Bedding and heat for integration

[aart]

All I can picture is lining them up to see if they would fit. Very cartoonishly. LOL. I’m a very visual person. Haha.

Ha!!
Best to have it a bit bigger than they need, the larger opening is so none get trapped in there if too warm. It emulated the heating plate, they feel safer if they can get under something. You could actually put the plate out there unplugged, they'll go under cause that's what they are used to.
They'll stay plenty warm as long as there are not strong drafts....and hopefully won't get too hot during the day, will they have access to a run?

 

[doublecrossranch]

Ha!!
Best to have it a bit bigger than they need, the larger opening is so none get trapped in there if too warm. It emulated the heating plate, they feel safer if they can get under something. You could actually put the plate out there unplugged, they'll go under cause that's what they are used to.
They'll stay plenty warm as long as there are not strong drafts....and hopefully won't get too hot during the day, will they have access to a run?

They have had a cardboard box in their play yard to climb on and hide in or if the sun gets to hot or wind too strong. So they should adjust well to a huddle box

Their current box is a box my puppy chewed up.

 

[AllenK RGV]

They haven’t been around PDZ before. Right now they are in a play yard in the run weather permitting and brooder with a heat plate at night with small pine shavings.

I believe you misunderstood my post or I was not clear, as far as 51/2 week old chicks are with feathering out, if they get cold they can get out of the weather in a box and huddle together to share body heat as needed.

I still know nothing about PDZ for keeping a coop clean. Hay on bare earth inside the coop works great for me and I experience no fly issues or odors. It basically turns their poop into compostables.

 

[slordaz]

They haven’t been around PDZ before. Right now they are in a play yard in the run weather permitting and brooder with a heat plate at night with small pine shavings.

mine in a brooder don't have any type of heat just bedding and a empty paper towel roll wrapped in an old rag and have done fine, in the cold month up here yea they stay inside longer being up north. Once they have their feathers there is no need, mother nature equipped em to deal with the cold. They have a low perch they can get to and a box in case they need to huddle, they have needed about a week of look but no touch and places to hide but they are usually integrated with the flock by 4 weeks just like a momma hen would do so she can wean em.

 

[Criticalicious]

Sweet PDZ is used to absorb ammonia. It works well in the coop to keep the smell down. I use it in the coop under pine shavings and have not yet seen chickens try to eat it.