Brooder box size for young chickens

[Ghosty]

I thought 2' would be too low, too. I actually have them in a tote this size right now but I think they'll need/want more room soon. I've been reading a lot from multiple sources about when to introduce young chickens to an existing flock and most of what I have read said to wait until the new chickens are about the same size, which will be probably six weeks from now (well, they won't be the same size but the new chickens will at least be bigger by then). The breeder recommended this as well, however I would like to move the new girls into the coop as soon as I can. Our nighttime temps are around 50 degrees now, which still may be a bit cold for them at night, right?

Ya, but keeping them in totes till they are 4 months old? Do you have a run where you can section off a portion for them, or a portion of the coop?

 

[spiritpots]

Ya, but keeping them in totes till they are 4 months old? Do you have a run where you can section off a portion for them, or a portion of the coop?

Oh, I don't want to wait that long to get them outside. I plan to build a separate wood framed box (approx. 2'W x 4'L x 4'H) with chicken wire and place that first next to the run for a day or two then move it into the run. As soon as it looks like everyone is getting along I'll move the new chickens into the coop at night after the others have gone to roost. My main concern had been at what age to move them but from reading here it sounds like I don't have to wait until they are as old or as big as long as I thought.

 

[Ghosty]

Oh, I don't want to wait that long to get them outside. I plan to build a separate wood framed box (approx. 2'W x 4'L x 4'H) with chicken wire and place that first next to the run for a day or two then move it into the run. As soon as it looks like everyone is getting along I'll move the new chickens into the coop at night after the others have gone to roost. My main concern had been at what age to move them but from reading here it sounds like I don't have to wait until they are as old or as big as long as I thought.

Sounds like a good plan. I think I just wasn't on the same page. At 6 weeks they should be about fully feathered. I would make something wider than 2 ft. though. Like 4 x 4 x 4 at least.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh, I don't want to wait that long to get them outside. I plan to build a separate wood framed box (approx. 2'W x 4'L x 4'H) with chicken wire and place that first next to the run for a day or two then move it into the run. As soon as it looks like everyone is getting along I'll move the new chickens into the coop at night after the others have gone to roost. My main concern had been at what age to move them but from reading here it sounds like I don't have to wait until they are as old or as big as long as I thought.

If that's the plan I'd start working on that now, because they may need weeks to safely integrate, not one or two days. Also if they're not already off heat I'd start working on that as well, so they can more easily make the transition outside.

The idea behind early integration is that adult chickens don't feel threatened by very little ones, so they won't go after them the way they would an older larger chick or young adult. Also while chicks are little it's easier to give them escape routes because they can fit into places the adults can't. Obviously the older they get, the harder it would be to make escape routes that only chicks can fit into.

My last batch of chicks were living side by side with the adults by the time they were 6 weeks old.