Brooder in coop - questions

[BorregoMike]

I’m a newbie, planning to start with about 35 day old chicks in October - 2/3s red broilers and the rest buff orpingtons. Location is southern Calif. desert. I really don’t have the option of starting these chicks in the house ( BorregoMike’s spouse says NO WAY on that but I have a very solid 150 sq ft shed I’m converting to a coop. October days are usually 70 - 90, nights usually near 60 but could go as low as 50. November is cooler all around by maybe 10 degrees.

It seems to me that I can just set up part of my floor space as the brooder box, restricting the size with some plywood panels, (rounding the inside corners with cardboard) and heating from above with a red lamp. As the chicks grow I just expand their area until they eventually get the whole coop and a run outside. I understand the risks of using a bulb for heat but I can make it safe and it seems most foolproof to start). I am putting in some heavy screened ventilation for the coop, but I can cover those if it’s drafty.

In a setup like this, how far off the floor would the light likely hang at the start, a couple feet? I assume I’d have to adjust it for day and night temps?

Any reason this won’t work just fine? I’ve raised turkeys before and I realize I’ll likely loose some chicks; I just don’t want to loose a bunch to the stupidity of the guy in charge!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't see why it wouldn't work, although I would separate the chicks into smaller groups to reduce risk of chicks trampling or crushing each other. Probably makes most sense to separate the meat birds from the layers, as their growth rate differs.

 

[BorregoMike]

I could easily divide the brooder into two side by sides. Would each need its own heat light?

 

[BirdGirl2004]

I agree, separate the coop into two! The only recommendation i have, is to ensure that the chicks have enough heat during the night when it gets cooler! All in all, you have the right ideas! You should be good to go! Definitely post some pics of your chicks when they come in! I'm sure we'd all love to see them!
Good luck!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I’m a newbie, planning to start with about 35 day old chicks in October - 2/3s red broilers and the rest buff orpingtons. Location is southern Calif. desert. I really don’t have the option of starting these chicks in the house ( BorregoMike’s spouse says NO WAY on that but I have a very solid 150 sq ft shed I’m converting to a coop. October days are usually 70 - 90, nights usually near 60 but could go as low as 50. November is cooler all around by maybe 10 degrees.

It seems to me that I can just set up part of my floor space as the brooder box, restricting the size with some plywood panels, (rounding the inside corners with cardboard) and heating from above with a red lamp. As the chicks grow I just expand their area until they eventually get the whole coop and a run outside. I understand the risks of using a bulb for heat but I can make it safe and it seems most foolproof to start). I am putting in some heavy screened ventilation for the coop, but I can cover those if it’s drafty.

In a setup like this, how far off the floor would the light likely hang at the start, a couple feet? I assume I’d have to adjust it for day and night temps?

Any reason this won’t work just fine? I’ve raised turkeys before and I realize I’ll likely loose some chicks; I just don’t want to loose a bunch to the stupidity of the guy in charge!

Are you going to let your birds raise them if they came from a broody they do not need heat about 3 ft off the floor for lamps

 

[rosemarythyme]

I could easily divide the brooder into two side by sides. Would each need its own heat light?

I would almost want to do 3 sections... one for the layers, two for the meat birds. But if that's not practical 2 should suffice (layers in one, meats in the other). As far as how many heat lamps you'd need, this is where a thermometer would come in handy so you can check temperatures throughout the coop. Remember you want a warm and cool zone in each section.

 

[BorregoMike]

Are you going to let your birds raise them if they came from a broody they do not need heat about 3 ft off the floor for lamps

I am starting with these chicks, so no broodies.