Brooder size question and ideas wanted

[sagehound]

Also still easy to socialize them like you seem to want to do. This is how I raise my birds and this is a message I just got from someone that just purchased three birds from last years brood:

"It was a blast! I spent an hour with them and they were in my lap. They devoured an apple with me I got them water and they make really cute noises when they drink. I used to be so scared of chickens, and now I'm so in love! These girls are so incredible!"

In many ways it is easier to interact with them in the larger area like the coop (assuming it's a walk in coop) because you can sit right down with them at their level vs gabbing to reach down into the small brooder from above

You make some good points. I am leaning towards a brooder for the first few weeks and then moving to the coop.