Brooder Maintenance & Chick Access

[Mjvl]

They may need some help learning to get up and down the ramp, but at this age they shouldn't need much heat in the day. I'd worry about them getting too hot if confined in the coop part in the sun.

Yes, I will add ‘grips’ to the ramp to help. I plan to put a tent/sail to shade the coop as well as a little fan to vent the air.

Should I move the heating plate to the coop?

Do they need to be confined to the coop for a few days or can I let them out in the run right away?

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, I will add ‘grips’ to the ramp to help. I plan to put a tent/sail to shade the coop as well as a little fan to vent the air.

Should I move the heating plate to the coop?

Do they need to be confined to the coop for a few days or can I let them out in the run right away?

If the temperatures are suitable they can be confined for a couple days to get used to it. Don't confine them if the temperatures are too hot, though.

Be sure to monitor them in case of trouble.

You may have to help them up the ramp until they get the idea.

 

[Mjvl]

If the temperatures are suitable they can be confined for a couple days to get used to it. Don't confine them if the temperatures are too hot, though.

Be sure to monitor them in case of trouble.

You may have to help them up the ramp until they get the idea.

Thanks for your recommendations

 

[aart]

Temperatures highs are 80 - 90F and lows 60 - 70F.
I do have electric running to the coop so I could put the heating plate in the coop.

Since I’m new to raising chickens and need to keep costs down, I went with the pre-fab coop. I do plan to change it out in the future.

Gotta wonder if the coop(not including the run below) is smaller than the brooder?
Can you measure both?

They will need some heat at night but should be fine during the day.
Probably Will need to add some ventilation to that coop.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[rosemarythyme]

The coop section really isn't big enough or ventilated enough to be locking them in. Since chicks can struggle with ramps, I would opt to put the heat plate on the floor of the "run" section and go from there. Your temperatures are certainly warm enough to have them outside full time with the heat pad (or full time if you'd already begun weaning them off of it!)

 

[Mjvl]

Gotta wonder if the coop(not including the run below) is smaller than the brooder?
Can you measure both?

They will need some heat at night but should be fine during the day.
Probably Will need to add some ventilation to that coop.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2805136

Yeah, the coop is smaller inside vs the brooder. It’s about 41 inches x 36 inches. Although the installation instructions said it can hold 8-10 hens, I suspect they would need to be pretty small.

I live in Eastern PA. The summer can be hot and humid and the winters cold and wet. I will put plastic around most of the run to block out the winds in late fall/early winter.

 

[Mjvl]

The coop section really isn't big enough or ventilated enough to be locking them in. Since chicks can struggle with ramps, I would opt to put the heat plate on the floor of the "run" section and go from there. Your temperatures are certainly warm enough to have them outside full time with the heat pad (or full time if you'd already begun weaning them off of it!)

I added 4 - 3 inch vents to the top of the coop. It does have a window that can be opened/closed depending on the weather. The roof doesn’t fit flush as it has about a 1/2 in gap at the top which lets the hot air rise. I also have a small fan that I plan to add.

Should I add more ventilation?

 

[aart]

Should I add more ventilation?

Yes, those little vents are next to nothing.
Measure the temps inside the coop and compare without outside.

I'd make a huge window on coop wall where it is protected by run roof.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeah, the coop is smaller inside vs the brooder. It’s about 41 inches x 36 inches. Although the installation instructions said it can hold 8-10 hens, I suspect they would need to be pretty small.

Should I add more ventilation?

Given the size of the coop and the number of birds, I'd suggest modifying the entire unit to serve as a coop (you will need to add a run or plan on free ranging full time). This will help address both ventilation and lack of space. Modifications would best be done before chicks move out there but can be done after, as long as you have some place they can safely stay during the hours you're working on it.

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[3KillerBs]

Yeah, the coop is smaller inside vs the brooder. It’s about 41 inches x 36 inches. Although the installation instructions said it can hold 8-10 hens, I suspect they would need to be pretty small.

I live in Eastern PA. The summer can be hot and humid and the winters cold and wet. I will put plastic around most of the run to block out the winds in late fall/early winter.

Oh dear. I didn't realize it was quite that tiny.

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop,
• 10 square feet in the run,
• 1 linear foot of roost,
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

5 hens will need:

• 20 square feet -- at least 4x5, but 4x6 is easier to build with less waste because you can buy 12-foot boards and cut them in half.
• 50 square feet of run -- at least 6x8, but 8x8 would be even better and not require so much cutting.
• 5 linear feet of roost
• 2 nestboxes
• and 5 square feet of of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation.

If you have limited building skills, a hoop coop is the easiest.