Brooder addition! Help me brainstorm.

[SpinningJenny]

Hello! I have decided to brood my chicks with the big girls this season, and want to build a brooder "safe room" addition off my small coop. I've attached a few images of how I'd do it, and could use any suggestions for features, materials to avoid, handy hardware to add... I want to be able to brooder these chicks outdoors and have them well socialized with my older hens right away.

Images are attached. This is my coop now, and the yellow is how I imagine the brooder attaching. I'd build it so it flat-packs into neat tidy stack. The green outline is where I would add an "escape hatch" door, big enough for the chicks but not for my other hens. (When the chicks are older, they can have free range of the coop and run, but still be able to duck and cover if they're getting picked on.)

I have an old wood framed pane window I was thinking of using for the lid, because it would be a good roof. keep out debris and rain. I'm thinking I should incorporate a low shelf for food and water, to keep them out of the dirt, and a roost some where in here, too.

I'd love other thoughts and ideas from others to make this really functional and good for the chicks.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

sounds like you have it all figured out!!!!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

LOVE your coop by the way!

 

[SpinningJenny]

Thank you! It needs some improvements as well, but it's worked out pretty good for my first try at carpentry! haha

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

wow! Nice job! you are gonna have a nice brooder!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

As cute as that coop is, is there a bigger coop you're planning to put all the birds in once the chicks come? I don't see enough room for more chickens in that coop.

 

[SpinningJenny]

No they all won't be in this coop, they have other coops to go to later! I just need somewhere to brood them for a few weeks. I hatch a batch each spring for fun, and place the birds with other backyard chicken keepers!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

YAY!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds great - hope the integration works out! I'll be trying to brood some chicks with my adults next month myself.

 

[SpinningJenny]

Sounds great - hope the integration works out! I'll be trying to brood some chicks with my adults next month myself.

It worked pretty well last time, when I had a different coop. I kept the chicks in the run, where the big girls could interact with them, but they safe from being picked on. They integrated very well, and were not as spazzy and nervous in general as chicks that I brooded indoors. Hope it works out well for you!