Brooder too small ?

[mendogurl]

Hi everyone,

I have my 8 chicks in an extra large dog carrier/brooder.
They are starting to get pretty big, 2 weeks old.
Is the brooder going to be big enough for them until it is time to move them into the coop?

 

[allaboutdemchicks]

I'm not sure... but that kitty said she would look after them for ya!



You could always rig up the light in the coop for the chicks, thats what I do when they just get so big they can't stay in the "nursery" anymore.

Congratulations on the chicks!!

 

[Spires6]

I used a dog crate at night for about 6 chicks until they were 2 mos old. In the day I put them outside in a large wire rabbit cage with a piece of tin roofing over it for shade and rain protection. It worked really well. I think you will probably be ok, but maybe come up with something larger to set them outside in during daytime.

 

[Spires6]

By the way, the kitty is too cool!

 

[CoopCrazy]

I just watched mine for pecking, pecking started need bigger brooder... I just built o 4x4 brooder attached to my coop. Only cost a couple bucks and took about 4 hours by myself.. My chicks have been in ther for four days(last night it got really cold here and had frost) went out at 6:30 this am and they were great.. Just keep a light on in case they need the heat...

 

[the_great_snag]

I think that brooder should be sufficient if you can have them outside by say 4 weeks of age.

I used to brood indoors until they were feathered, then I would put them in a coop with a heat lamp they could go under if they got cold.

The key is timing it with the weather. I'm in Northern MN and we still have a foot of snow on the ground, and had subzero temps as recently as last week.

I figure any birds I get will be confined indoors for at least 6 weeks from today, assuming May is nice....