Brooder in garage with our cars

[Cordelia6]

I'm planning on getting my first group of chicks in a week or two, and the idea was that I'd keep the brooder in the garage with the heat lamp. I've read up a ton about how to set up the brooder and the chicks needs, including that they should be protected from drafts and fumes. My garage is a tight two car garage, and both my husband and I park our cars in there. The brooder box is solid to encourage protection from drafts, and we always open our garage door before starting our cars. My question is, in these cold winter months, is the garage door opening and closing too much of a draft or stress on the chicks? Thanks for your help!

 

[Mellowmalt]

I would say unfortunately yes. It sounds like the worst spot in your house for this not just becuase of the drafts but because your incubator will run twice as hard to maintain temperatures too. I know it is insulated but the outside temperatures really need to be steady and not too cold. During the first 3 weeks there is no smell so no hassle keeping it indoors. Just find a cupboard or somewhere in the guest bedroom/ kitchen etc - just do not close them in a cupboard! that will block too much fresh air getting to them. and keep out of sunlight

I'm sure you will find something that can temporarily go into the garage for a month and the incubator could take its spot temporarily..

 

[Chickassan]

Personally, i'd find another location for the brooder.
What you're describing is an accident waiting to happen, birds are especially sensitive to CO2.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Is your coop already built?
Some people use their coop as the brooder for their first batch.

 

[Cordelia6]

Is your coop already built?
Some people use their coop as the brooder for their first batch.

No, our coop isn't built yet. We have a solid plan and location for our coop, and we'll be getting started on building it soon. I'll be picking the chicks up from our local feed store. I think I'll either keep them in the house for the first three weeks, and then move them into the garage and keep the cars outside, our I'll keep them in the garage from the beginning and keep the cars out, mitigating drafts and CO2. Thanks for weighing in! I appreciate it!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
I've had chicks in my stock tank brooder, with a hardware cloth lid, for many years. My garage is in the lower level of our raised ranch, and I do park my car there at the same time. Garage door opened, then car started and driven out immediately, and garage door closed. Absolutely no engine running in the garage, except to just get out and in.
I've used either a heat lamp, or a brooder plate successfully there. At first I wrap the brooder with styrofoam insulation, and the brooder sits on 2" of styrofoam insulation, keeping it off the cool floor.
Chicks in the house are a nightmare! Maybe for a week, but not longer. The dust is horrible, much easier to cope with in the garage.
And your chicks will be ready for their outside coop all too soon...
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

My question is, in these cold winter months, is the garage door opening and closing too much of a draft or stress on the chicks?

If you have the brooder set up properly, not at all. My brooder is in the coop, I put chicks in that straight from the incubator or post office even if the outside temperature is below freezing or hot for me. The idea is that they need a spot warm enough in the coldest temperatures and a spot cool enough in the warmest temperatures. I do that with size (a 3' x 6' brooder) and decent ventilation. One end is kept toasty and the far end can cool off as much as it can. I sometimes find ice on the cold end. My temperatures can go from below freezing to the 70's Fahrenheit in 36 hours. My brooder can handle both.

I don't like to think of the wind problem as a draft. When you say draft people get the picture of someone holding a candle near a window or door to see if they can detect air movement too weak to feel. That kind of air movement is good, it helps replace bad air with good. What you want to avoid is a breeze strong enough to ruffle their feathers or down. I manage good ventilation with good breeze protection by having a solid wind block down low where they are but having openings up high.

To me the fumes are the risk but Mary told you how she manages that.

 

[Ruthster55]

Personally, I would do three things:

1. Invest in a heat plate rather than a lamp. The plates are a lot safer.

2. Start the little babies in the house for the first week or 14 days when they are still really delicate and need steady heat. Once they start getting a little bit rambunctious and wanting to jump out of the brooder, they could probably go out to the garage.

3. Your idea about keeping the cars outside sounds like a good one, as long as weather or parking space isn't too much of a problem. If the cars and chicks will be together in the garage, make absolutely sure that neither car has any sort of small gasoline vapor leak. If they are both rather new cars, it should probably be OK, but sometimes older cars leak a little bit, which would be bad for the chickies.

 

[Folly's place]

I brood the chicks for a bit over two weeks in the garage brooder, because they come vaccinated against Marek's disease, and I want them to build immunity before they go to the coop. By three weeks of age, they are in the brooder section of the coop, with their brooder plate of heat lamp. By five weeks of age, and no longer needing extra heat, they start going out with the big guys, carefully, and then back to their area at night.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Gas vapor leak? WOW! Not in my attached garage, ever! Blowing up the place wouldn't be a good thing.
Mary