was done! Below is the type of fence I'm talking about...

 

[azygous]

I think JT pwned you guys. His chicks were accomplices.