Bitter sweet

[JJW2018]

So up until this point I had my baby EE on my front porch in a brooder. They have since grown so much they were able to get up to the ledge of the fold down side that helps me be able to reach into the box. So I figured it was time to make a bigger brooder. I have built 3 brooders according to size. When ever I started to notice it looked a little crowded I would up the size. Well this brooder will actually double as a hen house in the future I will just need to put some sidding up. Well my point was that my babies are now housed in the open part of my barn. I loved them on my porch because I can sit out and watch them all day. However my ISA Browns will be available for me to pick up in the morning so now I have the small brooder all set up just waiting on my little ladies to arrive. This is where my EE are now and you can't tell but the lower part has smaller holes so nothing can get into it I also hang some old blankets on the sides to keep it warm at night.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Since you've lovingly protected them from the great outdoors until now, keep your eyes open for lethargy (overly sleepy or inactivity, often with one or both eyes closes) or being off of their feed. The first time your flock has boots-on-the-ground can overwhelm them with coccidia, especially if it's rained recently. Every square inch of the world has at least one species, and some have more than one species of this microscopic parasite. If one seems ill, treat them all, as the cure will NOT harm the birds in any way; Corid (amprolium) to starve the parasite.
Love your setup and forethought, by the way

 

[JJW2018]

Thank you so much I do however have them off of the ground using a pallet covered with cedar planks so they are still not allowed access to the ground.

 

[Ebony Rose]

get the cedar away from your birds please, respiratory issues with cedar.

 

[JJW2018]

get the cedar away from your birds please, respiratory issues with cedar.

I did not know that thank you I will get it out right away

 

[rosemarythyme]

Cedar boards are quite different than cedar shavings. My entire brooder is made of cedar, but there's not a whiff of aroma off of it because it's sat out for so long.

If you can smell the cedar then it can be a respiratory irritant. If not, it shouldn't be any worse than any other wood.